The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan from Ohio, has requested NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify at a hearing on June 10. The focus will be on the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 and its implications in today’s broadcasting landscape, particularly concerning consumer impact as games move to streaming platforms.

Examining the Sports Broadcasting Act

The hearing aims to scrutinize whether the antitrust exemption granted by the Sports Broadcasting Act has been used by professional sports leagues, like the NFL, to harm consumers. This exemption allows leagues to pool television rights and sell them collectively, a practice that has significantly benefited the NFL, with current media-rights agreements valued at over $110 billion.

As sports broadcasting evolves, concerns have been raised about games being shifted to subscription-based streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. This shift has prompted consumer complaints about increased costs to access games. The upcoming NFL season will see Amazon Prime holding exclusive rights to the annual Black Friday game and 15 Thursday Night Football games, while Netflix will stream two Christmas Day games.

Potential Legislative Changes

The committee’s inquiry, along with probes by the Department of Justice and the FCC, could lead to legislative changes affecting the NFL’s business model. The NFL has previously argued before the FCC that its model benefits consumers, noting that 87% of games are available on free television. However, the growing presence of games on paid platforms remains a contentious issue.

Goodell has been asked to confirm his attendance by June 3, and the hearing will take place in the Rayburn House Office Building. The outcome could have significant implications for how professional sports leagues negotiate and distribute broadcasting rights in the future.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.