FOX Owner Rupert Murdoch spent seven decades building one of the world’s largest media empires. That influence was recently deployed in a way nobody predicted. The consequences could reshape an industry worth over $100 billion.
In February 2026, Murdoch dined with President Donald Trump at the White House. He warned that more NFL games going to streamers “would kill broadcast networks.”
Donald Trump Gave NFL Analyst Stephen A. Smith One Career Secret
President Donald Trump does a dance after speaking to a crowd of soldiers on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at Fort Bragg.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the dinner and the details of the meeting where Murdoch apparently lobbied to preserve air rights for broadcasters. According to a source, Trump listened and asked questions about the business.
“Murdoch and his top lieutenants warned Trump that if streamers gained rights to more games, it would kill broadcast networks (like Fox),” the report stated.
Two weeks later, the FCC launched a public inquiry into sports rights. It examined the migration of live sports from free broadcast to subscription streaming.
Amazon holds exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football under current media deals. The FCC sought public comments on whether this shift from free TV to paid streaming harms access.
Senator Mike Lee of Utah then pressed the DOJ to examine the NFL. In April 2026, the DOJ opened an antitrust investigation into the league’s media rights deals.
A government official confirmed to ABC News that the probe focuses on affordability and competition. The investigation examines whether the NFL’s distribution model harms consumers and limits provider competition.
The NFL defended its model after the investigation became public. Citing broad broadcast availability, a league spokesperson pointed to accessible distribution as evidence.
How things stand right now for NFL streaming
The NFL’s current media agreements span 11 years, worth approximately $113 billion. Through 2033, the deals involve CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and Amazon.
Netflix carries Christmas Day games under a separate arrangement. By the league’s count, 87% of games air on free broadcast television, including all local market games.
The investigation centers on the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. Under that law, professional sports leagues receive limited antitrust exemptions to sell broadcast rights as a group.
Congress has previously questioned how streaming deals impact consumer costs. The DOJ investigation will test whether the league’s use of that exemption violates antitrust principles.
Whether Murdoch’s lobbying directly caused the government’s response remains unproven. The timeline from that February dinner to federal action within weeks is difficult to ignore.
The NFL called the 2025 season its most-viewed since 1989. The league is renegotiating deals that could eliminate opt-out clauses after the 2029 season.
Those renegotiations may determine whether more games move behind streaming paywalls. The DOJ investigation could force structural changes in how the NFL sells its most valuable product.