The Battle for NFL Sunday Ticket: A Fight for Fairness

As a die-hard NFL fan, I’ve always been frustrated by the limited options for watching out-of-market games on Sundays. The NFL’s exclusive deal with DirecTV for Sunday Ticket has long been a thorn in the side of fans who want to watch their favorite teams play, no matter where they are in the country. But now, a class-action lawsuit is taking the NFL to task for allegedly breaking antitrust laws with its TV package for out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.

What is NFL Sunday Ticket?

For those who may not know, NFL Sunday Ticket was created in 1994 as a way for fans to watch out-of-market games on Sundays. DirecTV was the original Sunday Ticket provider and remained the provider through the 2022 season. But in December 2022, YouTube TV agreed to take over the rights, becoming the new Sunday Ticket provider starting with the 2023 NFL season.

The battle for NFL Sunday Ticket has been a long and contentious one.

The Lawsuit: A Fight for Fairness

The lawsuit, filed in 2015, claims that the NFL broke antitrust laws by allowing DirecTV to exclusively sell the Sunday Ticket package at an inflated price, restricting competition in the process. The plaintiffs argue that this has resulted in higher prices for fans and limited options for watching out-of-market games.

The NFL, on the other hand, will argue that Sunday Ticket is an add-on package for out-of-town fans, and that all local games are available on broadcast networks. But the plaintiffs are seeking $7 billion in damages, which could potentially triple to $21 billion if the court finds in their favor.

A long and contentious battle is brewing in the world of NFL Sunday Ticket.

A Timeline of the Lawsuit

• 2015: Class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of San Francisco bar “Mucky Duck.”
• 2017: Federal judge in Los Angeles agrees with the NFL that the subscribers hadn’t made a plausible case that the exclusive distribution deal with DirecTV harmed competition, so the circuit court throws out the case.
• 2019: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates the litigation.
• Nov. 2, 2020: Supreme Court declines to review lower court’s ruling that the case can move forward.
• Feb. 7, 2023: Court determines that subscribers’ claims against the defendants (NFL) can proceed as a class action lawsuit.
• Jan. 12, 2024: U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez rules that the subscribers can move ahead with claims against the NFL.
• June 6, 2024: Trial set to begin in Los Angeles (with jury selection, expected to last multiple weeks)

The Cost of NFL Sunday Ticket

So, how much does NFL Sunday Ticket cost? For fans without a YouTube TV plan, the price tag is four payments of $112.25, totaling $449 for the 2024 season. However, those with an “NFL Sunday Ticket only” plan will need cable or another provider to watch in-market games on Sunday afternoons. Those with a YouTube TV plan can get Sunday Ticket for four payments of $87.25, totaling $349.

The cost of NFL Sunday Ticket can be steep, but is it worth it for die-hard fans?

As the trial approaches, one thing is clear: the battle for NFL Sunday Ticket is far from over. Will the NFL emerge victorious, or will the plaintiffs succeed in their quest for fairness and competition in the market? Only time will tell.