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US Justice Department opens probe into NFL over anticompetitive practices, source says
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Summary
Advertisement Sport US Justice Department opens probe into NFL over anticompetitive practices, source says Jan 27, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; A view of the NFL logo on a football at the goal line during the second half between the East and the West at the Ford Center at the Star. Major broadcast station owners, U.S. regulators and senators have raised concerns in the past over the difficulties consumers face in watching sports games and the growing trend of selling broadcast rights to streamers. However, the NFL said in a statement on Thursday that more than 87 per cent of its games are aired on free broadcast TV and that all games are aired on free broadcast television in markets of participating teams. In February, the Federal Communications Commission opened a review into the growing shift of live sports away from broadcast networks to pay TV and subscription services, seeking comment on actions the agency "could take to ensure continued access by viewers to live sports through free over-the-air broadcast TV." In response, major broadcast station owners last month urged the regulator to address the trend of Big Tech companies acquiring the rights to broadcast football, baseball and other sporting events, saying it could weaken local TV news.
## Summary
Advertisement Sport US Justice Department opens probe into NFL over anticompetitive practices, source says Jan 27, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; A view of the NFL logo on a football at the goal line during the second half between the East and the West at the Ford Center at the Star. Major broadcast station owners, U.S. regulators and senators have raised concerns in the past over the difficulties consumers face in watching sports games and the growing trend of selling broadcast rights to streamers. However, the NFL said in a statement on Thursday that more than 87 per cent of its games are aired on free broadcast TV and that all games are aired on free broadcast television in markets of participating teams. In February, the Federal Communications Commission opened a review into the growing shift of live sports away from broadcast networks to pay TV and subscription services, seeking comment on actions the agency "could take to ensure continued access by viewers to live sports through free over-the-air broadcast TV." In response, major broadcast station owners last month urged the regulator to address the trend of Big Tech companies acquiring the rights to broadcast football, baseball and other sporting events, saying it could weaken local TV news.
## Article Content
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US Justice Department opens probe into NFL over anticompetitive practices, source says
Jan 27, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; A view of the NFL logo on a football at the goal line during the second half between the East and the West at the Ford Center at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
09 Apr 2026 10:58PM
(Updated: 10 Apr 2026 12:54AM)
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April 9 : The U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether the National Football League has engaged in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Major broadcast station owners, U.S. regulators and senators have raised concerns in the past over the difficulties consumers face in watching sports games and the growing trend of selling broadcast rights to streamers.
The nature and full scope of the investigation could not be immediately ascertained.
However, the NFL said in a statement on Thursday that more than 87 per cent of its games are aired on free broadcast TV and that all games are aired on free broadcast television in markets of participating teams.
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The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.
In February, the Federal Communications Commission opened a review into the growing shift of live sports away from broadcast networks to pay TV and subscription services, seeking comment on actions the agency "could take to ensure continued access by viewers to live sports through free over-the-air broadcast TV."
In response, major broadcast station owners last month urged the regulator to address the trend of Big Tech companies acquiring the rights to broadcast football, baseball and other sporting events, saying it could weaken local TV news.
The FCC has said many sporting events previously available through free broadcast or traditional cable TV packages are now available only through standalone subscription streaming, which has frustrated many sports fans.
Last year, NFL games aired on 10 different services, the FCC said, citing estimates that it could cost a consumer more than $1,500 to watch all games.
In March, U.S. Senator Mike Lee submitted a letter to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission requesting a review of antitrust exemptions for the NFL's dealings with streaming platforms.
A 1961 law exempts major sports leagues from antitrust laws and allows them to pool their individual teams’ television rights and sell those rights as a package.
Source: Reuters
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---
## Expert Analysis
### Merits
N/A
### Areas for Consideration
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
### Implications
- The nature and full scope of the investigation could not be immediately ascertained.
- In February, the Federal Communications Commission opened a review into the growing shift of live sports away from broadcast networks to pay TV and subscription services, seeking comment on actions the agency "could take to ensure continued access by viewers to live sports through free over-the-air broadcast TV." In response, major broadcast station owners last month urged the regulator to address the trend of Big Tech companies acquiring the rights to broadcast football, baseball and other sporting events, saying it could weaken local TV news.
