Congress calls NFL Goodell to testify on TV deals
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- Rep. Jim Jordan invited NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to testify at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on June 10 to discuss the league’s broadcast contracts.
- Department of Justice launched an investigation in April into the NFL’s use of the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, probing whether its antitrust exemption applies to streaming deals.
- NFL has broadcast agreements with ESPN/ABC, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix, meaning many games now require a subscription, though over 87 % of games remain free on local stations.
- Roger Goodell defended the league’s distribution strategy, calling it “the most fan and broadcaster‑friendly” and emphasizing the NFL’s aim to reach the broadest audience.
Why it matters: Fans bear higher costs for watching games, while the NFL’s streaming contracts with Amazon, Netflix and others generate billions in revenue; the congressional hearing challenges the legality of those deals, putting that revenue at risk.
