Congress asks Roger Goodell to testify about NFL's broadcast deals - ESPN

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been summoned by Congress to testify about the league's broadcast contracts and whether they are harming American consumers, according to a letter obtained by ESPN.

Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote to Goodell on Monday to invite the commissioner to take part in a committee hearing June 10. The committee plans to discuss whether updated laws are needed to regulate how pro sports leagues negotiate their TV deals.

Jordan's letter notes the media landscape has changed considerably since 1961, when Congress granted several pro sports leagues a limited antitrust exemption to allow them to negotiate their TV deals in large groups as part of the Sports Broadcasting Act. Lawmakers and fans have expressed growing concerns about how many of those leagues are now selling some of their games to a wide variety of companies, which makes it harder and more expensive for fans to watch.

«Back when the Sports Broadcast Act was passed, the promise was you'll get to watch every one of your team's games for free,» Jordan told ESPN. «Things have changed dramatically since 1961.»

In April, the Department of Justice launched an investigation into the NFL's use of the Sports Broadcasting Act, which was written before cable or any type of streaming service existed and therefore does not explicitly address whether the exemption from antitrust law applies to anything other than over-the-air broadcast deals. Courts have ruled in the past that the exemption does not apply to other media such as cable, satellite and streaming services.

«The idea they can collude when negotiating a deal with a cable company or Amazon Prime is a very fair question to ask and explore,» Jordan said.

Goodel