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Important Change Reportedly Coming To 2026 NFL Schedule

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Arnab Mondal | Last updated May 7, 2026 3:39 PM ET

The NFL still has not released its full 2026 schedule, and the announcement has been slightly delayed. But when the schedule finally comes out later this month, fans may notice a small change. Reports say the league could put a few more games on traditional TV networks as questions grow about how fans watch games.

CNBC reporter Alex Sherman said the 2026 schedule release will “include a slight increase in its broadcast footprint from last year.” The move could help the league answer growing concerns from lawmakers and federal regulators about the rising number of streaming-only games.

Sherman pointed to ongoing scrutiny from the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. Both agencies have looked into the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, which gives the NFL a limited antitrust exemption in exchange for making games widely available on broadcast television.

“The schedule will include a slight increase in its broadcast footprint from last year, which may make the government happy,” Sherman wrote.

The NFL currently spreads its games across several platforms. Fans now need subscriptions or access to Amazon Prime Video, CBS, FOX, NBC and Netflix to watch every game during the season. That setup has resulted in criticism from some lawmakers who believe fans now pay too much just to follow the league.

DOJ Investigation Puts NFL Under Pressure

NFL logo on the game ball (Photo Via Imagn Images)

Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that federal officials launched an investigation into whether the NFL used “anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers.”

Republican Sen. Mike Lee criticized the growing cost of watching the league. “To watch every NFL game during the past season, football fans spent almost $1,000 on cable and streaming subscriptions,” Lee said, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The NFL’s TV partners are still getting strong ratings, even with some criticism from fans. NBC still airs “Sunday Night Football,” which has been the most-watched show on American TV for the last 15 years. FOX also had its best NFL ratings since 2015 last season, averaging nearly 19.63 million viewers.

Amazon has also grown since taking over “Thursday Night Football” in 2022. According to reports, the streaming package has increased its audience by 60% and had its biggest season yet last year.

The NFL has not officially explained what the schedule change for 2026 will be. But reports suggest the league may move more games back to traditional TV networks as the government pays closer attention to streaming access.

That makes the upcoming schedule release more important than usual. Fans, TV networks, and government officials will all be watching closely to see how the NFL handles the balance between streaming and regular TV access.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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