Los Angeles, California – A recent ruling from a U.S. District Court jury has mandated that the NFL pay billions in damages to subscribers of its Sunday Ticket package who filed a class action lawsuit against the league. The verdict requires the NFL to pay $4 billion to residential subscribers and $96 million to commercial subscribers. This legal battle, which began nine years ago, alleged that the NFL violated antitrust laws by colluding to inflate prices and stifle competition in the out-of-market sports package market.
The ruling has sparked controversy, with the NFL expressing disappointment and vowing to contest the decision. The league maintains that the class action claims in the case are unfounded and lacks merit. Amidst the legal wrangling, the NFL argued that it had the right to market the viewing package under an antitrust exemption for broadcasting, a point contested by the plaintiffs.
During the trial, pivotal testimonies were provided by top NFL figures, including commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The plaintiffs had originally sought $7 billion in damages, highlighting the magnitude of the financial stakes involved in this legal showdown.
The origins of the case can be traced back to the Mucky Duck bar in San Francisco, which initially lodged the complaint. Following a district judge’s ruling last year, the lawsuit evolved into a class action representing over 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses that purchased the package within a specific time frame. Notable defendants in the case include the NFL, its teams, and network partners like DirecTV, CBS, ESPN, and Fox.
This high-profile legal saga has put the NFL in the spotlight, raising questions about the league’s business practices and the implications of the court’s decision on the sports broadcasting landscape. As both sides gear up for further legal battles, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for the NFL and its approach to distributing its popular Sunday Ticket package.