Judge throws out the $4.7 billion NFL ‘Sunday Ticket’ verdict

Описание: Judge throws out the $4.7 billion NFL ‘Sunday Ticket’ verdict
*California Judge Overturns $4.7 Billion Verdict Against NFL in ‘Sunday Ticket’ Antitrust Case*

A California judge has overturned a jury verdict that had ordered the NFL to pay over $4.7 billion for alleged antitrust violations related to its “Sunday Ticket” package. The package allows fans to watch NFL games outside of their home markets but requires them to purchase a bundle of games to do so.

The NFL, the most popular television programming in America, had vowed to appeal the June verdict. In a statement following the judge's decision, the NFL expressed gratitude, stating, "We believe that the NFL’s media distribution model provides our fans with an array of options to follow the game they love, including local broadcasts of every single game on free over-the-air television."

U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez ruled to dismiss the verdict, citing issues with the plaintiffs' expert witnesses. “The Court agrees that Dr. Rascher’s and Dr. Zona’s testimonies based on their flawed methodologies should be excluded. And because there was no other support for the class-wide injury and damages elements of Plaintiffs’ claims, judgment as a matter of law for the Defendants is appropriate,” the filing stated. Judge Gutierrez also criticized the jury’s damages award as being based on “guesswork or speculation” rather than solid evidence.

The case, which began in 2015, revolved around the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” package, which limits the viewing of out-of-market games to subscribers of the service. Plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit argued that this practice forces customers who wish to watch a specific team or a limited selection of teams to pay for the entire package. They claimed that, without this arrangement, individual NFL teams would likely offer their games at competitive prices to viewers across the country, leading to more consumer-friendly options.

Had the original verdict been upheld, the damages against the NFL could have tripled to $14.1 billion due to the case’s antitrust nature.
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