A U.S. Senator is urging a review of the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act as live sports increasingly move to streaming services, leading to significant cost increases and confusion for fans. Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, has written to federal officials, highlighting the dramatic shift from free broadcast television to multiple paid streaming platforms.
Lee stated that fans now spend nearly $1,000 annually on subscriptions to watch all NFL games, necessitating multiple streaming services and high-speed internet. He argues that the current landscape, where leagues license games to various platforms, may no longer align with the original intent of the antitrust exemption, which was designed for free broadcast television.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr echoed these concerns, noting the frustration of consumers accustomed to finding games easily on free or bundled television packages. The shift to streaming has allowed sports leagues to capitalize on lucrative deals, such as the NFL's reported $1 billion annual agreement with Amazon for Thursday Night Football. The 1961 act's exemption does not extend to cable, satellite, or streaming services.