The 1961 revenue-sharing vote changed everything. Big-market teams like the Giants agreed to split TV money equally with small markets like Green Bay. This created competitive balance that made every game matter, perfect for television drama.
What Changed
The 1966 AFL-NFL merger eliminated competition, ended bidding wars for players, and created the Super Bowl. Then the league weaponized scarcity: lobbied Congress for antitrust exemptions, capped team supply at 32, and forced cities into stadium subsidy arms races or lose franchises.
Where it Landed
Unstoppable. $20B annual revenue, double baseball and basketball combined. 93 of the top 100 most-watched events in history are NFL games. Average team worth $5B with infinite waiting list.
The Principles
1.
Engineer scarcity to command premium pricing. The NFL keeps seasons short and team supply capped — 17 games versus baseball's 162 means every game is an event.
2.
If you don't like the rules, change the laws. The 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act gave the NFL an antitrust exemption that created an unbreachable moat against competition.
3.
Competitive balance is the product. Revenue sharing and salary caps ensure 32 teams can win, creating unpredictable drama that keeps viewers hooked year after year.
Builder's Takeaway
If you're building a dominant league or platform:
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Lobby for regulatory moats early — the NFL locked in antitrust exemptions before scale
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Cap supply ruthlessly to maintain pricing power and scarcity value
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Balance competition internally so no participant dominates and kills viewer interest
