Fox Dumps Old App as NFL Games Move to Pricey Streams
United States, USAThu Apr 09 2026
Fox just announced it’s shutting down its sports app for smart TVs and streaming sticks by May 2026. Instead, users will have to switch to FOX One, a newer app that does more than just show games. You can now record shows or watch two games at once on the same screen. But here’s the catch: to keep watching NFL games or NASCAR races, you’ll need to download the new app and log in again, either with a paid subscription or your cable details.
The real storm isn’t just about Fox’s app change—it’s about how much sports are costing fans these days. Once, you could flip on your TV and watch a football game for free. Now, games are scattered across Amazon, Peacock, Netflix, and other paid services, making it pricey to follow your favorite teams. Traditional TV networks like Fox worry this shift could kill local sports coverage, just like what happened to local newspapers years ago.
Fox’s owner has even criticized the NFL’s special legal advantage—an antitrust exemption that lets the league act like a monopoly. Back in 1961, the government made a deal: the NFL could bundle all its TV rights together in exchange for keeping games free on local channels. That deal worked for decades as football grew into a massive business. But now, the NFL is selling games to subscription services instead of free TV, breaking the original promise.
Senators and critics argue the NFL might be stretching its legal limits. The law was meant for free, ad-supported TV, but today, games are hidden behind paywalls on apps like Amazon Prime or Apple TV+. If the government decides the NFL broke its deal, the league could lose its special status, giving bigger teams even more power.
Meanwhile, TV networks are fighting back by complaining to the government. CBS, for example, now pays a whopping $3 billion a year just to air Sunday games—a 45% increase. Some say this push is just a way to negotiate better contracts, but the bigger issue is whether football will stay affordable for fans or become a luxury only rich viewers can enjoy.
