NFL ordered to pay $4.7 billion in 'Sunday Ticket' antitrust case

In a recent development, a federal jury has ordered the National Football League (NFL) to pay a staggering amount of $4,707,259,944.64 for violating antitrust laws related to the distribution of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games through a premium subscription service. This ruling stems from a lawsuit that covered 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses in the United States who had purchased the package on DirecTV between the 2011 and 2022 seasons. The lawsuit alleged that the NFL breached antitrust laws by selling the package at an inflated price and limiting competition by offering "Sunday Ticket" exclusively through a satellite provider. The jury found the NFL liable for $4,610,331,671.74 in damages to residential subscribers and $96,928,272.90 in damages to commercial subscribers. With the potential for damages to be tripled under federal antitrust laws, the NFL could face a total liability of $14,121,779,833.92. This would result in each of the 32 teams potentially owing $441.3 million. The jury's deliberations included requests for data on subscriber numbers and subscription costs, as well as reports from economists involved in the case, although these reports were not admitted as evidence. Following the verdict, Judge Philip S. Gutierrez is set to hear post-trial motions on July 31, including the NFL's request for a ruling in its favor based on the plaintiffs' failure to prove their case. The NFL has expressed its intention to appeal the decision, a process that could involve the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and potentially the Supreme Court. Any payments of damages, alterations to the "Sunday Ticket" package, or changes to how the NFL broadcasts Sunday afternoon games will be put on hold until all appeals are resolved. The ongoing trial has already sparked significant changes in how fans can access games in 2024, indicating broader implications beyond the legal proceedings.