NFL Faces Record $14.39 Billion Penalty as Jury Finds Antitrust Violation in ‘Sunday Ticket’ Distribution
Los Angeles — A U.S. District Court jury has ruled against the NFL, issuing a nearly $4.8 billion award on Thursday, stating the league’s handling of its out-of-market Sunday afternoon game broadcasts via DirecTV broke federal antitrust laws. This case not only scrutinizes the NFL’s exclusive distribution actions but could reshape sports broadcasting arrangements extending to other leagues. The ruling covers claims over a period from 2011 to 2022, involving some 2.4 million residential and 48,000 commercial subscribers. The subscribers argued that the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” service, the exclusive broadcast outlet for these games, was … Read more