For decades, Sunday NFL games were a ritual millions of Americans could count on, no subscription required, no paywall to navigate. However, the league now requires paid streaming platforms to access its increasing number of broadcasts.

It has led to fan discontent and newfound criticism from President Donald Trump. On Sunday's Full Measure interview, Trump voiced disapproval of the NFL's shift toward exclusive streaming.

"You have people who live for Sunday. They can't think about anything else, and then all of a sudden, they're gonna have to pay $1,000 a game?" Trump stated. "It's crazy, so I'm not happy about it."

The NFL does not have any games that fans can watch for $1,000. However, fans who want to watch every game of the 2025 season through legal streaming services would need to spend more than $1,000 across various platforms.

It includes Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football, Netflix and Peacock for selected games, and YouTube TV for Sunday Ticket out-of-market packages.

The NFL shows more than 87% of its games on free over-the-air television networks, which include ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.

The Department of Justice opened an antitrust investigation into the NFL's media deals in April 2026. They seek to determine whether the broadcasting contracts breach customer rights, which the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 protects.

The NFL media system, which generates $11 billion in annual revenue, faces mounting challenges. The Department of Justice is conducting an active investigation and both political parties increase their investigation efforts.

DOJ Opens Antitrust Probe Into NFL Broadcast Deals

The federal government created its first official pressure for the investigation during April 2026, when the U.S. Department of Justice launched its antitrust investigation of the NFL broadcast distribution system.

This investigation determines whether the league's TV and streaming agreements violated antitrust laws, which resulted in higher expenses for viewers.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the probe, noting it would look into whether the league's rights contracts. It would also require subscription fees for viewing games, violating competition law.

A U.S. government official confirmed to ABC News that the investigation focuses on "affordability and creating an even playing field for providers."

The NFL has a media rights agreement with CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN/ABC, and Amazon Prime Video, which lasts for 11 years and is worth $110 billion until the 2033-34 season. ESPN also finalized its $3 billion purchase of NFL Network earlier this year.

The probe follows a March 3 letter from Senator Mike Lee to the DOJ and FTC. He used it to request an investigation into the NFL's distribution practices to determine their compliance with the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.

Lee stated that fans spend approximately $1,000 each year on subscription services, which provide access to complete game coverage. Whereas, Forbes estimated the annual cost at approximately $765 during the previous season.

The NFL has defended its model by saying that 87% of all game moments are broadcast on national television, and the 2020 season was the most-watched since 1989.

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Rishab Nandi