DOJ Investigates NFL Media Rights for Antitrust Issues

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the National Football League to determine whether the league has employed anticompetitive practices that increase costs for consumers, according to people familiar with the matter.

The probe, first reported on Thursday, focuses on the NFL's media rights agreements and their role in driving up subscription fees for fans seeking access to games. In recent years, NFL broadcasts have shifted from primarily free over-the-air television to a fragmented array of platforms, including cable channels and streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Peacock, Netflix, and YouTube TV's NFL Sunday Ticket. Officials said the investigation examines potential antitrust violations tied to this distribution model, which requires multiple paid subscriptions for comprehensive coverage.

The inquiry follows a letter last month from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. Lee requested that the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission review the NFL's antitrust exemptions for streaming packages, questioning whether they comply with the Sports...