Sports fans looking to watch NFL games through streaming platforms are paying more than ever, and at least one antitrust attorney says the situation may have legal consequences.
Kellie Lerner, managing partner at Shindor Cantor Lerner, spoke with Bloomberg about the rising cost for sports fans to watch their teams through various streaming platforms. Her comments came during an appearance on Bloomberg's The Close.
According to Bloomberg, Lerner discussed both the financial burden on consumers and the potential legal ramifications that streaming arrangements could face under antitrust law. The conversation came as more sports broadcasting rights have shifted away from traditional cable television and toward streaming services that often require separate subscriptions.
The NFL in particular has distributed its broadcast rights across multiple platforms in recent years, meaning fans who want to watch a full slate of games may need to subscribe to several different services. The combined cost of those subscriptions has become a point of frustration for many viewers.
Lerner addressed whether those arrangements could draw antitrust scrutiny. Antitrust law generally targets agreements or structures that reduce competition or harm consumers. The question of whether media rights deals involving major sports leagues cross that line has come up with greater frequency as streaming costs rise.
The NFL is one of the most valuable sports media properties in the world. Its broadcasting agreements span multiple platforms including traditional network television, cable, and streaming services. Those deals generate billions of dollars annually and shape how and where most Americans watch professional football.
Bloomberg's coverage of Lerner's comments reflects a broader conversation happening in sports media about access and affordability. As rights deals grow more complex and expensive, the costs are increasingly passed on to consumers in the form of higher subscription prices or additional fees.
No specific legal action was announced or reported. Lerner's appearance was focused on the landscape of potential liability rather than any existing case or investigation.
