If you are a fan of the NFL, you are almost certainly aware of how viewing the games has drastically changed in the past few years. In the past, you would simply turn on your TV, flip to the channel the game is always on, and proceed to watch your team compete for the Lombardy. However, as streaming services such as Netflix and Peacock have gotten increasingly popular, the way Americans get their football fix has undergone meaningful change. The ways of the past are gone, and now, with each passing year we see the NFL divvying up more of its schedule to streaming services alongside cable TV. [1]
From a business perspective, one can see how this move makes sense for the NFL. One benefit is that the NFL can capitalize on the increasingly popularity of streaming services, pushing their product onto platforms people are using more and more. Additionally, because it seems that new streaming platforms are coming onto the stage all the time, the move makes sense because more platforms means more bidders for who can stream that week’s big game, thus bringing in mass revenue for the league.
However, while it makes sense for the league, fans aren’t necessarily happy about it. Many of these streaming services cost upwards of twenty plus dollars a month, forcing fans to subscribe to multiple services in addition to cable just to watch the games they’ve always watched does not exactly strike most people as a bargain. It is in light of these considerations that the FCC has gotten involved.[2] The FCC has announced that it is considering rewriting the rules for local blackout restrictions on live sports, noting that it may be necessary to “shake up” the landscape of pro sports broadcasting. According to FCC estimates, if a fan wanted to watch all NFL games last season, she would need to pay upwards of $1,000 in addition to subscribing to 10 different streaming services. [3]
The FCC roots its concerns within the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which allows the NFL to license telecasts of the games to national broadcasters.[4] The FCC implies that because the Act was designed to keep the broadcast of games public facing, the Act may need to be revisited to ensure the purpose can be upheld in light of the streaming era.[5]
While it is unclear what action the FCC will take, it is reassuring that the public’s opinion is being considered. What’s really important is that the games remain accessible, and that the NFL generates revenue from fan engagement, not streaming contracts.
[1] Andrew Hammond, Why the FCC is looking to make changes on how fans watch live sports, AL.com (April 6, 2026).
[2] Adam Minter, The FCC May Rescue Frustrated NFL Fans, Bloomberg (April 7, 2026).
[3] Dominick Mastrangello, FCC eyes changes to live sports broadcast rules amid fan frustration, The Hill (April 6, 2026).
[4] 15 U.S.C. §§ 1291–1295
[5] FCC Considers Revamping 1961 Sports Blackout Rule, Washington Today (April 6, 2026).
Blake Breidenstein is a third year law student at the University at Buffalo School of Law who has spent much of his law school career studying how the law intertwines with the sports and entertainment industry. Throughout his time in law school, Breidenstein has supported the university's compliance office, working alongside a supervising attorney and staff in ensuring compliance with the ever-changing rules governing collegiate athletics. As a lifelong baseball player, Blake focuses much of his writing on the MLB, although his Buffalo roots occasionally turn his focus towards the Bills and Sabres.
Leave a Reply