Sunday Ticket jury orders NFL to pay fans $4.7 billion in damages

The NFL has been deed with a $4.7 cardinal verdict successful a people enactment antitrust suit filed connected behalf of residential and commercialized customers who paid for its Sunday Ticket bundle connected DirecTV from 2011 done 2022.

Originally filed successful 2015 by the Mucky Duck sports bar, the suit claimed that the league and its teams had conspired to springiness DirecTV an amerciable monopoly connected out-of-market games until YouTube took it over, starting with the 2023 season. The plaintiffs noted that different leagues distributed live, out-of-market games done aggregate providers alternatively of conscionable 1 exclusive spouse similar the NFL and argued during the lawsuit that the setup not lone inflated the terms of Sunday Ticket but besides forced viewers to wage for games during weeks erstwhile their preferred squad wasn’t playing.

Courthouse News reports that during the trial, grounds showed that the NFL turned down bids for the bundle that would’ve made the connection cheaper, much flexible, and disposable to millions of further customers. Before YouTube snagged the exclusive bundle that it present sells for $349 per year, the study says that an email from the NFL’s main media and concern serviceman showed ESPN projected offering Sunday Ticket for $70 per twelvemonth and allowing fans to bargain a bundle for conscionable 1 team.

After a three-week trial, ESPN reports the assemblage deliberated for astir 5 hours earlier reaching the decision. They awarded $96 cardinal successful damages to the bars and restaurants and $4.7 cardinal to customers, according to USA Today, which, if it stands, could beryllium tripled nether national law.

A connection from the NFL fixed to aggregate media outlets said the league would entreaty the decision. Front Office Sports reports that US District Court Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, who dismissed the lawsuit successful 2019 but aboriginal ruled it could proceed arsenic a people action, could inactive propulsion retired the verdict, and post-trial motions are acceptable for a proceeding connected July 31st.