NFL Defends Streaming Strategy to Congress, Declines Goodell Testimony
The NFL declined to have Commissioner Roger Goodell testify before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which grants sports leagues antitrust exemptions, and its streaming deals. The league asserts that its streaming strategy expands reach and does not detract from traditional broadcast television, amidst increasing scrutiny from Congress, the DOJ, and the FCC concerning implications for competition and access to live sports.
Key Takeaways
- NFL General Counsel Ted Ullyot sent a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, formally declining the invitation for Goodell to appear at the June 10 hearing.
- The NFL’s letter states streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube offer "significantly more reach than the current pay-TV ecosystem."
- The league maintains that broadcast television remains the "foundation of our media distribution" and has not lost games due to streaming deals.
- The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 grants sports leagues an antitrust exemption for collective broadcast rights, predating streaming as a distribution method.
Why It Matters
The NFL's refusal to have its commissioner testify signals its strategy to manage increasing federal scrutiny over its media rights practices without direct public congressional engagement. This situation highlights the tension between legacy antitrust exemptions and the evolving streaming landscape. Future developments will reveal whether Congress pursues legislative changes to the Sports Broadcasting Act or if regulatory bodies like the DOJ and FCC will take direct action to address concerns over live sports fragmentation and accessibility.
Additional Context
The NFL’s decision to forgo Goodell’s testimony follows growing pressure from various fronts. In March 2026, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) urged the DOJ and FTC to re-examine the league's antitrust exemptions, per Front Office Sports (June 2026). Simultaneously, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation to ensure free access to all in-state NFL telecasts. The Justice Department commenced a formal investigation into the NFL’s broadcast practices earlier this year, focusing on consumer affordability and competitive equity (NBC News, June 2026). In April, the NFL dispatched executives to meet with the FCC to advocate for its broadcast practices, arguing they are fan-friendly and that revoking the antitrust exemption would accelerate fragmentation (Awful Announcing, June 2026). The league consistently stresses that 87% of its games are available on free television, with all games accessible over-the-air in teams' home markets (TheDesk.net, June 2026). The House Judiciary Committee plans to proceed with its June 10 hearing despite Goodell’s absence, with OutKick founder Clay Travis expected to testify.
Read full article at awfulannouncing.com
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