Powerful House panel blasts NFL’s ‘overstretched,’ – Business News
The House Judiciary Committee blasted the NFL for abusing its Sixties-era antitrust exemption – urging it to revamp its media model and make it simpler for soccer followers to watch their favourite groups, in response to a scathing new report launched Monday.
The highly effective congressional panel warned the NFL may face substantial legal scrutiny and antitrust challenges round its broadcast rights offers, calling the model “a house of cards built on an overstretched antitrust exemption,” in response to a copy of the heated missive obtained by The Post.
The committee and its chairman Jim Jordan argued that the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 was created to keep video games extensively obtainable on tv and “stave off the league’s impending financial collapse” – however as a substitute it has grow to be a device to cover more video games behind streaming paywalls.
The House Judiciary Committee blasted the NFL for abusing its Sixties-era antitrust exemption in a scathing new report. Getty Images
“Today, for consumers to watch broadcast NFL games, they must navigate a complicated and expensive web of television agreements and rules,” the report mentioned – including that some followers cough up more than $600 to watch their favourite staff over an complete season.
Fox News earlier reported on the doc.
It particularly took purpose on the Sunday Ticket, a $480 sports activities bundle that the NFL markets as a particular product for the avid soccer fan who desires to watch as many video games as attainable.
But the Judiciary Committee claimed over 70% of former Sunday Ticket subscribers mentioned they purchased the TV bundle to “watch my favorite team, which is out of market” – and when requested why they canceled, a whopping 70% mentioned it was as a result of the product was too costly.
It additionally referenced proof from an ongoing Sunday Ticket antitrust case, during which a 2024 jury verdict discovered the NFL violated antitrust law and awarded almost $5 billion in damages to plaintiffs. The verdict was overturned by a decide.
ESPN had allegedly advised a Sunday Ticket bundle priced at simply $70 a head, in addition to a buy option that may permit followers to pick simply sure groups – however the NFL rejected these proposals, leaving followers with fewer selections and inflated costs, in response to the report.
The committee additionally bashed the NFL’s argument that it’s consumer-friendly as a result of 87% of its video games have “primary distribution” on broadcast tv, and 100% of its “local market games” air of their respective areas.
Chairman Jim Jordan argued that the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 was created to keep video games extensively obtainable on tv. REUTERS
“The NFL’s claim that 87 percent of games have ‘primary distribution’ on broadcast television actually means that 87 percent of games are on a broadcast station somewhere in the country,” the report mentioned.
“In fact, significantly less than half of the games are actually available to a consumer on broadcast television, depending on the week and geographic area.”
In the meantime, the league’s dear media rights offers have handed groups over 100 instances better payouts than they obtained in 1961, even after being adjusted for inflation, in response to the report.
The NFL didn’t instantly reply to The Post’s request for remark.
If the Sports Broadcasting Act was struck down, the NFL would no longer be capable to bundle video games in gross sales to broadcasters and streaming companions – that means some groups would get a lot greater offers than others, dooming its revenue-sharing model.
In April, the Department of Justice launched a bombshell antitrust investigation into the NFL amid outcry that it has grow to be too dear and complex for sports activities followers to watch their favourite groups.
The committee warned the NFL may face substantial legal scrutiny and antitrust challenges round its broadcast rights offers. Getty Images
In February, the Federal Communications Commission requested the public for remark on how the shift from conventional broadcasts to streamers has impacted sports activities followers — a potential first step earlier than a more critical probe.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr beforehand informed The Post that the NFL may lose its exemptions if it sticks too many dwell video games behind paywalls.
To watch all of the highest video games in 2025, soccer fanatics needed to shell out month-to-month charges for Amazon Prime, Netflix, ESPN+ and Peacock – on prime of what they’d usually pay for cable.
And for the previous two years, the NFL has solely moved playoff video games onto streamers.
The NFL has argued that streamers have largely begun to interchange broadcasters as customers’ go-to option to watch content material, and that they need to satisfy viewers the place they’re.
