The Federal Communications Commission announced Wednesday a public inquiry into how the migration of sports broadcasting rights from traditional television to streaming platforms affects consumers and local broadcasters.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr noted that while many games remain on broadcast networks, a growing number are exclusively available on services such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Peacock, and YouTube. He emphasized that sports have historically supported local television, funding news, emergency alerts, and community programming.

The FCC’s Media Bureau public notice cites estimates that in 2025, NFL games aired across 10 different platforms, with some calculations suggesting fans would need to spend over $1,500 to watch every game in a season. College athletic conferences have also entered multibillion-dollar media rights agreements, launching their own networks and direct-to-consumer streaming services.

The agency is requesting comment on the consumer experience, the effect on local broadcasters, and the legal framework governing sports media rights, including the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, which allows professional leagues to collectively sell television rights with certain antitrust exemptions.

Comments are due March 27, with reply comments due April 13. The inquiry follows earlier concerns raised by House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, who requested briefings on whether major sports leagues should continue to receive antitrust exemptions that allow coordinated TV rights sales and game blackouts.

The FCC emphasized that the shift to streaming has led to frustration among consumers and could impact broadcasters’ ability to fulfill public interest obligations, highlighting the need for careful evaluation of sports media rights in the digital era.