NFL defends game distribution after Trump criticism and DOJ review

The NFL on Friday defended its strategy of distributing games across broadcast and streaming services after President Donald Trump criticized the league for moving more content behind paywalls and after the U.S. Department of Justice began reviewing the league’s media deals. During discussions tied to the release of the 2026 schedule, NFL executives said the current approach remains designed to give fans broad access while meeting viewing habits on platforms where viewers spend time.

NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder said the league’s model is “the most fanfriendly model there is of any sport or entertainment as far as distribution,” adding, “We love our model.” League officials pointed to the continued availability of most games on free, over-the-air television, saying 87 games remain on broadcast networks including CBS, NBC, FOX and ABC, while a limited number are available on subscription streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Schroeder also argued that the NFL is not abandoning traditional broadcasters, saying the league wants to be “on these platforms with a limited amount of our games where we know our NFL fans are...