D.C. Memo: NFL to FCC: Without Antitrust Exemption, Games Could Appear on Streamers Like Philo and Crackle
NFL's top lawyer, Ted Ullyot, armed with a 17-page slide deck for senior FCC staff, predicted fan viewing chaos if Commissioner Roger Goodell can't negotiated TV rights deals for all 32 teams
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TV Sports: The NFL now seems aware that its streaming deals have caught Washington’s attention. NFL officials defended the league’s long‑standing media strategy in a meeting with senior FCC staff, outlining why they believe their broadcast‑heavy model continues to serve fans even as regulators question the shift of some games to paid streaming platforms. “Since its founding, the NFL has strived to put its fans at the center of everything we do. Nowhere is that more evident than in the NFL’s media distribution strategy, which for more than 50 years has served as a foundation and catalyst for the League’s growth and popularity,” the NFL said in an April 21 letter to the FCC. In an April 17 meeting, NFL General Counsel Ted Ullyot, Executive Vice President for Media Distribution Hans Schroeder, and Executive Vice President for Communications Jeff Miller met with Greg Watson, chief of staff to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, along with senior FCC advisers. The discussion centered on Carr’s concerns about whether the NFL still needs the antitrust exemption granted under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which allows the league’s 32 teams to negotiate television deals collectively. (More after paywall)
