DOJ Probes NFL Media Deals Over Subscriber Costs

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the National Football League over whether its media-rights practices make games less affordable and harm competition, a government official said.

The probe centers on affordability and creating an even playing field as the league reopens media-rights negotiations and considers larger streaming packages, including talks involving Paramount Skydance/CBS and interest from Netflix, sources said.

The NFL said more than 87% of its games are on free broadcast television and called its distribution model "the most fan and broadcaster-friendly," while Sen. Mike Lee said he had urged the DOJ and FTC to investigate, sources said.

The league's current 11-year media-rights agreements are worth roughly $110 to $111 billion through the 2033-34 season and are split among CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN/Disney and Amazon, and the FCC found 2025 games on 10 services, sources said.

Broadcasters including Fox and Sinclair have raised concerns with the FCC about paywalled games, and the DOJ investigation could affect ongoing renegotiations and future licensing arrangements, sources said.