NFL hammered for billions in Sunday Ticket antitrust verdict

The decision in the “NFL Sunday Ticket” anti-trust case was rendered Thursday and the league took a pummeling. A group of “plaintiffs” who purchased the package won a judgment of $4.7 billion from the Los Angeles, CA, jury, while “bar owners” were awarded $96 million.

Per the Hollywood Reporter:

A Los Angeles jury on Thursday agreed with fans who claimed they overpaid for NFL Sunday Ticket, according to NFL. The decision, which was reached after less than a full day of deliberations, could force the league to change its broadcast model that’s made it the most popular sports league in the country.

The jury in the NFL Sunday Ticket antitrust trial has ordered the @NFL to pay $96 million in damages to commercial class and $4 billion in damages to the residential class.

The NFL’s revenue last year was $19 billion.

Story from @McCannSportsLaw to come.

Credit:… pic.twitter.com/k7QteRKvna

— Sportico (@Sportico) June 27, 2024

Some more of what the legalese of the decision covers.

The league was disappointed — surprise! — by the decision of the California court.

A federal judge has ordered the @NFL to pay $4 billion in residential class damages and $96 million in commercial class damages to fans and bars, respectively, in the Sunday Ticket case.

In the statement below, the league says it will appeal the decision. pic.twitter.com/pWpXEpfe4L

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 27, 2024

The damage could be steeper because antitrust damages can treble.

The #NFL has been ordered to pay 96 million in commercial class damages & 4 BILLION in residential class damages per today’s guilty verdict in the Sunday Ticket antitrust trial.

By federal antitrust law, that 4 billion becomes 12 billion in actuality. The plantiffs were seeking…

— Spotrac (@spotrac) June 27, 2024