Jury orders NFL to pay billions in ‘Sunday Ticket’ case

A U.S. District Court jury ordered the NFL to pay nearly $4.8 billion in damages for violating antitrust laws with its “Sunday Ticket” package, which offered out-of-market Sunday afternoon games exclusively through DirecTV. The lawsuit covered 2.4 million residential and 48,000 business subscribers from 2011 to 2022. The NFL is liable for up to $14.39 billion, as damages can be tripled under federal antitrust laws.

The plaintiffs argued that the NFL inflated prices and restricted competition. The NFL plans to appeal the verdict, maintaining that its distribution strategy, which includes free over-the-air broadcasts and other subscription options, is consumer-friendly. Commissioner Roger Goodell and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones testified during the trial.

The ruling could impact how other sports leagues offer out-of-market packages. Currently, the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” is available on YouTube TV under a new deal starting from the 2023 season. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2015, was reinstated by the 9th Circuit in 2019 and certified as a class action last year.

Source: NPR