Current:Home > StocksJury orders NFL to pay nearly $4.8 billion in ‘Sunday Ticket’ case for violating antitrust laws-InfoLens
Jury orders NFL to pay nearly $4.8 billion in ‘Sunday Ticket’ case for violating antitrust laws
View Date:2024-12-23 18:37:48
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A jury in U.S. District Court ordered the NFL to pay nearly $4.8 billion in damages Thursday after ruling that the league violated antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service.
The jury awarded $4.7 billion in damages to the residential class and $96 million in damages to the commercial class.
The lawsuit covered 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses who paid for the package of out-of-market games from the 2011 through 2022 seasons on DirecTV. The lawsuit claimed the league broke antitrust laws by selling its package of Sunday games at an inflated price. The subscribers also say the league restricted competition by offering “Sunday Ticket” only on a satellite provider.
The NFL said it would appeal the verdict. That appeal would go to the 9th Circuit and then possibly the Supreme Court.
“We are disappointed with the jury’s verdict today in the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit,” the league said in a statement. “We continue to believe that our media distribution strategy, which features all NFL games broadcast on free over-the-air television in the markets of the participating teams and national distribution of our most popular games, supplemented by many additional choices including RedZone, Sunday Ticket and NFL+, is by far the most fan friendly distribution model in all of sports and entertainment.
“We will certainly contest this decision as we believe that the class action claims in this case are baseless and without merit.”
The jury of five men and three women deliberated for nearly five hours before reaching its decision.
“This case transcends football. This case matters,” plaintiffs attorney Bill Carmody said during Wednesday’s closing arguments. “It’s about justice. It’s about telling the 32 team owners who collectively own all the big TV rights, the most popular content in the history of TV — that’s what they have. It’s about telling them that even you cannot ignore the antitrust laws. Even you cannot collude to overcharge consumers. Even you can’t hide the truth and think you’re going to get away with it.”
The league maintained it has the right to sell “Sunday Ticket” under its antitrust exemption for broadcasting. The plaintiffs say that only covers over-the-air broadcasts and not pay TV.
DirecTV had “Sunday Ticket” from its inception in 1994 through 2022. The league signed a seven-year deal with Google’s YouTube TV that began with the 2023 season.
The lawsuit was originally filed in 2015 by the Mucky Duck sports bar in San Francisco but was dismissed in 2017. Two years later, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over California and eight other states, reinstated the case. Gutierrez ruled last year the case could proceed as a class action.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Ranked voting will decide a pivotal congressional race. How does that work?
- Russian missile strike kills 17 at Ukraine market as Blinken visits to show support, offer more U.S. help
- 49ers' Nick Bosa becomes highest-paid defensive player in NFL history with record extension
- Judge orders Texas to remove floating border barriers, granting Biden administration request
- Brianna LaPaglia Addresses Zach Bryan's Deafening Silence After Emotional Abuse Allegations
- Grammy Museum to launch 50 years of hip-hop exhibit featuring artifacts from Tupac, Biggie
- Florida man riding human-sized hamster wheel in Atlantic Ocean faces federal charges
- Larry Birkhead Says Anna Nicole Smith Would Be So Proud of Daughter Dannielynn in 17th Birthday Message
- Waymo’s robotaxis now open to anyone who wants a driverless ride in Los Angeles
- Deion Sanders, Colorado start fast with rebuild challenging college football establishment
Ranking
- Fire crews on both US coasts battle wildfires, 1 dead; Veterans Day ceremony postponed
- Naomi Osaka says she's returning to pro tennis in 2024
- Kim Sejeong is opening the 'Door' to new era: Actress and singer talks first solo album
- Miley Cyrus Details Anxiety Attacks After Filming Black Mirror During Malibu Fires
- 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant makes viral mistake: 'Treat yourself a round of sausage'
- Narcissists have a type. Are you a narcissist magnet? Here's how to tell.
- How to watch the U.S. Open amid Disney's dispute with Spectrum
- San Antonio police say couple safe after kidnapping; 2 charged, 1 suspect at large
Recommendation
-
'Climate change is real': New York parks employee killed as historic drought fuels blazes
-
Taylor Momsen was 'made fun of relentlessly' for starring in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'
-
Police manhunt for Danelo Cavalcante presses on; schools reopen, perimeter shifts
-
A 4-year-old girl disappeared in 2021. Can new images help police solve the case?
-
'I know how to do math': New Red Lobster CEO says endless shrimp deal is not coming back
-
Rollover school bus crash caught on doorbell video in Wisconsin
-
Messi, Argentina to play Ecuador in 2026 World Cup qualifying: Time, how to watch online
-
New federal rule may help boost competition for railroad shipments at companies with few options