Full Breakdown
NFL Commissioner Skips Congressional Hearing as Lawmakers Probe Streaming Deals
6/4/2026, 5:51:01 AM
Congressional Request and Goodell’s Decline
Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, invited NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify on June 10 about the league’s TV and streaming contracts. The NFL’s general counsel, Ted Ullyot, replied that Goodell would not appear “due to ongoing litigation related to the topic of the hearing.”
Legal Context and Investigations
The 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act grants a limited antitrust exemption for over-the-air broadcast rights. Critics say it does not cover cable, satellite or streaming, prompting a DOJ antitrust probe in April and parallel FCC and FTC inquiries.
Distribution Figures
The NFL says 87 % of its games air on free, over-the-air TV. Streaming partners now carry Thursday Night Football, Black Friday, Christmas and select playoff games. The rights package through 2033 is valued at over $110 billion. A February FCC filing estimated that watching every game across platforms could cost about $1,500 per season.
Official League Position
The NFL calls its model “the most fan and broadcaster-friendly in sports,” noting broadcast TV remains the distribution foundation. Ullyot’s letter said the shift to streaming reflects platforms offering more reach than the current pay-TV ecosystem. The league says the SBA preserves competitive balance.
Criticism and Legislative Proposals
Consumer groups argue pay-walled streams raise costs and fragment access. Senator Tammy Baldwin has introduced legislation to guarantee free over-the-air telecasts in a team’s home state. President Trump and Rep. Jordan say the league “harms consumers.” Critics also question whether streaming deals fall within the SBA’s exemption.
Conflicting Reports
The league’s 87 % free-TV claim contrasts with analysis showing only about one-third of games are freely available in a typical market after overlapping Sunday windows. The DOJ has not disclosed whether streaming contracts violate the SBA, and cost estimates for full-season access start at $1,500.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Back when the Sports Broadcast Act was passed, the promise was you'll get to watch every one of your team's games for free,” — Rep. Jim Jordan, Committee Chair
- “The idea they can collude when negotiating a deal with a cable company or Amazon Prime is a very fair question to ask and explore,” — Rep. Jim Jordan
- “The NFL's media distribution model is the most fan and broadcaster-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry,” — NFL spokesperson
- “There’s a live question at this point about whether putting games on Netflix or YouTube TV or other entities like that … is that a sponsored telecast or is that something else?” — FCC Chair Brendan Carr
What’s Next
The June 10 hearing will proceed with witnesses such as sports-media personality Clay Travis and at least one additional NFL representative. Lawmakers will assess whether “potential legislative remedies may be needed to address that harm,” which could prompt amendments to the act.
