NFL Sunday Ticket Lawsuit: Appeals Court Orders New Trial on Damages

A federal appeals court has ordered a new trial to determine financial damages in the class-action lawsuit against the NFL over its Sunday Ticket package, according to a ruling by the 9th Circuit. Subscribers allege they were overcharged by the NFL and its partners for the out-of-market games service, which was previously offered through DirecTV and is now available on YouTube TV. The original case, which covered millions of residential and commercial subscribers from 2011 to 2022, had resulted in a $4.7 billion jury verdict against the league, but that award was overturned on appeal. The new trial will focus solely on damages, as the appeals court found errors in the jury instructions and expert testimony. The NFL maintains that Sunday Ticket was a premium product priced fairly, while plaintiffs argue the league’s exclusive distribution deals artificially inflated prices. The outcome could have significant financial implications for the NFL and reshape how sports leagues package and price out-of-market broadcasts. A date for the new trial has not yet been set.