The NFL’s Antitrust Woes: A $4.7 Billion Verdict and a Season of Change

The National Football League (NFL) has been dealt a significant blow, with a jury ruling that the league violated antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service. The verdict comes with a hefty price tag of nearly $4.7 billion in damages.

The NFL logo

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2015, claimed that the NFL broke antitrust laws by selling its package of Sunday games at an inflated price. The subscribers also argued that the league restricted competition by offering “Sunday Ticket” only on a satellite provider.

“This case transcends football. This case matters,” plaintiffs’ attorney Bill Carmody said during Wednesday’s closing arguments. “It’s about justice. It’s about telling the 32 team owners who collectively own all the big TV rights, the most popular content in the history of TV — that’s what they have. It’s about telling them that even you cannot ignore the antitrust laws. Even you cannot collude to overcharge consumers. Even you can’t hide the truth and think you’re going to get away with it.”

The NFL had argued that it has the right to sell “Sunday Ticket” under its antitrust exemption for broadcasting. However, the plaintiffs contended that this exemption only covers over-the-air broadcasts and not pay TV.

Meanwhile, as the NFL navigates this significant setback, the league is also preparing for a season of change. With the introduction of a new kickoff format, kickers like Nick Folk will need to adapt to the new rules. Folk, who has built his career on consistency, is looking to continue his streak of making 83.8% of his kicks during his 16 NFL seasons.

Nick Folk

As the NFL season approaches, fans will be watching closely to see how the league responds to this verdict and how the new kickoff format will impact the game.

“Just continuing to work, put your head down and refine the craft every day,” Folk said. “You are going to have ups and downs, and you try and make the good days better than the bad days.”

The verdict is a significant blow to the NFL, but it’s also a reminder that even the most powerful organizations must operate within the bounds of the law.