The NFL was awarded $4.7 billion in a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of residential and commercial customers who purchased Sunday Ticket packages on DirecTV between 2011 and 2022.
The lawsuit, originally filed by Mucky Duck Sports Bar in 2015, claims the league and its teams conspired to give DirecTV an illegal monopoly over out-of-market games until YouTube took it over starting with the 2023 season. The plaintiffs pointed out that other leagues distribute live, out-of-market games through multiple providers rather than one exclusive partner like the NFL, arguing in the case that this setup not only drives up the price of Sunday tickets , also forcing viewers to pay.
court news The report said evidence emerged during the trial that the NFL rejected bids for the package, which would have made the offer cheaper, more flexible and available to millions of additional customers. The report said that before YouTube obtained the exclusive package, which currently sells for $349 per year, an email from the NFL’s chief media and business officer showed that ESPN proposed to offer Sunday Ticket for $70 per year and allow fans to only watch one game. Team purchase package.
After a three-week trial, the jury deliberated for nearly five hours before reaching its decision, ESPN reported. They reportedly awarded $96 million in damages to bars and restaurants and $4.7 billion to customers. USA Todayif established, that number could triple under federal law.
The NFL issued a statement to multiple media outlets saying the league would appeal the decision. front desk sports U.S. District Court Judge Philip S. Gutierrez reportedly dismissed the case in 2019 but later ruled it could proceed as a class action lawsuit, though he may still dismiss the verdict after the trial. The motion is scheduled for a hearing on July 31.
