By MAX WINTERS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 10:59 EDT, 9 April 2026 | Updated: 12:43 EDT, 9 April 2026

The Justice Department has opened a bombshell investigation into the NFL.

The probe is looking into whether the NFL has engaged in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. 

It comes after questions have been asked of the NFL by media companies, members of Congress and regulators in recent months. 

There are concerns around how difficult and expensive it has become for consumers to watch games as a result of the broadcasting deals the league has struck in recent years.

Access to NFL games has spread across multiple networks and streaming companies, which requires fans to take out a number of costly subscriptions. 

The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 allowed anti-trust exemptions that gave leagues like the NFL the chance to bundle their broadcasting rights together so they could agree on mega-money TV rights contracts with national networks.

The Justice Department has opened a bombshell investigation into whether the NFL has engaged in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers, it was reported Thursday

The Justice Department has opened a bombshell investigation into whether the NFL has engaged in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers, it was reported Thursday

A spokesman for the NFL, which is led by Roger Goodell, said its media distribution model 'is the most fan and broadcaster-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry'

A spokesman for the NFL, which is led by Roger Goodell, said its media distribution model ‘is the most fan and broadcaster-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry’

As well as traditional TV networks, Netflix and Amazon Prime now hold rights to NFL games

As well as traditional TV networks, Netflix and Amazon Prime now hold rights to NFL games

But in recent years, the NFL’s rights holders have evolved to include subscription-based streaming services. 

The emergence of those has led to concerns from fans about how much it costs to be able to watch their favorite teams across a dizzying number of platforms. 

In the upcoming 2026 season, games will be broadcast on CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, Amazon Prime, Fox One, Paramount+, Peacock, Netflix and YouTube.

‘To watch every NFL game during the past season, football fans spent almost $1,000 on cable and streaming subscriptions,’ Republican Sen. Mike Lee wrote in a letter last month to the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, the NFL said: ‘The NFL’s media distribution model is the most fan and broadcaster-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry. 

‘With over 87 percent of our games on free, broadcast television, including 100 percent of games in the markets of the competing teams, the NFL has for decades put our fans front and center in how we distribute our content.

‘The 2025 season was our most viewed since 1989 and reflects the strength of the NFL distribution model and its wide availability to all fans.’ 

It comes just months after ESPN struck a deal with the NFL to acquire NFL Network, rights for RedZone and three more games every season. 

ESPN struck a deal with the NFL to acquire NFL Network, RedZone rights and three more games

ESPN struck a deal with the NFL to acquire NFL Network, RedZone rights and three more games

As part of the package, the NFL has taken a 10 percent ownership in the network that is owned by Disney. That stake is worth billions. 

However, ESPN was the big winner. It now owns and operates NFL Network, will be the official home of the league’s fantasy football product and holds the rights to RedZone. 

The NFL is reportedly attempting to reopen its deals with the major TV networks to secure higher rates.

The NFL’s existing deals with CBS, NBC and Fox have an opt-out window the league can activate after the 2029-30 season. 

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NFL hit with bombshell Justice Department investigation