America’s most popular sport has become expensive and frustrating to consume. 

NFL fans who want to access every game need YouTube TV for “NFL Sunday Ticket,” along with costly subscriptions to Amazon Prime, Peacock and Netflix. All the packages cost fans well over $1,500 a year combined, and that doesn’t include fees associated with basic cable packages that many Americans still subscribe to or high-speed Wi-Fi needed to accommodate the streamers. 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr has made it a point of emphasis to help American sports fans as the NFL, along with the NBA, MLB and other major sports, have moved key games from broadcast and cable television to costly streaming services. 

Last month, the FCC announced it would seek public comments on the ongoing shift of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming services. The comment period runs through March 27 and replies to the comments are due April 13. 

NFL WILL DILUTE PRODUCT EVEN FURTHER BY OPENING SEASON ON A WEDNESDAY

The FCC under the Trump administration is seeking public comments on the ongoing shift of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming services. (Getty Images)

Carr has suggested it’s simply too expensive and inconvenient for consumers to watch their favorite teams, and while he understands the argument that streaming opens more games and more content, he believes the cons outweigh the pros for most fans. 

“Americans are frustrated when they sit down and can’t find the game they want to watch. And that feeling grows only worse when they realize that they might need to sign up for another streaming service to watch the game,” Carr told Fox News Digital. 

“There has long been a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between sports leagues and broadcasters, and consumers will benefit if that continues,” Carr continued. “I want to see Americans continue to benefit from free over-the-air sports programming.”

EX-NFL STAR CAUTIONS LEAGUE ABOUT ‘GIVING FANS TOO MUCH’ AS THANKSGIVING EVE GAME REPORTEDLY EYED

NFL fans who want to access every game need YouTube TV for “NFL Sunday Ticket,” along with costly subscriptions to Amazon Prime, Peacock and Netflix.  (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

But as Carr is concerned that streaming games are maddening for sports fans, the media industry appears well aware the trend will continue.

The issue particularly impacts the NFL, as the most popular sport in the country has reopened its rights deal with Paramount and CBS. Popular Hollywood-focused podcast “The Town” dedicated an episode to the “NFL’s billion-dollar cash grab” on Wednesday.

“We all know how important sports rights have become to the entertainment and media companies. For the linear TV business, it’s basically sports, and to a lesser extent news, driving audiences and not much else. For the streaming services looking to lure new subscribers, nothing generates a sign-up better than an exclusive, premium sports event,” host Matt Belloni told listeners. 

“But where is that tipping point? The level at which sports rights become so expensive that the traditional outlets can no longer justify the cost, and the streaming players fully take over?” Belloni continued. “A huge test of this theory is what’s going on with the NFL right now.”

CBS’ contract with the NFL has a “change of control” provision that will be triggered by Skydance Media’s pending takeover of parent company Paramount. CNBC’s Alex Sherman recently reported that the NFL and CBS “are negotiating a price increase, with a bid-ask spread midpoint around 50% or 60%” to keep Sunday games on CBS. 

Sherman noted that CBS “currently pays around $2.1 billion a year, on average, for its Sunday afternoon games,” and a 50% increase could force CBS to shell out more than $3 billion for its new deal. In exchange for the extra cash, the NFL would eliminate an opt-out clause after the 2029-30 season that would have allowed the league to cut ties with CBS early. The current deal runs through 2033. 

NFL’S PUSH FOR GROWTH IS INEXORABLE AT EXPENSE OF FANS AND AMID AN ‘EXISTENTIAL THREAT’

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Sherman, who was a guest on “The Town” to discuss the ordeal, said the NFL doesn’t want to put CBS “out of business,” because the result would be fewer companies bidding on its product in the future. But the NFL is well aware that CBS and other companies need its content to survive and will squeeze out as much revenue as possible. 

As the negotiations take place, Sherman noted that broadcast executives are peeved that the NFL has given Amazon very attractive games often featuring marquee matchups for its “Thursday Night Football” streaming package. Whenever a highly coveted game airs on Amazon or other streamers, it diminishes the quality of the matchups Americans can access on broadcast networks. 

