WASHINGTON (WOWO): NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been called to testify before Congress as lawmakers examine whether the league’s television and streaming agreements are making it more difficult and expensive for fans to watch games.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) announced that Goodell has been invited to appear at a June 10 hearing focused on the NFL’s broadcast contracts and the league’s longstanding antitrust exemption under federal law.
Jordan says the hearing will examine whether laws governing professional sports broadcasting should be updated to reflect today’s media landscape.
“When the Sports Broadcasting Act was passed, the promise was that fans could watch every one of their team’s games for free,” Jordan told ESPN. “Things have changed dramatically since 1961.”
The hearing comes after the Department of Justice launched an investigation into the NFL’s use of the Sports Broadcasting Act, which allows professional sports leagues to negotiate television contracts collectively. The law was enacted before the rise of cable television and streaming services.
Today, NFL games are spread across multiple platforms, including ESPN, NBC, CBS, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Peacock, and ESPN+, with some games requiring paid subscriptions. Industry estimates show fans who want access to local and nationally televised games can spend between $500 and $600 per season on television and streaming services. Fans wanting out-of-market games through NFL Sunday Ticket and other premium offerings can spend more than $1,000 annually.
Supporters of the congressional review argue that consumers now need multiple subscriptions to watch a full NFL season, a sharp contrast to the free over-the-air broadcasts envisioned when Congress approved the Sports Broadcasting Act in 1961.
The NFL has defended its distribution strategy, noting that more than 87% of games are available on free broadcast television and that all games are carried free in the local markets of the participating teams. Fans can also watch many local games for free using an over-the-air antenna.
Goodell has previously testified before Congress on issues including player safety and workplace culture within the league. He is expected to be joined at the June hearing by sports media commentator Clay Travis and other witnesses
