Years ago, the league faced a lawsuit centered around NFL’s Sunday Ticket package and how it violated antitrust laws. Now, the case has taken a turn as commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones are set to testify soon.
The ongoing class-action lawsuit against the NFL by Sunday Ticket subscribers could significantly impact how the league distributes its out-of-market games. The lawsuit, filed in 2015, alleges that the league violated antitrust laws by exclusively selling the said package through satellite provider DirecTV at inflated prices, restricting competition and harming consumers.
The NFL maintains that it has the right to sell Sunday Ticket under its antitrust exemption for broadcasting. However, the plaintiffs argue that this exemption only covers over-the-air broadcasts, not pay TV. The case has survived numerous challenges, including a previous dismissal that was overturned on appeal.
If the NFL is found liable, the plaintiffs could be awarded up to $21 billion in damages, tripled under antitrust laws. This could force the league to rethink its distribution model, potentially leading to more consumer-friendly options like team-specific packages or a weekly package.
Roger Goodell and Jerry Jones Set to Testify in Lawsuit About NFL Sunday Ticket
With this case progressing as of the moment, both Goodell and Jones are set to testify soon as part of the lawsuit. In an article posted on Bleacher Report, Joseph Zucker went into more details about this development.
“Michael McCann, Daniel Libit and Eben Novy-Williams reported in January that Goodell and Jones were both listed as potential witnesses. Both would be expected to answer questions about the NFL’s media rights deals and the rules on broadcasting out-of-market games,” Zucker wrote.
As it stands, the plaintiffs are asking for $7.1 billion in damages. If the league loses and fails to settle, they’re going to take a massive financial hit, along with how broadcast rights for football games are structured.
It remains to be seen whether Goodell and Jones’ testimony will have any bearing on the case. Nevertheless, this is one development that needs to be monitored closely by NFL fans.
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