Sherman said that the league “rewarded Amazon” with better games when it proved there was an audience for the NFL on a streaming service, but Belloni suggested that the league simply has to play nice with Amazon incase streaming completely upends linear consumption down the road. 

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Carr has also highlighted that the partnership between broadcasters and sports rights has helped fund local news and journalism, as sports helps drive revenue to local stations that many Americans rely on. The Trump-appointed FCC boss feels that the relationship could be undermined if leagues continue to ditch local broadcasters for streaming services that are behind costly paywalls. The same theory could weaken entertainment offerings as networks like CBS will be forced to cut other spending to fork over more cash to the NFL.

“Something probably needs to give here, and it’s not going to be the NFL,” Sherman said. 

The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

As much of the country shifts from winter storms to warmer temperatures with the arrival of spring, a veteran cowboy cook says decades of experience have taught him how to prepare meals in some of the harshest conditions on Earth.

Kent Rollins, a longtime chuck wagon cook and Outdoor Channel host, has spent decades cooking for ranchers in extreme weather conditions across the country.

“If they can cowboy in it and get horseback, I can cook in it,” Rollins told Fox News Digital.

AMERICA’S ‘CAST IRON COWBOY’ REVEALS WHY TRADITIONAL SKILLETS REMAIN THE ULTIMATE COOKING TOOL

From minus-30 wind chills to 117-degree heat, Rollins, based in New Mexico, has learned how to adapt while preparing simple meals outdoors year-round.

“Life is simple,” he said. “Don’t complicate it with cooking.”

Kent Rollins has spent decades cooking for ranchers in some of the harshest conditions in the country. (Outdoor Channel)

Rollins has built a following of millions across social media and hosts “Cast Iron Cowboy” on the Outdoor Channel. 

He also recently launched the “Cowboy Coffee Hour” podcast with his wife, Shannon, with the two sharing stories from the trail and lessons on grit, faith and the cowboy code. 

COWBOY CHEF SAYS AMERICANS ARE TURNING TO ONE OF THE ‘HEALTHIEST MEATS,’ AND IT’S AT MOST GROCERY STORES

Here are six tips Rollins revealed to Fox News Digital that are essential for cooking in extreme conditions, he said. 

1. Stay hydrated in extreme heat and watch for warning signs

In high temperatures, Rollins, who was raised in Oklahoma, said hydration is critical — but water alone isn’t enough.

Kent Rollins is a rancher and host of the popular Outdoor Channel show “Cast Iron Cowboy.” (Shannon Rollins)

“You’ve got to have something that’s going to put some of the good stuff back in you,” he said, noting he often turns to electrolytes, bananas and even coconut water.

FRIED BOLOGNA SANDWICH IS BOTH COWBOY ‘COMFORT FOOD’ AND ‘FIVE-STAR DINING’

He also warned people to pay attention to their bodies.

“If you ever reach up there to wipe your brow and there ain’t no sweat no more, you might have done went too far,” he said.

2. Dress in layers in the cold to prevent frostbite

Cold weather presents its own dangers, especially for those cooking outdoors for long stretches.

Rollins recommended dressing in layers and wearing moisture-wicking clothing.

Rollins says cooking outdoors requires both adaptability and common sense. (Shannon Rollins)

“Try to wear something that’s going to wick away that moisture in the wintertime if you do get sweating because water and cold make ice,” he warned.

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Rollins also stressed the importance of covering exposed areas — noting that frostbite can set in quickly in extreme wind and snow. 

3. Plan your meals based on the weather

What’s on the menu should change with the weather, Rollins said.

In colder months, he focuses on high-calorie, hearty meals. 

“We make a lot of one-pot meals,” he said, including stews, chili and homemade sloppy Joes with ground beef, onions, jalapeños, chipotle peppers, adobe sauce and grated cheese to thicken it.

