sports
Watching Every NFL Game Now Costs Over $1,000. Is That Legal?
It began innocently enough. In December 2023, the Buffalo Bills, my daughter’s favorite team largely thanks to a preteen crush on Bills quarterback Josh Allen, played a big Week 16 matchup at the Los Angeles Chargers. It was a Saturday night.
TL;DR
- NFL games are increasingly being broadcast on streaming services like Peacock, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, not just traditional television channels.
- The total cost for a fan to watch all NFL games from home could exceed $1,000 for the upcoming season.
- This shift has prompted congressional hearings to examine potential antitrust violations and whether the league is adhering to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.
- Critics argue that fans are being overcharged compared to the intent of the 1961 law, which sought to make games freely available on TV.
- Past antitrust lawsuits against the NFL, including one from the USFL and a class-action suit regarding NFL Sunday Ticket, highlight ongoing legal scrutiny of the league's practices.
- Despite legal challenges and fan concerns, the NFL's popularity and demand continue to grow, influencing its broadcasting strategy.