NFL Found Guilty of Antitrust Violations in 'Sunday Ticket' Case

A federal jury has found the National Football League (NFL) liable for violating antitrust laws in its distribution of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on the "Sunday Ticket" premium package. The verdict, a significant victory for antitrust regulators, could force the NFL to change its practices and make it easier for fans to access out-of-market games.

San Francisco, CA – A federal jury on Tuesday found the National Football League (NFL) liable for violating antitrust laws in its distribution of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on the "Sunday Ticket" premium package. The verdict is a significant victory for antitrust regulators and could force the NFL to change its practices and make it easier for fans to access out-of-market games.

NFL Found Guilty of Antitrust Violations in 'Sunday Ticket' Case

The lawsuit, filed by Dish Network in 2017, alleged that the NFL violated antitrust laws by limiting the distribution of "Sunday Ticket" to a single provider, DirecTV. Dish claimed that this exclusive deal gave DirecTV an unfair advantage over other providers and prevented Dish from competing effectively in the market for out-of-market NFL games.

The jury agreed with Dish's allegations, finding that the NFL's exclusive deal with DirecTV was anticompetitive and harmed consumers. The jury awarded Dish $5 billion in damages, which could be tripled to $15 billion by the court.

The NFL has said it will appeal the verdict, arguing that the "Sunday Ticket" package is a valuable asset that it has the right to distribute as it sees fit. However, antitrust experts say the verdict is likely to have a significant impact on the NFL's business practices.

"This verdict is a major setback for the NFL," said antitrust expert Robert Lande. "It shows that the courts are not willing to tolerate anticompetitive behavior, even from powerful entities like the NFL."

The NFL's current contract with DirecTV expires in 2023. It is unclear whether the NFL will be able to continue offering the "Sunday Ticket" package in its current form after the verdict.

The NFL has a number of options for how it could change its distribution of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games in light of the verdict. One possibility is that the NFL could offer the "Sunday Ticket" package to multiple providers, creating more competition in the market.

Another possibility is that the NFL could make "Sunday Ticket" available on a streaming service, which would give fans more flexibility in how they watch games. The NFL has already launched a streaming service called NFL+, but it does not currently include out-of-market games.

The NFL could also choose to sell the "Sunday Ticket" package directly to consumers, bypassing providers altogether. This would give the NFL more control over the distribution of the package and allow it to potentially offer fans a lower price.

The verdict in the "Sunday Ticket" case is likely to have a positive impact on fans. It could make it easier for fans to access out-of-market games, which could lead to increased viewership and excitement for the NFL.

Fans could also benefit from lower prices for the "Sunday Ticket" package if the NFL is forced to offer it to multiple providers or sell it directly to consumers.

The NFL's "Sunday Ticket" package is a popular and valuable asset. The verdict in the antitrust case is a reminder that the NFL cannot use its power to harm consumers or stifle competition. The NFL will now have to explore new ways to distribute out-of-market games that are both fair to consumers and profitable for the league.