FCC considers sports transition from free-to-air TV to streaming

that FCC Launch a public inquiry into immigration. sports rights From free-to-air broadcasting to subscription streaming, concerns are growing among lawmakers.

“While streamers have helped expand access to professional and college sports, they also appear to have contributed to the fragmentation of the sports media market,” the FCC Media Bureau notes, seeking public input on this trend.

The bureau said NFL games will be broadcast on 10 different services in 2025, which “according to some estimates, it could cost consumers more than $1,500 to watch all of the games.”

“In addition, 20 NFL regular season games and 1 playoff game were distributed nationwide.
It is available exclusively on four streaming services: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Peacock.
netflix.”

The Bureau is asking a series of questions, including “To what extent do current sports media rights agreements conflict with or interfere with the performance of TV broadcasters’ public interest obligations? How should these agreements be considered in the context of broadcasters’ public interest obligations and the FCC’s obligation to ensure that licensees meet statutory requirements?” The query also asks what steps the FCC can take to “ensure that broadcast licensees’ responsibilities are met.”

Brendan CarrThe FCC Chairman posted a post on the following site:

Last year, Republican House Judiciary Committee leaders Raising streaming issues They raised questions about whether major sports leagues still need to seek antitrust exemptions to coordinate TV broadcasting rights.

The FCC’s comment period closes on March 27, and responses are due on April 13.