The NFL doesn’t see an issue with how many of its games will air on different streaming services in 2026. When asked about the league’s 2026 schedule Friday, a league executive told ESPN the NFL has “the most fan-friendly model there is.”
With the release of the 2026 NFL schedule Thursday, the full scope of the league’s current broadcast deals came to light. While many NFL games can be viewed on broadcast television, games will also air on ESPN, Peacock, Netflix and Prime Video, among other services.
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NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder said Friday that’s unlikely to change moving forward, per ESPN.
“We love our model,” he said. “We think we have the most fan-friendly model there is of any sport or entertainment as far as distribution.”
That comment was likely a response to increased pressure from President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the affordability and availability of watching NFL games. Due to the league’s partnerships with various streaming services, fans are required to purchase multiple subscriptions if they want to have access to every NFL game in 2026. Trump and other politicians have criticized the league over that decision, citing the rising costs associated with watching NFL games.
Trump spoke about the issue during an interview with The National Desk on Sunday. When asked whether the league’s presence on multiple streaming services was a form of “price gouging,” Trump responded by saying, “There’s something very sad when they take football away from many, many people. Very sad.”
When asked whether the government would step in, Trump said, “I don’t know, but I don’t like it. They are making a lot of money. They could make a little bit less. They could let the people see. You have people that live for Sunday. They can’t think about anything else. And then all of the sudden they have to pay $1,000 a game? It’s crazy. I’m not happy about it.”
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That $1,000 likely came from research cited by Republican Sen. Mike Lee, chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. In February, Lee estimated fans would need to spend “almost $1,000 on cable and streaming services” if they wanted to watch every NFL game last season.
Lee isn’t the only senator frustrated by the league’s tactics. Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin said in April she planned to introduce legislation aimed at ending sports blackouts. Baldwin doubled down on that point Thursday after learning the Green Bay Packers would play on Netflix on Thanksgiving Eve.
In April, a report emerged suggesting the DOJ had opened an investigation into the NFL over whether it engaged in “anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers,” per the Wall Street Journal.
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The investigation is believed to focus on the league’s ability to negotiate its own TV rights packages. The NFL is allowed some antitrust protection thanks to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, giving it power to negotiate its own media-rights deals.
But the television landscape has changed drastically since then, leading to increased attention on the league’s ability to negotiate with both broadcast networks and streaming services.
It’s unclear what the DOJ is hoping to accomplish with its reported investigation. But it could be looking to get ahead of the issue before the NFL negotiates its next round of media-rights deals, which could occur in the next few months, per Sports Media Watch.
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