A jury in U.S. District Court has ordered the NFL to pay billions in damages to Sunday Ticket subscribers who filed a class action lawsuit against the league, according to multiple reports. The NFL was ordered to pay $4 billion to residential subscribers and $96 million to commercial subscribers.
The lawsuit, filed nine years ago, said the NFL broke antitrust laws. “NFL Sunday Ticket” subscribers accused the league, its teams and its network partners of working together to sell the out-of-market sports package at an inflated price and restrict competition.
In a statement, the NFL said it will “contest” the decision.
“We are disappointed with the jury’s verdict today in the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit,” the NFL said in a statement. “We will certainly contest this decision as we believe that the class action claims in this case are baseless and without merit. We thank the jury for their time and service and for the guidance and oversight from Judge Gutierrez throughout the trial.”
GO DEEPER
What to know about ‘NFL Sunday Ticket’ case that could cost the league billions
The NFL argued it could sell the viewing package under an antitrust exemption for broadcasting, while the plaintiffs have said the exemption only covers over-the-air broadcasts instead of paid TV, according to the AP.
Arguments began earlier this month in the trial, which featured testimony from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
The plaintiffs sought $7 billion in damages.
The original complaint was filed on behalf of the Mucky Duck bar in San Francisco. Last year, a district judge ruled the case could proceed as a class action filed on behalf of more than 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses that bought the package from June 17, 2011, to Feb. 7, 2023, per the AP.
The NFL, its teams and network partners DirecTV, CBS, ESPN and Fox, are listed as defendants in the case.
(Photo: Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
