Dept. of Justice probes NFL's media rights deals

As fees rise, some ask whether the antitrust exemption league has applies to streamers.

- BY STEPHEN BATTAGLIO

NFL football continues to dominate TV ratings. Above, the Chargers play in 2022.

(WALLY SKALIJ Los Angeles Times)

The Department of Justice is investigating the NFL's media deals with streaming companies as more of its games go behind subscription paywalls.

The investigation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, centers on the financial impact of live sports streaming on consumers and whether the league's traditional broadcast partners are getting fair treatment.

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment. A government official told NBC News the department's investigation into the NFL is “about affordability for consumers and creating an even playing field for providers.”

Early last month, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) requested the investigation in a letter to the Justice Department, and he issued a statement Thursday on social media saying he was glad to see it move forward.

Congress passed the Sports Broadcasting Act in 1961, allowing professional football teams to collectively license the TV rights of their games to national broadcast networks without running afoul of antitrust laws. Lee noted that courts have recognized the act refers to broadcasts “financed through advertising and made available free to the public.”