The lawsuit alleges that the NFL and its teams’ agreements with DirectTV, allow them to inflate Sunday Ticket prices unfairly
The National Football League (NFL) faces a landmark antitrust trial over its broadcasting practices, sparked by a 2015 lawsuit from a San Francisco pub over the league’s Sunday Ticket package pricing.
Buying Sunday Ticket allows sports fans access to out-of-market games.
The lawsuit from the Mucky Duck pub alleges that the NFL and its teams’ agreements with DirectTV allow them to inflate Sunday Ticket prices unfairly.
Jury selection for the LA trial has already begun. The plaintiffs demand $7 billion in damages, which could cost the NFL nearly $21 billion in the worst-case scenario.
Meanwhile, the NFL defends its media rights business model and emphasizes widespread game accessibility and competitive balance.
If the court sides with the plaintiffs, telecasts of NFL games would be accessible to more viewers at a lower price.