NFL Faces Multibillion Dollar Trial Over 'Sunday Ticket' Service

Judge Rejects NFL's Defense and Dismisses Claim of Antitrust Exemption, Paving the Way for February Trial

The NFL faces a multibillion dollar trial in February over its 'Sunday Ticket' service, with damages estimated at $6.1 billion.
The lawsuit alleges that the NFL and its clubs conspired to allow the league to reach exclusive deals with broadcast partners for the right to air out-of-market games, resulting in inflated prices for Sunday Ticket buyers.
The class action seeks an order barring further violations of antitrust law, which could bar the NFL from exclusively offering out-of-market games to a single provider.
The NFL's defense that the subscribers lack standing to sue was rejected by the judge, who noted the decision to purchase the Sunday Ticket from DirecTV to watch out-of-town games reflects an alleged conspiracy involving the league and its teams.
The NFL's attempt to claim its arrangements are exempt from antitrust scrutiny via the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 (SBA) was also dismissed by the judge.