Rupert Murdoch Warned Trump: NFL Streaming Expansion Could 'Kill Broadcast Networks'

The NFL’s aggressive push to extract higher fees from its broadcast partners has led one of those partners to seek intervention at the highest levels of government. Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox and a vocal critic of the NFL’s streaming ambitions, reportedly warned President Donald Trump during a February dinner that expanding the league’s streaming deals could "kill broadcast networks."

Federal Scrutiny Intensifies Against the NFL

Since Murdoch’s warning, the NFL has faced unprecedented scrutiny from multiple federal entities. Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Department of Justice have all turned their attention to the league’s media strategy, creating a multi-pronged challenge for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, Goodell expressed his concerns to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles in April. Wiles is the daughter of the late NFL legend Pat Summerall. Goodell reportedly assured Wiles that he would be willing to demonstrate why the NFL’s media model is the fairest among major American sports leagues.

President Trump has also engaged with NFL stakeholders, including Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in recent weeks, though the details of those conversations remain undisclosed.

NFL Counters with Broadcast Dominance Claims

In response to the backlash, the NFL has emphasized its reliance on traditional broadcast television. The league points to a statistic claiming that 87% of all games are televised by broadcast TV. However, this figure is misleading. The bulk of weekly games air on CBS and Fox during Sunday afternoon slots at 1:00 p.m. ET, 4:05 p.m. ET, and 4:25 p.m. ET.

When it comes to premium windows, the league’s strategy diverges:

• Sunday Night Football airs on NBC.
• Monday Night Football was originally cable-exclusive but has increasingly featured ABC simulcasts in recent years.
• Thursday Night Football streams exclusively on Prime Video.

The NFL has also shifted several marquee games away from free, over-the-air TV:

• The Christmas afternoon games
• The Black Friday game
• The Week 1 international game
• The upcoming Thanksgiving Eve game
• The Packers-Bears wild-card playoff game

Political Pressure May Be Slowing the NFL’s Push

Despite the league’s aggressive stance, its efforts to renegotiate broadcast deals have stalled. The political pressure from Washington appears to be a key factor in this slowdown. With the NFL’s current deals set to expire in four years, some networks may refuse to renegotiate, opting instead to wait until 2029—when all packages except Monday Night Football will be up for bid by the highest bidders.

Alternatively, the NFL may seek a compromise that allows it to secure higher fees without pushing for the maximum possible increase. The league’s future media strategy remains uncertain as it navigates this complex landscape.