FCC review of sports broadcasting rules draws thousands of comments amid streaming backlash, chairman says

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says fans are being forced to juggle costly subscriptions just to follow football, while regulators review whether leagues are stretching their special legal treatment beyond what lawmakers originally intended.

Sports fans frustrated by the growing number of streaming platforms needed to follow live games are sounding off. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said Sunday on "Fox & Friends Weekend" that officials are reviewing thousands of comments on whether a significant share of sports should remain free on broadcast television.

Carr said the FCC is looking into whether sports leagues should continue to benefit from a special antitrust exemption, and that public comments solicited on the matter largely support keeping games more accessible.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said thousands of public comments support keeping major sports games free on broadcast TV amid streaming frustration. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

"We actually got thousands and thousands of comments. It was a big number for the FCC... The vast majority so far, based on an initial assessment, support keeping a significant portion of these sports games on free, over-the-air broadcast TV," Carr said.

"So, we'll be looking at it. There could be actions at other portions of the government, and Congress as well, if these sports leagues continue to push this issue."

FCC CHAIRMAN QUESTIONS NFL’S ANTITRUST PROTECTION AS LEAGUE SHIFTS TO STREAMING SERVICES

Netflix obtained the rights to stream the NFL's Christmas Day doubleheader in 2025, while Amazon Prime Video held the rights to the third game of the day. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

The FCC probe comes as a new Fox News poll indicates that 72% of sports fans think major sporting events