FTC Investigates PSA Beckett Deal + Monopoly Fear + What Happens Next

It’s the opening segment of Sports Cards Live Episode 295 (streamed December 20, 2025). We kick things off with Jeremy and Joe Poirot, reacting to the newest twist in the PSA Beckett story: a U.S. congressman urging the FTC to investigate Collectors Holdings and its acquisitions. Then we bring in Chris Sewell to dig into what this could mean for grading competition, pricing, and the hobby’s confidence in the “big three” becoming one portfolio. In this episode: The FTC pressure: what an antitrust investigation could actually change (or not) Why “monopoly” is the word everyone is thinking, even if the legal definition is messier The biggest unknown: what does Collectors do with Beckett long-term The BGS 9.5, Pristine 10, and Black Label issue living under the same umbrella as PSA PR vs reality: “broom closet” fears after what happened to SGC’s momentum Grading trust fatigue and why the hobby feels more on edge right now Chris Sewell joins and we talk Hobby Spectrum results, Builders, and what the early directory is showing Keep up with Sports Cards Live: Catch the Saturday night live show on YouTube and join the chat, your questions are always in play Subscribe so you don’t miss breaking hobby news, emergency streams, and guest-heavy episodes Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts If you’re enjoying these five-part drops, leave a rating and a quick review, it helps more collectors find the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices