9th Circuit Restores NFL Sunday Ticket Antitrust Liability
The appellate court restored the June 2024 antitrust verdict against the NFL, which now stands but with damages still unresolved. A new trial will be needed to determine the award, and the case has a referenced maximum exposure under federal triple damages, not a forecast.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a June 2024 jury verdict finding the NFL violated antitrust law in distributing Sunday Ticket. About 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses in the United States are within the class-action claim, per Newsday here.
The decision does not change the dollar amount, but it keeps a potential award alive.
What the Appeals Panel Reversed
A lower court initially set aside the verdict after excluding expert testimony that had underpinned the damages calculation. The appellate panel reversed that action, restoring the liability finding. Newsday reports the panel found the exclusions too broad and pointed to a flawed $191.26 multiplier that was applied to subscription totals, meaning the prior calculation could not stand. The panel also noted the jury relied on unsupported inferences in places.
Why the Case Still Matters
The restored liability finding leaves the damages figure unresolved. A new trial will be required to determine it, and appellate review is still possible afterward. The underlying claim also references a separate pending suit under the Clayton Act regarding distribution changes, but that claim is not tied to this reinstated liability finding. Federal antitrust laws allow triple damages, and the reporting references a maximum potential exposure of roughly $14.12 billion under those rules—but that is a cap tied to the jury's underlying numbers, not a forecast of what the next trial will award.
