In a significant ruling, a federal jury has ruled against the NFL, ordering the league to pay a substantial amount of nearly $5 billion in damages. The jury found that the NFL had manipulated the price of Sunday Ticket, a popular subscription TV service.
According to the Washington Post, the outcome of the monthlong trial in the class-action lawsuit has the potential to revolutionize the way fans experience the sport. The amounts awarded were a significant portion of what the plaintiffs had requested. "It is a wonderful day for consumers worldwide," stated Bill Carmody, one of their attorneys, according to the New York Times.
The NFL quickly announced its intention to appeal. A group of plaintiffs who purchased the Sunday Ticket package offered by DirecTV were awarded a staggering $4.7 billion by the jury. Additionally, a separate group of bar owners received a substantial $96 million. The league could potentially face significant financial liability due to the damages in such cases, which can be tripled by law. The potential amount that the league may be responsible for exceeds $14 billion. According to Sportico's estimation, the NFL's annual revenue stands at a staggering $20 billion. There is a possibility that the judge may reconsider the verdict after hearing post-trial motions next month. Alternatively, the damage amounts could be modified by an appeals court.
According to the AP, the antitrust lawsuit class consisted of a whopping 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses who purchased the DirecTV package of out-of-market games between 2011 and 2022. Furthermore, the league limited competition by exclusively offering Sunday Ticket through a satellite provider, which also resulted in higher prices, according to the lawsuit.
A former NFL executive testified that the league created the package with the intention of safeguarding the ratings of its network partners. The media rights will remain unchanged during the appeal process. If the decision stands, according to one expert, it could lead to teams independently broadcasting their own games, resulting in a multitude of games being aired on various channels on Sundays.
According to the Washington Post, the outcome of the monthlong trial in the class-action lawsuit has the potential to revolutionize the way fans experience the sport. The amounts awarded were a significant portion of what the plaintiffs had requested. "It is a wonderful day for consumers worldwide," stated Bill Carmody, one of their attorneys, according to the New York Times.
The NFL quickly announced its intention to appeal. A group of plaintiffs who purchased the Sunday Ticket package offered by DirecTV were awarded a staggering $4.7 billion by the jury. Additionally, a separate group of bar owners received a substantial $96 million. The league could potentially face significant financial liability due to the damages in such cases, which can be tripled by law. The potential amount that the league may be responsible for exceeds $14 billion. According to Sportico's estimation, the NFL's annual revenue stands at a staggering $20 billion. There is a possibility that the judge may reconsider the verdict after hearing post-trial motions next month. Alternatively, the damage amounts could be modified by an appeals court.
According to the AP, the antitrust lawsuit class consisted of a whopping 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses who purchased the DirecTV package of out-of-market games between 2011 and 2022. Furthermore, the league limited competition by exclusively offering Sunday Ticket through a satellite provider, which also resulted in higher prices, according to the lawsuit.
A former NFL executive testified that the league created the package with the intention of safeguarding the ratings of its network partners. The media rights will remain unchanged during the appeal process. If the decision stands, according to one expert, it could lead to teams independently broadcasting their own games, resulting in a multitude of games being aired on various channels on Sundays.
