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Bedford Today
By the People, for the People
NFL Faces Scrutiny Over Sports Broadcasting Act
Lawmakers call for review of 1961 law that granted antitrust immunity for collective licensing of games
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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The NFL's use of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, a law that granted the league antitrust immunity to collectively license game broadcasts, is facing renewed scrutiny from lawmakers. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Senator Mike Lee have both called for reviews of the law's impact on consumer access to marquee sports programming, which has become increasingly fragmented across various streaming platforms.
Why it matters
The Sports Broadcasting Act has allowed the NFL to maintain control over the distribution of its games, but critics argue this has led to higher costs and reduced accessibility for consumers in the modern streaming era. The calls for review come as the media landscape has dramatically shifted since the law was first enacted.
The details
In 1961, Congress passed the Sports Broadcasting Act, which gave professional sports leagues like the NFL an antitrust exemption to collectively negotiate TV broadcast rights. This has allowed the NFL to maintain tight control over the distribution of its games. However, with the rise of streaming services, critics argue this has led to increased fragmentation and higher costs for consumers trying to access NFL games.
- The Sports Broadcasting Act was passed by Congress in 1961.
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr launched a review of the costly fragmentation of marquee sports programming in early 2026.
- On March 4, 2026, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) urged the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to study the Sports Broadcasting Act from an antitrust perspective.
The players
Brendan Carr
The current Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Mike Lee
A Republican Senator from Utah who has called for a review of the Sports Broadcasting Act from an antitrust perspective.
Roger Goodell
The current Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL).
What they’re saying
“In 1961, Congress enacted the Sports Broadcasting Act, granting limited antitrust immunity to allow professional football teams to collectively license the 'sponsored telecasts' of their games to national broadcast networks.”
— Mike Lee, U.S. Senator (Letter to DOJ and FTC)
What’s next
The Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission are expected to review the Sports Broadcasting Act and its impact on consumer access to sports programming in the coming months.
The takeaway
The NFL's use of the Sports Broadcasting Act to maintain control over game broadcasts has come under renewed scrutiny as the media landscape has shifted to streaming. Lawmakers are now calling for a closer examination of whether the law still serves the public interest in an era of increased programming fragmentation.