- Last year, NFL games aired on 10 different services, the FCC said, citing estimates that it could cost a consumer more than $1,500 to watch all games.
### Expert Commentary
This article covers broadcast, fast, games topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 637.
Advertisement Sport US Justice Department opens probe into NFL over anticompetitive practices, source says Jan 27, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; A view of the NFL logo on a football at the goal line during the second half between the East and the West at the Ford Center at the Star. Major broadcast station owners, U.S. regulators and senators have raised concerns in the past over the difficulties consumers face in watching sports games and the growing trend of selling broadcast rights to streamers. However, the NFL said in a statement on Thursday that more than 87 per cent of its games are aired on free broadcast TV and that all games are aired on free broadcast television in markets of participating teams. In February, the Federal Communications Commission opened a review into the growing shift of live sports away from broadcast networks to pay TV and subscription services, seeking comment on actions the agency "could take to ensure continued access by viewers to live sports through free over-the-air broadcast TV." In response, major broadcast station owners last month urged the regulator to address the trend of Big Tech companies acquiring the rights to broadcast football, baseball and other sporting events, saying it could weaken local TV news.
## Article Content
Advertisement
Sport
US Justice Department opens probe into NFL over anticompetitive practices, source says
Jan 27, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; A view of the NFL logo on a football at the goal line during the second half between the East and the West at the Ford Center at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
09 Apr 2026 10:58PM
(Updated: 10 Apr 2026 12:54AM)
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Bookmark
Share
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Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.
Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
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FAST
April 9 : The U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether the National Football League has engaged in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Major broadcast station owners, U.S. regulators and senators have raised concerns in the past over the difficulties consumers face in watching sports games and the growing trend of selling broadcast rights to streamers.
The nature and full scope of the investigation could not be immediately ascertained.
However, the NFL said in a statement on Thursday that more than 87 per cent of its games are aired on free broadcast TV and that all games are aired on free broadcast television in markets of participating teams.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.
In February, the Federal Communications Commission opened a review into the growing shift of live sports away from broadcast networks to pay TV and subscription services, seeking comment on actions the agency "could take to ensure continued access by viewers to live sports through free over-the-air broadcast TV."
In response, major broadcast station owners last month urged the regulator to address the trend of Big Tech companies acquiring the rights to broadcast football, baseball and other sporting events, saying it could weaken local TV news.
The FCC has said many sporting events previously available through free broadcast or traditional cable TV packages are now available only through standalone subscription streaming, which has frustrated many sports fans.
Last year, NFL games aired on 10 different services, the FCC said, citing estimates that it could cost a consumer more than $1,500 to watch all games.
In March, U.S. Senator Mike Lee submitted a letter to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission requesting a review of antitrust exemptions for the NFL's dealings with streaming platforms.
A 1961 law exempts major sports leagues from antitrust laws and allows them to pool their individual teams’ television rights and sell those rights as a package.
Source: Reuters
Newsletter
Recommended Read
Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read
A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.
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Subscribe here
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Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Download here
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Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app
Join here
Advertisement
Also worth reading
Content is loading...
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---
## Expert Analysis
### Merits
N/A
### Areas for Consideration
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
### Implications
- The nature and full scope of the investigation could not be immediately ascertained.
- In February, the Federal Communications Commission opened a review into the growing shift of live sports away from broadcast networks to pay TV and subscription services, seeking comment on actions the agency "could take to ensure continued access by viewers to live sports through free over-the-air broadcast TV." In response, major broadcast station owners last month urged the regulator to address the trend of Big Tech companies acquiring the rights to broadcast football, baseball and other sporting events, saying it could weaken local TV news.
- Last year, NFL games aired on 10 different services, the FCC said, citing estimates that it could cost a consumer more than $1,500 to watch all games.
### Expert Commentary
This article covers broadcast, fast, games topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 637.
broadcast
fast
games
nfl
source
cna
news
sports
