A House Judiciary subcommittee convened a high-profile hearing Wednesday focused on the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act and its application to the NFL's evolving media deals, scrutinizing whether the law's antitrust exemption still serves consumers in the streaming era.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who had been invited to testify, did not attend. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez was added as a witness at the last minute on Tuesday.The hearing, titled "Examining the Sports Broadcasting Act," examined how the 65-year-old law — which grants professional sports leagues like the NFL an antitrust exemption to collectively sell national broadcast rights — functions amid shifts toward streaming services, rising costs for fans, and fragmented viewing options.
Lawmakers and witnesses, including National Association of Broadcasters CEO Curtis LeGeyt and OutKick founder Clay Travis, discussed whether the exemption has been stretched beyond its original intent of supporting free over-the-air broadcasts.
ALERT: 'OutKick' founder and Fox News contributor Clay Travis torches the NFL for gouging their fans while violating the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) June 10, 2026
"Most of your constituents are frustrated. They don't know how to find games, and they are having to pay far too much when… pic.twitter.com/Nw2ZpCwTDf
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) emphasized in opening remarks that the session aimed to determine if the Act continues to benefit the public or primarily advantages leagues. A recent Republican-led staff report criticized the NFL for allegedly misusing the exemption, pointing to deals with platforms like Amazon, YouTube TV, and others that place more games behind paywalls.
Witnesses highlighted consumer frustrations, including high cumulative costs for accessing NFL games (potentially exceeding $575 annually across multiple services), blackouts, and reduced reach, with one analysis noting the average game now available to only about 39% of U.S. households.
LeGeyt: “Games from the four major professional leagues are now spread across Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube TV and Apple TV. Fans increasingly need multiple paid subscriptions to watch their favorite teams, and survey after survey shows that fans are confused and frustrated.” He added that many fans “can’t afford to go to games in person and when fans are ‘priced out of the stadium and games are moved behind paywalls, the public loses twice’”
The absence of Goodell drew attention, as the committee had pressed for his input on the league's broadcasting strategy. Gomez's late addition brought FCC perspectives on regulatory limits and the intersection of broadcasting policy with modern media.
The Sports Broadcasting Act was enacted in 1961 to allow leagues to pool television rights without violating antitrust laws, primarily to ensure widespread broadcast access. With major NFL media deals set to expire in coming years, the hearing signals growing congressional interest in potential reforms to better align the exemption with today's digital landscape. No immediate legislative action was announced, but discussions underscored bipartisan concerns over fan access and costs.