NFL+ Faces Class Action Lawsuit over Sunday Ticket Package The NFL’s new streaming service, NFL+, is facing a class action lawsuit over its Sunday Ticket package. The lawsuit alleges that NFL+ is violating antitrust laws by requiring customers to purchase the full Sunday Ticket package to watch out-of-market games, even if they are only interested in a few specific teams. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California by a group of fans who purchased the Sunday Ticket package. The fans claim that they were misled by NFL+’s marketing, which suggested that they could purchase individual team packages. However, when they tried to do so, they were told that they had to purchase the full package, which costs $299.99 per year. The fans argue that this is an antitrust violation because it gives NFL+ a monopoly on the market for out-of-market games. They also argue that the price of the package is excessive, especially since fans are only interested in a few specific teams. The NFL has not yet commented on the lawsuit. However, the league has previously defended its pricing for the Sunday Ticket package, saying that it is necessary to cover the costs of producing the games and distributing them to fans. The lawsuit is still in its early stages, and it is unclear how it will resolve. However, it could have significant implications for the NFL’s streaming strategy. If the lawsuit is successful, NFL+ may be forced to change its pricing or offer individual team packages.NFL Faces Antitrust Lawsuit Over “Sunday Ticket” Package
NFL Faces Antitrust Lawsuit Over “Sunday Ticket” Package Subscribers of the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” package have filed a class-action lawsuit against the league, alleging antitrust violations and excessive pricing. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, claims that the NFL abuses its antitrust exemption in selling its Sunday out-of-market games package, which airs on CBS and Fox. Plaintiffs argue that the league restricts competition by making the package available only through a satellite provider, currently YouTube TV. Approximately 2.4 million subscribers and 48,000 companies are involved in the lawsuit. If the NFL loses, damages could reach $21 billion due to antitrust laws. Previously dismissed in 2017, the case was revived in 2019 and given class-action status last year. Plaintiffs allege that networks pressure the NFL to keep prices high and that the league rejected a proposal from ESPN to offer the package for a lower price on its streaming service. The NFL claims it has the right to sell the package under the broadcast antitrust exemption. A decision in the case is pending, but even if the NFL loses, plaintiffs may face a lengthy appeals process before receiving any compensation.
NFL+ Faces Class Action Lawsuit over Sunday Ticket Package The National Football League (NFL) and its streaming service, NFL+, are facing a class action lawsuit over alleged deceptive marketing practices related to the Sunday Ticket package. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, alleges that NFL+ marketed Sunday Ticket as a “complete” and “unmatched” way to watch all regular season NFL games, but failed to disclose that certain local games would be blacked out. According to the plaintiffs, this blackout policy resulted in many fans being unable to watch their local teams play, despite purchasing the Sunday Ticket package. The lawsuit claims that this was a material misrepresentation that misled consumers. The plaintiffs also allege that NFL+ engaged in unfair business practices by failing to provide clear and conspicuous information about the blackout policy before consumers purchased the Sunday Ticket package. The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution, and injunctive relief to prevent NFL+ from continuing the alleged deceptive marketing practices. It is not yet known how the NFL will respond to the lawsuit. The NFL Sunday Ticket package is a popular subscription service that allows fans to watch every NFL regular season game, excluding local games that may be subject to blackout restrictions. In recent years, NFL+ has become the exclusive provider of the Sunday Ticket package, replacing the previous provider, DirecTV. The lawsuit highlights the importance of clear and accurate marketing practices in the streaming industry. It remains to be seen how the courts will interpret the allegations and whether NFL+ will be held liable for its alleged actions.
