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US Government Considers Changes to Antitrust Law on Live Sports Broadcasting
The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comments on live sports viewing amid rising costs from streaming services. Lawmakers have indicated interest in updating the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to address fragmentation in access. Fans report challenges in affording and locating games across multiple platforms.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is examining the live sports viewing experience in the United States, which has shifted significantly due to streaming services. On February 25, the FCC announced a public comment period on sports broadcasting practices, set to close on April 13.
The agency highlighted that sports coverage has increasingly moved to paywalled streaming platforms, requiring viewers to subscribe to multiple services.
The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 provides professional sports leagues, including the NFL, MLB, and NBA, with an antitrust exemption. This allows leagues to negotiate television rights as a single package. The FCC's review focuses on issues such as local blackout restrictions, where events are not aired in specific markets due to contractual agreements.
indicate that 43 percent of U.S. households with internet access watch sports, and 70 percent use streaming platforms, according to a 2025 Parks Associates report. TV or ESPN+. To watch every NFL game last season, viewers needed to subscribe to nearly a dozen services at a minimum cost of $1,000, based on FCC estimates.
Roughly half of people who follow sports at least somewhat closely reported dissatisfaction with their spending, per the AP poll. Randy Alavarez, a 35-year-old resident in the Los Angeles area, stated that after discontinuing cable in 2022, his streaming subscriptions have led to missed games due to costs.
John So, a 45-year-old resident of Texas, noted that the need to pay an extra $15 or $16 monthly for local sports networks discourages active viewing.
The FCC's initiative follows broader discussions on modernizing regulations for streaming services from companies like Apple, Amazon, and Netflix.
For decades, many Americans accessed sports games for free via over-the-air broadcasts. The agency noted that locating desired games has become more difficult in the current environment. Lawmakers have signaled willingness to update licensing rules to reflect streaming developments.
