NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell declines an invitation to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing next week regarding the NFL’s broadcast and streaming arrangements. Multiple outlets report that lawmakers, led by Rep. Jim Jordan, request testimony on how the league’s media rights dealings affect consumers, including concerns that NFL games are increasingly available through paywalled streaming services and whether such practices may run afoul of the Sports Broadcasting Act. Reported scrutiny includes questions about whether current arrangements harm consumers and whether legislative remedies could be needed.
According to outlets including The Athletic and Fox News, the NFL’s general counsel tells Congress that Goodell will not participate due to ongoing litigation related to the subject of the hearing. Fox News also notes that the refusal follows attention to past congressional testimony and frames the decision in the context of the current legal challenges.
Other coverage describes the bipartisan nature of lawmakers’ concerns about paywalls and the structure of viewing access. Overall, the dispute centers on Congress’s request for testimony versus the NFL’s position that litigation prevents Goodell from appearing.
