NFL ordered to pay more than $4 billion in Sunday Ticket lawsuit: reports

A U.S. District Court jury 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, claims the NFL violated antitrust laws. “NFL Sunday Ticket” subscribers have accused the league, its teams and network partners of working together to sell the sports package off-market at an inflated price and restrict competition.

In a statement, the NFL said it would “contest” the decision.

“We are disappointed with today’s jury verdict in the NFL Sunday Ticket Class Action Lawsuit,” the NFL said in a statement. “We will certainly challenge this decision as we believe the class action claims in this matter are baseless and without merit. We thank the jury for their time and service, and for Judge Gutierrez’s guidance and oversight throughout the trial. »

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What you need to know about the ‘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 said the exemption only covered live broadcasts instead of pay television, according to the AP.

The arguments began earlier this month during the trial, which included 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 San Francisco bar Mucky Duck. Last year, a district judge ruled that the case could be brought as part of a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses that purchased the plan between June 17, 2011 and February 7, 2023, according to the AP.

The NFL, its teams and its network partners DirecTV, CBS, ESPN and Fox, are listed as defendants in the case.

(Photo: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)