Congress Summons Goodell Over NFL's Streaming Shift, Antitrust Exemption Scrutiny
Rep. Jim Jordan has invited NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify before Congress regarding the league's broadcast deals and compliance with the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. This congressional scrutiny, set for a June 10 hearing, aligns with a Justice Department investigation into the NFL's streaming practices for potential anticompetitive behavior. The focus is on whether the league's shift of games to paywalled streaming services harms consumers and necessitates updates to the 65-year-old antitrust exemption.
Key Takeaways
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify before Congress on June 10 regarding the league's media deals.
- House Judiciary Committee questions if the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act's antitrust exemption harms consumers through streaming exclusivity.
- Justice Department is investigating the NFL for potential anticompetitive practices related to its streaming strategy.
- The NFL has moved Thursday Night Football to Prime Video, and select playoff and holiday games to streamers like Netflix and Peacock.
Why It Matters
Congressional scrutiny and a Department of Justice investigation directly challenge the NFL's long-standing antitrust protections, particularly as the league shifts more games to paywalled streaming platforms. This pressure suggests a potential re-evaluation of the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, which currently offers antitrust immunity only for broadcast networks, not streaming. Such a change could impact how all major sports leagues negotiate media rights, potentially opening opportunities for more diversified distribution and affecting the economics of league-owned streaming services. What to watch next is whether the congressional hearing or DOJ probe leads to legislative amendments or legal challenges to the existing antitrust exemption for sports media rights.
Read full article at bostonherald.com
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