A jury in a federal district court ordered that the NFL pays nearly $4.8 billion in compensationafter determining on Thursday that The league violated antitrust laws when distributing Sunday afternoon matchesoutside the market of the teams involvedon a select subscription service.
The jury awarded 4.7 billion dollars as compensation to residential complainants and 96 million to commercial ones. Given that some compensation could be tripled under federal antitrust lawsthe NFL could end up facing liability for 14.39 billion dollars.
The demand covered 2.4 million residential subscribers already 48 thousand businesses in the United Stateswho paid for the package of matches outside the market of origin, since the campaign 2011 to 2022, on DirecTV.
According to the lawsuit, the league violated antitrust laws by selling its Sunday game package at an inflated price. The subscribers also say the league restricted competition by offering the so-called “spotlight” package.Sunday Ticket” only through a satellite provider.
The NFL warned it will appeal the verdictThe appeal will be heard by the 9th Circuit Court. It is even possible that the case could end up in the Supreme Court. If the NFL ends up paying these compensations, it would cost approximately $449.6 million to each of the 32 teams.
“We are disappointed with today’s jury verdict in the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit,” the league said in a statement. “We continue to believe that our media distribution strategy, which includes broadcasting NFL games on broadcast television within participating teams’ markets and national distribution of our most popular games, complemented by many additional options including RedZone, SundayTicket and NFL+, is by far the most fan-friendly distribution model in all of sports and entertainment.”
The trial lasted three weeks and included testimonies from the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the owner of the Cowboys de Dallas Jerry Jones.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: PEYTON MANNING SURPRISES TOM BRADY AT HIS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
2024-06-30 00:44:44
#NFL #loses #multimilliondollar #lawsuit #violating #antitrust #laws
