NFL Faces Federal Scrutiny as Streaming Deals Grow

Government probes league's shift of games to streaming services amid affordability concerns

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:37am

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A cubist painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy, green, and orange, capturing the dynamic motion and energy of a football game in an abstract, fragmented style.The NFL's shifting media landscape is deconstructed into a cubist interpretation of the game's energy and dynamics.Indianapolis Today

The NFL is facing increased scrutiny from the federal government over the league's moves to put more games on streaming services. The Justice Department is investigating the NFL for potential anticompetitive practices, while the FCC is seeking public comment on the ongoing shift of live sports from broadcast to streaming. The league's media rights deals, which average nearly $11 billion in revenue per season, have come under the spotlight as more games move to platforms like Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV.

Why it matters

As the most popular sports league in America, the NFL's decisions around media rights and game distribution have significant implications for consumers and the broader media landscape. The government's investigations and public comments aim to ensure affordability and fair competition as the industry continues to evolve.

The details

The 'Thursday Night Football' package moved from Fox to Amazon Prime Video in 2022, followed by a wild-card playoff game in 2023 and Christmas Day games in 2024. The league also began airing a game on Amazon on Black Friday in 2023. The NFL averages $400 million a year from Netflix and Amazon Prime for those four games and is considering adding a game the night before Thanksgiving, which could bring in at least $50 million.

  • The 'Thursday Night Football' package moved to Amazon Prime Video in 2022.
  • A wild-card playoff game moved to streaming in 2023.
  • Christmas Day games moved to streaming in 2024.
  • The NFL began airing a game on Amazon on Black Friday in 2023.

The players

Justice Department

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the NFL for potential anticompetitive practices related to its media rights deals and the shift of games to streaming services.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC is seeking public comment on the ongoing shift of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming services.

Brendan Carr

The FCC Chairman who announced the public comment period on the shift of sports to streaming.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee

A U.S. Senator who wrote a letter to the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission urging them to review whether the NFL's distribution methods comply with the Sports Broadcasting Act.

Mark Attanasio

The principal owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, who said the switch from a regional sports network to MLB is a $20 million drop in revenue for the team.

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What they’re saying

“Brendan Carr used an illustration of a fan watching a Green Bay Packers game when he announced the public comment period on Feb. 25.”

— Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman

What’s next

The Justice Department's investigation into the NFL's media rights deals and the potential impact on consumers and competition is ongoing. The FCC's public comment period on the shift of live sports to streaming is also expected to continue as the agency gathers feedback from stakeholders.

The takeaway

The NFL's lucrative media rights deals and the league's move to put more games on streaming platforms have drawn increased federal scrutiny. Policymakers are examining whether these changes are benefiting consumers and maintaining a fair playing field for media providers, as the sports industry continues to evolve rapidly.