The NFL’s Sunday Ticket Saga: A Fight for Fairness in Football Broadcasting
As the jury begins deliberations in the class-action lawsuit against the NFL, football fans across the country are holding their breath. The lawsuit, filed by Sunday Ticket subscribers, alleges that the league broke antitrust laws by selling its package of out-of-market games at an inflated price. But what does this mean for the future of football broadcasting?
The battle for Sunday Ticket
In 2017, the NFL explored a world without Sunday Ticket, where cable channels would air Sunday afternoon out-of-market games not shown on Fox or CBS. This reimagining of Sunday afternoons would have seen every game on a broadcast or cable network, with Fox and CBS paying 25% less per game and cable networks paying $9 million per game. But what would this have meant for fans?
“The NFL knew 35 million fans were underserved,” said William Carmody, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys. “We are holding them accountable. It’s about telling the 32 team owners that even you can’t break antitrust laws and overcharge fans. It’s not OK to compete on the field, but collude off it.”
The lawsuit covers 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses who paid for the package of out-of-market games from the 2011 through 2022 seasons on DirecTV. The subscribers claim the league restricted competition by offering Sunday Ticket only on a satellite provider, and that the league broke antitrust laws by selling the package at an inflated price.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testifies in court
But the NFL maintains it has the right to sell Sunday Ticket under its antitrust exemption for broadcasting. The league argues that the current model makes the most sense, and that Sunday Ticket is a premium product that fans are willing to pay for.
“Sunday Ticket added choice. You choose, you know the price, you pay for it,” said Beth Wilkinson, the lead attorney for the NFL.
If the jury rules in favor of the plaintiffs, the NFL could be liable for up to $21 billion in damages. This would not only change how the league distributes its out-of-market broadcasts but could also lead to renegotiated contracts with Fox and CBS.
The future of Sunday Ticket hangs in the balance
As the jury deliberates, one thing is clear: the future of football broadcasting is at stake. Will the NFL be forced to change its ways, or will the status quo remain? One thing is certain - the outcome of this lawsuit will have far-reaching consequences for football fans across the country.
