NFL fans’ 2025 bills come under focus as FCC probes the rise of sports streaming services

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It is becoming costly to watch the NFL, and the FCC is trying to ease the pain.

The FCC on Wednesday announced it would seek public comment on the ongoing shift of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming services. The move comes as the NFL, NBA, MLB and other major sports have moved many games from broadcast and cable television to streaming services. 

The sports leagues have cashed in on the pivot to streaming, with the NFL landing $1 billion a year to air Thursday Night Football on Amazon as an example. The Sports Broadcasting Act exemption passed in 1961 applies only to broadcast television. 

Courts have ruled in the past that it does not apply to other media, including cable, satellite and streaming. The Sports Broadcasting Act includes a rule allowing blackouts of local games, which still applies to out-of-market packages sold by the leagues.

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The Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif.  (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Thursday night NFL games are broadcast exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, while Netflix recently became the home of Christmas games. Those without cable, or fans of an out-of-town team, have to purchase NFL Sunday Ticket to see live out-of-market games. Without cable, NBC’s "Sunday Night Football" on Peacock and ESPN's streaming service for "Monday Night Football" are also necessary to complete the go-around.

To catch all the action throughout the 2025 season, fans had to fork over at least $575, and some spent nearly $800. Here's a breakdown of the average costs. 

For Sunday