The House Judiciary Committee has requested NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify at a hearing scheduled for June 10, 2026, regarding the Sports Broadcast Act of 1961. The committee aims to investigate whether the Act has been used by sports leagues to negatively impact consumers. The letter from Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R, Ohio) is not a subpoena, allowing Goodell the option to decline to testify, with a response due by June 3.
The hearing will focus on the evolution of the Sports Broadcasting Act and its implications for the current broadcast market for major sports leagues. It will also explore how the antitrust exemption provided by the Act has been utilized by professional sports leagues and whether legislative changes are necessary.
The NFL's media rights agreements, valued at over $110 billion, allow the league to negotiate television contracts collectively for its 32 teams. However, there are ongoing investigations by the Department of Justice and the FCC into potential violations of the Sports Broadcasting Act, particularly concerning the shift of games to pay streaming services. Consumers have expressed concerns about the costs associated with accessing these games through multiple subscription services. This season, Amazon Prime will have exclusive rights to the NFL's Black Friday game and 15 Thursday Night Football games, while Netflix and Peacock will also stream select games.
