donald trump Speaking out against the NFL’s growing push toward streaming platforms. As more games move to services like Netflix, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, Trump argued that football is becoming harder to access for regular viewers.
His comment came during an interview Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. Fans there are being forced to spend more money just to follow the game, he said. The comments come just days after he faced criticism for saying he did not focus on Americans’ financial struggles when addressing tensions with Iran.
Trump criticizes NFL’s expensive streaming switch, says he doesn’t think about Americans’ finances
Donald Trump criticized the league’s growing list of exclusive streaming deals. He warned that too high a paywall could ultimately damage the NFL’s relationship with everyday viewers. “It’s hard,” he said. “You have people who love football. They’re great people. They don’t have the money to go and pay for it. It’s tough.”
The NFL has steadily expanded into streaming over the past few seasons. Amazon acquired the exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football through a billion dollar deal. The Peacocks held a special playoff game last year. Meanwhile, Netflix recently signed a deal for a Christmas Day matchup. YouTube also acquired NFL Sunday Ticket following a reported $14 billion deal.
As a result, many fans now require multiple subscriptions along with a cable package to watch every major game during the season. Trump also suggested that the league should be careful not to stray too far from traditional television.
“They have to be careful because, you know, others have tried it, and all of a sudden you don’t have a game,” he said. The NFL’s broadcasting deals have long been protected under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.
This allowed leagues to negotiate national television contracts while keeping games widely available. But the rise of streaming exclusives has sparked a new debate over access and affordability. “It’s very sad when they take football away from a lot of people,” Trump said. “So sad. I don’t like it.”