President Trump has voiced concerns over escalating prices for NFL game viewership as the Justice Department delves into possible anti-competitive pricing practices.
In a Sunday interview with Full Measure, the president expressed that the hefty cost of accessing an entire NFL season could potentially alienate regular, working-class fans.
“Football enthusiasts are passionate and wonderful people, yet many struggle financially to afford these costs,” Trump remarked.
Although he was uncertain about whether government intervention would occur, he clearly stated, “I don’t approve of it.”
“The leagues are profiting significantly; they could afford to earn a bit less and allow fans greater access,” Trump commented.
The rising expenses for watching NFL games became noticeable last year when the league opted for a mix of traditional broadcasting and deals with streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. This shift has been met with fan criticism due to the complexity and expense of managing multiple platforms, as reported by the New York Times. According to their findings, the cost of following a complete NFL season reached over $600 last year.
In April, the Wall Street Journal revealed that the DoJ had opened an investigation into the NFL’s media deal for potential anti-competitive pricing. In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s broadcast agreements.
“It’s the most accessible game out there, and most accessible in any league,” Goodell said. “Over 87 percent of our games go on free television, every single one of our games, the two participating teams, it’s in their home market.
“We go to platforms that are new. We went to ESPN back in the 80s. That has been a great move for our fans and has developed new ways to engage with the NFL, but we’ve been surviving and thriving on the basis of being available to the broadest audience,” he added.
Inquiries into the NFL’s alleged anti-competitive pricing has been mostly bipartisan, with Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, submitting “a letter requesting that the DOJ and Federal Trade Commission review antitrust exceptions given to the NFL,” and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) saying “she plans to introduce legislation aimed at decreasing TV costs and blackouts for sports fans,” per the New York Times.
