Los Angeles, CA – The NFL has been hit with a significant legal and financial blow as a federal jury found the league liable for $4.8 billion in damages. The league was found to have violated antitrust laws by restricting the broadcast of out-of-market games to the exclusive Sunday NFL Ticket.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of more than 2.4 million residential subscribers and over 48,000 commercial establishments who claimed the NFL Sunday Ticket violates antitrust laws. The plaintiffs argue that the NFL has unfairly driven up costs for consumers by restricting how fans can watch out-of-market games.
The NFL is expected to appeal the decision, potentially bringing the case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit or even the U.S. Supreme Court.
“We are disappointed with the jury’s verdict today in the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit,” the NFL said in a statement.
What is NFL Sunday Ticket?
NFL Sunday Ticket is an exclusive subscription service that allows fans to watch out-of-market NFL games every Sunday. It’s ideal for fans who want to follow teams that aren’t available on local broadcasts. The service can be bundled with YouTube TV for $349/year or purchased separately for $449/year.
What is YouTube TV?
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that offers access to over 100 channels, including local and national networks. It provides a variety of programming such as sports, news, entertainment, and more. The base plan costs $72.99 per month, but you can bundle it with the NFL Sunday Ticket for $349 per year.
Changes to NFL broadcasts expected
This ruling could force the NFL to reconsider its current broadcasting arrangements. The NFL argues that the current setup is beneficial for fans, ensuring that many games are available on free TV. Obviously, a great many fans disagree.
It’s not clear yet how this will affect the cost of TV streaming plans and what the future holds for broadcasting NFL games. Teams could negotiate individual deals with networks, which might provide cheaper ways to watch their favorite teams. Or it could also mean fewer games will be available on free TV and fans will have to pay to stream live games.
The impact on TV streaming plans and live sports
This lawsuit raises several questions about how TV streaming services will be able to access out-of-market NFL games.
Is YouTube TV worth it?
For fans of out-of-market teams, Sunday Ticket may still be a valuable investment. However, we have to wait and see what happens and what the NFL will do.
📕 Read our YouTube TV review >>
How can fans watch out-of-market games?
Currently, Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is the primary option. If the NFL loses its appeal, other streaming services might begin offering similar packages.
Is there another way to stream out-of-market games?
Options are limited outside of Sunday Ticket. Some streaming services occasionally offer out-of-market games, but none provide the comprehensive coverage that Sunday Ticket does.
How does this affect YouTube subscribers?
YouTube might lose exclusivity over Sunday Ticket, leading to different platforms offering similar services. This could create more choices but also more confusion over where to find specific games.
Will NFL games remain on free TV?
The NFL argues that the current system ensures many games remain free. Changes might lead to more games moving to paid services, reducing the number available for free.
Could this lead to more flexible viewing options?
Possibly. If the lawsuit results in changes, networks might offer more options for watching specific teams or games.
What about the cost of following a favorite team?
Changes could lead to cheaper options for watching favorite teams but might also result in fragmented services requiring multiple subscriptions.
This could significantly impact how fans watch NFL games as the league considers potential changes to its broadcasting strategy.
Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.
