07:40 AM EDT, 04/10/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with the NFL's response in the third paragraph.)

The US Department of Justice has opened an investigation into whether the National Football League has engaged in anticompetitive tactics, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Media companies, regulators and members of Congress have expressed concerns in recent months over how difficult it is for fans to watch games as a result of rights packages through which leagues offer smaller packages of games to streamers, the report said.

"The NFL's media distribution model is the most fan- and broadcaster-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry," the NFL said in an emailed response to MT Newswires. "With over 87% of our games on free, broadcast television, including 100% of games in the markets of the competing teams, the NFL has for decades put our fans front and center in how we distribute our content."

The DOJ didn't reply to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)