NFL’s streaming push puts antitrust exemption in jeopardy, FCC chair warns
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NFL fans will likely need to spend more to watch all of the league’s games every week in 2026.
A YouTube TV “NFL Sunday Pass” subscription can cost a few hundred dollars, but it doesn’t provide access to every game. Fans also need to subscribe to Amazon Prime, Peacock, and Netflix to watch the full slate. The total cost of these packages exceeds $1,500, but this figure does not include fees or internet costs.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr has made supporting American sports fans a priority as the NFL, NBA, MLB and other leagues move major games from broadcast and cable television to expensive streaming services. But this week, Carr said the NFL could lose its antitrust exemption if too many games are placed behind the paywall.
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The NFL shield logo is on the field at SoFi Stadium on November 25, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/magn Images)
“Does the NFL still enjoy antitrust immunity when negotiating to have games carried on a streaming service rather than a sponsored television broadcast?” Carr said at an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. via semaphore. “That’s a very lively, very mature question.”
Carr warned that “there comes a point where you tip the scale and they put too many games behind the paywall and then the whole exemption collapses.”
NFL FANS CALL THE LEAGUE’S BROADCAST STRATEGY A ‘MONEY CAPTURE’ AS COSTS ARE OUT OF CONTROL
A 1961 law allows the NFL to negotiate leaguewide TV deals without violating U.S. antitrust rules, provided it meets certain conditions, including protecting customer access. The risks will be high if the NFL’s antitrust exemption disappears, especially if individual franchises begin selling TV rights separately.
Carr noted broader implications for media rights negotiations. “If NFL teams could negotiate collectively,” he said, “should broadcasters be able to negotiate collectively as well?”
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr speaks at a press conference following the FCC meeting on February 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital contacted the NFL for comment, but league officials did not immediately respond.
Last month the FCC said it would do so. request public comment The transition of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming platforms. The comment period runs through March 27, and responses are due by April 13.
The FCC, under the Trump administration, is seeking public comments on the ongoing transition of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming services. (Getty Images)
Carr acknowledged that the increasing cost and sometimes disruptive nature of sports broadcasts frustrate fans, arguing that the disadvantages ultimately outweigh the benefits.
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Carr acknowledged that the increasing cost and sometimes disruptive nature of sports broadcasts frustrate fans, arguing that the disadvantages ultimately outweigh the benefits.
“Americans get frustrated when they can’t find the game they want to sit down and watch. And that feeling gets worse when they realize they may have to sign up for another streaming service to watch the game,” Carr previously told Fox News Digital.
“There has long been a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between sports leagues and broadcasters, and if this continues, consumers will benefit,” Carr continued. “I want to see Americans continue to benefit from free fitness programs.”
Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.
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