I remember hearing about this case a long time ago but it looks like a court in California might take it on.
As stacker sports knows I have complained about buying the Sunday ticket package and still being locked out of games that are viewed locally or forced to watch because of my location. Last season the Bills played in prime time a lot so getting Sunday ticket was almost a big waste for me. Then I remember I was forced to watch the end of a damn Jags colts game (I think) because it ran long and I missed the first score of the bills and chiefs game. I was so furious.
I like the solution of teams owning their own broadcast rights but as you can see in the article the nfl pushes back on that because no one will buy the Jacksonville package. To that I say hey maybe they should move to a market where people will buy their tickets and their media rights when they don’t live in Jacksonville any longer.
Either way I hope this case brings a solution that can help fans and help the league. The current model sucks and it’s time for a change.
84 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby 5 Jun
Very interesting. I recall you posting complaining about Sunday ticket. You should add yourself to the plaintiff list and your stacker sports post can be your deposition.
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Show me the link!!!
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I don't see why they can't do some middle ground thing, where teams are allowed to have their own broadcasts, but they have to split the revenue with the rest of the league.
They could make so much more money per game if they went this direction. I would probably pay half as much for just the Raiders games as I pay to watch the entire league.
The other big innovation they should make is having a la carte viewing. I'm sure there are lots of people who won't pay for Sunday Ticket, but would pay for particular games.
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Most class action lawsuits are frivolous. No one gets paid except the lawyers. The plaintiffs usually get a trivial amount like 5 dollars
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A la carte would be awesome
I predict the NFL will lose. Damages will be one dollar. Punitive damages will be three dollars.
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With streaming you can just charge per game and have a special deal for those who buy all 16 Games.
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If the NFL loses the class-action lawsuit over the "Sunday Ticket" package, the potential consequences include:
  1. Financial Liability: The NFL could be liable for up to $21 billion in damages, as antitrust laws allow for the tripling of the $7 billion in claimed damages[1][2][3][4][5].
  2. Changes in Package Offerings: The NFL might be forced to alter how it sells out-of-market games, potentially allowing for more competitive pricing and different package options, such as team-specific packages similar to those offered by the NBA and MLB[5].
  3. Impact on Future Contracts: The outcome could influence future broadcasting and streaming contracts, possibly leading to more scrutiny and changes in how these deals are structured to avoid similar legal challenges[1][2][3][4][5].
  4. Public Disclosure of Financial Details: The trial could reveal sensitive financial details about the NFL's broadcasting deals, including how much YouTube is paying for "Sunday Ticket" and the costs associated with producing NFL games[1][2][3][4].
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The class-action lawsuit alleges that the NFL violated antitrust laws by allowing DirecTV to exclusively sell the "Sunday Ticket" package of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games at inflated prices, restricting competition.[1][2] The plaintiffs, representing over 2.4 million residential and 48,000 commercial subscribers from 2011-2023, are seeking $7 billion in damages, which could triple to $21 billion under antitrust laws.[2]
The key events in the lawsuit timeline are:
  • 2015: Lawsuit filed against NFL by San Francisco bar "Mucky Duck"[2]
  • 2017: Case dismissed, but reinstated by appeals court in 2019[2]
  • 2020: Supreme Court declined to review the case[2]
  • 2023: Court certified the case as a class-action lawsuit[2]
  • 2024: Trial began on June 6 in Los Angeles[1][2][3]
The NFL argues that Sunday Ticket is an optional add-on package for out-of-market fans, with local games available on broadcast networks.[2] However, the plaintiffs contend that the NFL's exclusive deal harmed competition and led to inflated prices for the only comprehensive out-of-market package.[1][2]
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