Roger Goodell breaks silence on NFL’s $7 billion ‘Sunday Ticket’ court decision

The NFL is currently grappling with the potential of paying over $4 billion in damages following a class-action lawsuit loss concerning its “Sunday Ticket” package. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the issue in a recent interview, downplaying the league’s concerns and emphasizing confidence in their legal standing.

Speaking to CNBC on Thursday, Goodell expressed the NFL‘s intent to appeal the decision and reiterated their strong belief in their position: “We obviously disagree with the jury verdict and we are committed, obviously, to following the legal process. It’s a long process. We’re aware of that, but we feel very strongly about our position, our policies, particularly on media, that we make our sport available to the broadest possible audience. Sunday Ticket is just a complementary product. We’re committed to following the litigation all the way and making sure that we get this right.”

The federal jury’s decision mandates the NFL to pay $4.7 billion in residential class damages and $96 million in commercial class damages to the plaintiffs, who are subscribers of the “NFL Sunday Ticket.” This amounts to nearly $150 million per NFL team.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2015 by San Francisco’s Mucky Duck sports bar, alleged that the NFL, its teams, and its network partners violated antitrust regulations by collectively inflating the price of the TV package. Initially seeking $7 billion in damages, the plaintiffs argued that the NFL‘s practices unfairly restricted market competition.

The NFL will appeal this decision

The NFL swiftly announced plans to appeal the decision, labeling the damages as “excessive and unreasonable.” Given the lengthy nature of the legal process, particularly for billion-dollar appeals, this case could extend for more than a decade before reaching a final resolution.

In the past year, the “NFL Sunday Ticket” was priced at $349 on YouTubeTV, following a $294 price tag in 2022, its final season on DirecTV.

As the NFL prepares for a prolonged legal battle, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the league’s media strategies and its relationship with fans and subscribers.