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Rep. Jordan Calls NFL Commissioner to Testify on Antitrust Probe

6/2/2026

Summary

Jordan Demands Testimony

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify on June 10 2026.
The subcommittee will examine the Sports Broadcasting Act’s antitrust impact on consumers.
The Department of Justice opened an antitrust probe in April, noting the law predates cable and streaming.
The NFL says over 87 percent of games air free, yet some packages now require subscriptions to Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Peacock and ESPN+.

Summary

Jordan Calls Hearing

A Senate hearing on June 10, titled “Examining the Sports Broadcasting Act,” will assess distribution changes since the 1961 law.
Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked NFL Commissioner Goodell to confirm participation by June 3, 2026 and to file a five-minute opening statement.
Critics say ending the exemption would force teams to sell TV rights, widening revenue gaps and threatening the salary-cap system, creating a top-tier league and a secondary league for smaller clubs.

History

Historical Context

The 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, signed by President John Kennedy, gave the NFL an antitrust exemption after 1950s court challenges and the AFL’s 1960 pooled-rights deal. That exemption enabled the league’s $4.65 million 1962 CBS contract and decades of TV deals. On June 10 2026, Rep. Jim Jordan and a Senate subcommittee will compel Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify, arguing the exemption no longer fits the streaming era.

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Jordan Demands Testimony

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify on June 10 2026.
The subcommittee will examine the Sports Broadcasting Act’s antitrust impact on consumers.
The Department of Justice opened an antitrust probe in April, noting the law predates cable and streaming.
The NFL says over 87 percent of games air free, yet some packages now require subscriptions to Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Peacock and ESPN+.

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