Federal regulators are widening their focus on how professional sports leagues distribute games, and Major League Baseball (MLB) is drawing increased attention as part of that effort. Bloomberg reports that Brendan Carr acknowledged that much of the early discussion has centered on the NFL.
However, he made clear the broader review extends beyond football. In fact, Carr suggested other leagues could be testing the limits of current law even further.
“You could make the argument that there’s other sports leagues out there that are potentially pushing the limits of the Sports Broadcasting Act even further than what the NFL has,” Carr said Thursday. “The NFL is something that everyone is aware of and focuses on. And so I speak of it just as a shorthand, but we are focused more broadly on other leagues as well.”
At the center of the conversation is the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which allows leagues to negotiate media rights collectively. That framework has long shaped how fans access live games. Now, regulators are questioning whether it still applies cleanly in a streaming-first environment.
The U.S. Department of Justice has already opened an inquiry into the National Football League over potential antitrust concerns tied to media rights deals. That probe is expected to expand. Sources are telling Bloomberg that the DOJ plans to review other leagues covered under the same law. This includes Major League Baseball.
Carr pointed to a chain of rising costs, where each layer of the distribution system shifts blame. Cable providers cite high retransmission fees. Broadcasters point to national networks. In turn, networks often trace those costs back to league-level rights agreements.
That dynamic has not gone unnoticed in Washington. The Federal Communications Commission has been collecting public comments on sports distribution. According to Carr, baseball fans have been especially vocal.
He said the level of feedback tied to MLB surprised him. Many fans expressed frustration over blackout restrictions, platform exclusivity, and the growing number of subscriptions required to follow a single team.
“We care a lot about the health of the local broadcast market and we also care about the consumer’s experience that’s been really frustrating,” Carr said.
As regulators continue their review, MLB’s evolving media strategy could become a new key test case. And depending on the outcome, the way fans watch games may be poised for another significant change.
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