In hotter temperatures, Rollins says ranch hands may still enjoy steak. (Outdoor Channel)

For breakfast, he keeps things straightforward with a biscuit recipe that only calls for self-rising flour and heavy whipping cream.

In extreme heat, however, appetites shrink and meals get lighter. 

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“Cowboys ain’t going to eat as much, especially at a noon meal,” he said. 

4. Protect your fire — and always have a backup plan

Cooking outdoors means everything depends on your fire, Rollins said, especially in bad weather.

That means shielding it from wind, snow or rain and having a plan to keep it going. 

A well-placed shelter and dry firewood are essential, says Rollins. (Shannon Rollins)

“Make sure you have some kind of shelter … that the water is not going to put it out,” he said.

5. Pre-warm the cast iron in cold weather to avoid cracking

Extreme temperatures can impact cookware, too, Rollins said.

Cast iron should never be taken from very cold to very hot too quickly, he said. 

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“If you shock cast iron from really being too cold to too hot in a hurry, you might crack it in half,” he said. 

Instead, he recommended gradually warming it near a fire or stove before cooking and letting it cool down slowly afterward.

Proper care of cast iron is key in extreme conditions, Rollins says. (Shannon Rollins)

6. Use coolers for more than just keeping food cold

One of Rollins’ most versatile tools isn’t a pan or a pot. It’s a cooler, which he uses in multiple ways, depending on the weather. 

In winter, an ice chest can keep ingredients like potatoes from freezing. It can also help thaw meat or hold heat with hot water in it.

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Overall, mindset is the most important ingredient, according to Rollins. 

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it will never change you,” he said.

Oral insulin could one day replace injections for people with diabetes, new scientific discoveries suggest.

Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have announced the development of an insulin pill to help lower blood sugar.

For diabetics, insulin is typically administered via injection, but the pill would offer a non-invasive treatment option.

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“Insulin injections remain a daily burden for many patients,” said Associate Professor Shingo Ito, a researcher in the study’s press release. “Our peptide-based platform offers a new route to deliver insulin orally, and may be applicable to long-acting insulin formulations and other injectable biologics.”

Oral insulin could one day replace injections for people with diabetes, new scientific discoveries suggest. (iStock)

The study, published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, tested the delivery of oral insulin by building a carrier peptide called DNP-V. This peptide helps to transport insulin through the small intestine, where protein drug absorption is usually poor.

In diabetic mice models, the researchers administered the peptide by mouth with zinc-stabilized insulin, which was formulated with zinc ions to make it more stable, according to the study.

“Insulin injections remain a daily burden for many patients.”

The result was a rapid and significant drop in blood glucose, as well as a sustained (longer-term) decrease. The mice’s blood sugar was reduced to near-normal levels.

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When DNP-V was attached directly to insulin, the results showed enhanced absorption in the intestines and a similar glucose-lowering effect, the researchers noted.

The treatment was effective in different diabetes models, significantly reducing blood sugar spikes after meals with just one dose per day.

The study was done in mice, which leaves uncertainty if the treatment will translate to humans. (iStock)

The findings suggest that DNP peptides could serve as flexible, adaptable platforms for delivering large-molecule drugs by mouth, the authors concluded in the study abstract.

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“This technology can simply and effectively convert injectable biopharmaceuticals into orally administrable forms, offering a promising path to practical, patient-friendly oral therapies,” they wrote.

Although the researchers are optimistic about the findings translating to larger therapeutic models, they noted that the results in mice do not guarantee the same outcome in humans, and that more research is needed.

For diabetics, insulin is typically administered via injection to regulate blood sugar levels. (iStock)

Dr. Marc Siegel commented on this development, noting that oral insulin could make a big difference in healthcare.

“Insulin use, especially in type 1 diabetes, is sometimes difficult to regulate by injection,” Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “Oral use would have major advantages.”

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He added, “This is very promising provided that it works in humans, which is a big ‘if.'”

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.

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