Jury Deliberations Loom in NFL 'Sunday Ticket' Antitrust Case
The jury in the class-action lawsuit filed by "Sunday Ticket" subscribers against the NFL is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday after both sides wrapped up their cases on Monday. The lawsuit, which claims the NFL broke antitrust laws by selling its package of Sunday games aired on CBS and Fox at inflated prices while limiting competition by exclusively offering "Sunday Ticket" through a satellite provider, has garnered significant attention in the sports broadcasting industry.
Final Steps Before Deliberation
U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez is scheduled to hold a conference with attorneys for both sides on Tuesday morning to finalize the jury instructions. Additionally, Judge Gutierrez might hear a motion from the NFL on Tuesday afternoon to grant judgment as a matter of law to the league, arguing that the plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence.
On Wednesday morning, Gutierrez will present final instructions to the jury, composed of five men and three women, before final arguments commence. Both sides will receive 1 hour and 10 minutes to make their closing statements, with the plaintiffs having an additional 20 minutes reserved for rebuttal.
NFL's Defense and Plaintiffs' Counterarguments
The NFL’s final witness, Stanford economics professor B. Douglas Bernheim, concluded his testimony on Monday morning after beginning last Thursday. Bernheim reiterated the NFL's stance that selling out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on Fox and CBS to DirecTV from 1994 to 2022, and subsequently to Google YouTube TV, benefits fans and ensures competitive balance on the playing field.
Countering Bernheim, Harvard professor Einer Elhauge, the plaintiffs' rebuttal witness, argued that no significant links exist between the league's constraints to make "Sunday Ticket" a premium package and fostering competitive balance. Elhauge testified that the roughly $62.5 million each team receives annually from "Sunday Ticket" wouldn’t dramatically impact the league’s salary cap or individual teams' operating budgets.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also testified last week, stating he wouldn’t support a salary cap if he could sell his out-of-market rights independently.
A Class-Action Lawsuit with Far-Reaching Implications
This class action represents 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses that purchased the out-of-market games package from the 2011 through 2022 seasons. The lawsuit claims the NFL broke antitrust laws by selling its package of Sunday games aired on CBS and Fox at inflated prices while limiting competition by exclusively offering "Sunday Ticket" through a satellite provider. The NFL argues that it retains the right to sell "Sunday Ticket" under its antitrust exemption for broadcasting. Conversely, the plaintiffs contend this exemption only applies to over-the-air broadcasts, not pay TV.
Potential Stakes and Historical Context
If the NFL is found liable, the jury could award damages of $7 billion, a figure that could triple to $21 billion due to the antitrust nature of the case. Originally filed in 2015 by the Mucky Duck sports bar in San Francisco, the lawsuit faced initial dismissal in 2017. However, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, with jurisdiction over California and eight other states, reinstated the case two years later. Judge Gutierrez sanctioned the proceeding as a class action last year.
Regardless of the decision, the losing side is anticipated to appeal the verdict, potentially escalating the case to the 9th Circuit and possibly the Supreme Court. The upcoming deliberations mark a critical juncture in a long-standing legal battle, casting the future of sports broadcasting and the legality of exclusive distribution deals into question.
Looking Ahead
As the jury prepares to deliberate, all eyes remain focused on the courtroom, awaiting a verdict that could reshape the landscape of televised sports. The outcome could set a precedent for how sports leagues negotiate broadcasting rights and manage exclusivity agreements. The decision could also influence future class-action lawsuits against other sports organizations and their broadcasting partners.
The next few days are crucial, not only for the parties involved but also for millions of sports fans and businesses that have subscribed to "Sunday Ticket" over the years. The jury's verdict will potentially redefine the boundaries of antitrust laws in the context of sports broadcasting, making it a landmark case to follow.