A federal appeals court has upheld a jury’s determination that the NFL breached antitrust laws through its Sunday Ticket broadcasting package, while ordering a fresh trial to determine the damages owed by the league.
Background to the $4.7 billion NFL verdict
NFL Sunday Ticket is the exclusive broadcast package for fans who want to watch their teams play games outside their local television markets. Football fans accused the two parties of illegally controlling the market for televised NFL games through the Sunday Ticket package and charging subscribers excessive fees. During the trial, the NFL defended its broadcasting arrangement, arguing that the model benefited fans. Commissioner Roger Goodell also testified that DirecTV, rather than the league, independently determined the subscription price.
In its ruling, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco overturned a California district court judge’s decision to dismiss a $4.7 billion verdict against the NFL, which was initially delivered following a 2024 trial. The lawsuit against the NFL and DirecTV, the league’s longtime Sunday Ticket distributor, dates back to 2015.
The NFL had described the damages figure as “nonsensical” and maintained that subscribers failed to present credible evidence demonstrating that the league’s Sunday Ticket distribution arrangements had caused them any actual harm.
