NFL 'disappointed' after jury orders league to pay nearly $4.8 billion in 'Sunday Ticket' antitrust case

On Thursday, a Los Angeles jury demanded the NFL to pay close to $4.8 billion in damages. The decision came after they ruled that the league breached antitrust laws by offering out-of-market Sunday afternoon games through a premium subscription service.

The residential class was awarded $4.7 billion in damages by the jury, while the commercial class received $96 million. Given that federal antitrust laws allow for damages to be tripled, the NFL could potentially be held accountable for $14.39 billion.

The NFL announced its intention to challenge the verdict, handed down by the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California. The appeal would progress to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and potentially reach the Supreme Court.

In a statement, the league expressed their disappointment with the jury’s verdict on the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit. They reiterated their confidence in their media distribution strategy, declaring it the most fan-friendly model in all of sports and entertainment. This strategy offers all NFL games broadcast free on local television in the markets of the participating teams and a national distribution of their most popular games. It also includes several additional choices like the RedZone, Sunday Ticket, and NFL+.

We absolutely intend to challenge this decision, as we firmly believe that the class action claims in this case lack substance and merit. Our gratitude goes to the jury for their time and service, as well as to Judge [Philip] Gutierrez for his guidance and supervision throughout the trial.

The lawsuit implicated 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses in the U.S, who purchased the package of out-of-market games on DirecTV from the 2011 to 2022 seasons. The legal action alleged that the league violated antitrust laws by inflating the price of its package of Sunday games. Furthermore, subscribers argue that the league stifled competition by exclusively offering “Sunday Ticket” through a satellite provider.

If the NFL is required to pay damages, each of the 32 teams could potentially face a cost of approximately $449.6 million.

The three-week trial involved testimonies from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys.

“Justice was served. The verdict maintains protection for our class’s consumers. It was a significant day for consumers,” stated Bill Carmody, the plaintiffs’ attorney.

Before reaching its decision, the jury of five men and three women deliberated for almost five hours.

On July 31, Judge Philip S. Gutierrez is set to preside over post-trial motions, including a request from the NFL for a ruling in their favor. This request stems from the judge’s assessment that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.