DOJ, Local TV Station Reps Huddled During The NAB Show

Justice Department antitrust officials met this week with broadcast-television station operators to discuss the accelerating migration of live sports from traditional over-the-air broadcasting to streaming services, part of a broader investigation into the sports-media marketplace.

The meetings occurred during the NAB Show in Las Vegas, where DOJ representatives sought feedback from local TV station executives on how the shift is affecting their businesses, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The talks specifically addressed the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, the decades-old law that grants professional sports leagues limited antitrust protection to collectively sell national TV rights packages. Regulators are examining whether this exemption still applies — or should apply — as leagues increasingly license games to paid streaming platforms.

The meetings are tied to the DOJ’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the National Football League and other major sports leagues’ media rights strategies. Launched earlier in April 2026, the probe focuses on whether leagues’ deals with streamers and premium outlets have made it more expensive and fragmented for consumers to watch games, potentially harming competition and viewers.

Concerns include:

• The proliferation of streaming services requiring separate subscriptions.
• Reduced availability of games on free or widely available broadcast TV.
• Impact on local stations that rely heavily on sports advertising revenue.

According to The Wall Street Journal, The NFL and other leagues have not been formally notified of wrongdoing, and the full scope of the investigation remains under wraps. However, the DOJ is evaluating whether current practices violate the spirit of the 1961 law, which was designed for an era dominated by free broadcast television.