NFL Verdict Overturned

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187d

A federal judge overturned a $4.7 billion jury verdict against the NFL in the Sunday Ticket antitrust lawsuit, ruling the jury failed to follow instructions. This decision significantly impacts the NFL's broadcasting rights and financial obligations related to the package.

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A federal judge has overturned a substantial $4.7 billion verdict against the NFL related to its "Sunday Ticket" package, which allows fans to watch out-of-market games. The jury had decided in favor of the plaintiffs, claiming that the NFL had violated antitrust laws by restraining competition in television broadcasts and that these actions should be penalized with such a significant financial award.

However, the judge concluded that the jury did not adhere to legal instructions during the trial, which centered on whether the Sunday Ticket constituted an anti-competitive practice. The ruling highlighted that the evidence presented did not sufficiently demonstrate that the NFL had monopolized the market or significantly harmed competition. This judgment was fueled by the NFL's argument that their practices, while perhaps unpopular with some competitors, did not violate antitrust regulations.

This ruling has significant implications for the NFL, which was facing the prospect of paying out billions. The case had garnered considerable media attention as it encompassed issues surrounding sports broadcasting rights and the ever-evolving landscape of media consumption in the digital age. The plaintiffs' claims were rooted in the contention that the NFL's actions and control over the broadcast rights to games effectively stifled competition and consumer choice.

The judge’s decision, based on procedural grounds, emphasized the necessity for juries to follow legal protocols rigorously and reconsider the evidence inappropriately weighed during deliberations. Thus, the original verdict has been vacated, leading to further discussions about the future of broadcast rights in sports, especially as media consumers increasingly seek diverse offerings beyond traditional broadcast models.

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Current Stats

Data

Virality Score 4.9

Change in Rank -1

Thread Age 187 days

Number of Articles 28

Political Leaning

Left 35.3%

Center 47.1%

Right 17.6%

Regional Coverage

US 100.0%

Non-US 0.0%

Recent Coverage

Judge Overturns $4.7 Billion Verdict in NFL Sunday Ticket Antitrust Lawsuit

The Epoch Times - 187 days ago - Damages awarded in June were not based on the ‘evidence and reasonable inferences’ but instead were more akin to ’guesswork or speculation,' the judge ruled.

Judge rules for NFL, tosses 'Sunday Ticket' verdict

ESPN - 187 days ago - A federal judge overturned a jury's $4.7 billion verdict in the class action lawsuit filed by "Sunday Ticket" subscribers against the NFL.

Judge Overturns $4.7 Billion Antitrust Verdict Against NFL Over 'Sunday Ticket' Package

International Business Times - 187 days ago - US District Judge Philip Gutierrez, in his ruling Thursday, cited issues with the methodologies of expert witnesses presented during the trial.

Judge overturned $4.7 billion verdict in NFL Sunday Ticket lawsuit for curious reason

Yardbarker - 187 days ago - A little over a month after a jury awarded NFL Sunday Ticket customers $4.7 billion in damages from a class-action lawsuit filed against the league, it all went bye-bye in an instant for curious reasons. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez overturned the verdict, excluding testimony from two expert witnesses for the plaintiffs, ruining their case. "The Court agrees that Dr. [Daniel] Rascher's and Dr. [John] Zona's testimonies based on their flawed methodologies should be excluded," Judge Gutierrez's ruling read. "And because there was no other support for the class-wide injury and damages element of Plaintiffs' claims, judgment as a matter of law for the Defendants is appropriate." However, the logic behind the ruling is, well, interesting. Per Judge Gutierrez's 16-page ruling, Dr. Rascher's and Dr. Zona's testimonies "were not the product of sound economic methodology." Dr. Rascher used the distribution of college football games as an example of how the NFL's Sunday Ticket model impacted custo

Federal judge overturns $4.7-billion verdict in 'NFL Sunday Ticket' lawsuit

Los Angeles Times - 188 days ago - A federal judge has overturned a jury's $4.7 billion verdict in the class-action lawsuit filed by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers against the NFL.

Federal judge overturns $4.7 billion jury verdict in ‘Sunday Ticket’ lawsuit, ruling for NFL

NBC News - 188 days ago - A federal judge has overturned a jury’s $4.7 billion verdict in the class-action lawsuit filed by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers against the NFL and has granted judgment to the NFL.

Judge overturns jury’s $4.7 billion verdict in NFL Sunday Ticket case

The Washington Post - 188 days ago - The jury’s original verdict could have cost the NFL and teams $14.1 billion under federal antitrust laws, or about $440 million per team.

N.F.L. Sunday Ticket Verdict Is Thrown Out by Judge

The New York Times - 188 days ago - The decision, five weeks after a jury awarded $4.7 billion in damages in an antitrust case, is a reprieve for the league.

Federal judge reverses $4.7 billion verdict in NFL 'Sunday Ticket' case

Fox Business - 188 days ago - More than a month after a jury ruled that the NFL must pay $4.7 billion from the "Sunday Ticket" lawsuit, a federal judge reversed the verdict.

Judge overturns $4.7 billion verdict in "Sunday Ticket" case against NFL

CBS News - 188 days ago - The jury ruled the NFL violated antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service.

$4.7 billion NFL Sunday Ticket decision overturned in bombshell

New York Post - 188 days ago - The NFL has billions of reasons to be excited right as its new season officially kicks off.

NFL Sunday Ticket $4.7 Billion Jury Verdict Thrown Out by Judge

Variety - 188 days ago - A federal judge threw out a jury's $4.7 billion award to NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers, finding the verdict was unsupported by evidence.

NFL 'Sunday Ticket' Lawsuit Overturned by Judge After Jury Orders League to Pay $4.7B

Bleacher Report - 188 days ago - U.S. District Court Judge Philip Gutierrez has overturned a federal jury's $4.7 billion judgment in favor of plaintiffs in the NFL Sunday Ticket case,…

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

CNN Money - 188 days ago - A California judge threw out a jury verdict ordering the NFL to pay more than $4.7 billion for anti-trust violations surrounding its “Sunday Ticket” package, which lets fans watch games outside of their home markets but required them to buy access to a bundle of games to do so.

Judge Tosses Out $4.7 Billion Jury Verdict Against NFL In Class Action Lawsuit

Deadline - 188 days ago - A federal judge tossed out a jury’s $4.7 billion judgment against the NFL over the price of its NFL Sunday Ticket subscriptions, concluding that the experts put forth by the class action plaintiffs were using faulty economic models. U.S. District Court Judge Philip S. Gutierrez granted the NFL’s motion for judgment as a matter of […]