NFL Faces Antitrust Lawsuit Over Sunday Ticket Package
The National Football League (NFL) is set to face a class-action lawsuit in federal court, with opening arguments expected to begin on Thursday, June 6, 2024. The lawsuit, filed in 2015, alleges that the NFL broke antitrust laws by allowing DirecTV to exclusively sell the Sunday Ticket package of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games airing on CBS and Fox at an inflated price, thereby restricting competition.
The NFL logo is shown on the football field before a game between the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
The lawsuit claims that the NFL’s agreement with DirecTV, which was the home of NFL Sunday Ticket from 1994 until 2022, violated antitrust laws by limiting access to out-of-market games and charging exorbitant prices. The NFL will argue that Sunday Ticket is an add-on package for its most devoted and out-of-town fans, and that all games for local teams are available on broadcast networks.
 NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to testify in the case.
The lawsuit could bring to light how much YouTube is paying the NFL for Sunday Ticket and whether it is making a profit. Additionally, documents filed in the case could reveal how much networks spend to produce an NFL game.
 Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, a longtime member of the league’s broadcast committee, is also expected to testify.
The case is significant because it is one of the rare instances where the NFL has had a high-profile case go to court, with league financial matters becoming public without settling. In 2021, the NFL settled with St. Louis, St. Louis County, and the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority for $790 million over the relocation of the Rams to Los Angeles.
The hearing is expected to last up to three weeks, and the outcome could have significant implications for the NFL and its broadcasting partners.
