Sports Streaming: A New Era for Fans and Broadcasters

The Federal Communications Commission has opened a public comment period to explore how live sports are moving from traditional TV to online platforms. This shift, highlighted by the FCC’s request for input, reflects a growing trend where fans must navigate multiple services to catch their favorite games. The request asks the public to consider several key points. First, how do recent changes in the sports media market affect broadcasters’ ability to secure rights? Second, what impact does this have on viewers who want to watch national or local games on free TV? Third, how common are agreements between local stations and teams, and what do those deals look like? Finally, the FCC wants to know how these developments change costs for fans.Major leagues have already signed deals with streaming giants. The NFL’s games are spread across ten different services, and estimates suggest that following every game could cost over a thousand dollars. However, most NFL games remain on free broadcast TV, giving fans many affordable options. The NBA’s Monday night games air on Peacock, while Amazon Prime Video shows Thursday and Friday matches. MLB has partnered with Netflix and Peacock for the season, and NHL games appear on ESPN+ and Hulu. The landscape is also being reshaped by the collapse of regional sports networks. Diamond Sports Group, once a major owner of such networks, filed for bankruptcy and was rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network. These changes threaten the availability of local team coverage, especially for baseball and hockey franchises that rely on regional broadcasts. The FCC’s call for comments comes at a time when fans are questioning whether the new streaming model serves them better than traditional TV. By gathering public feedback, the commission hopes to understand whether the current mix of broadcast and digital rights protects local news programs while keeping sports accessible.