NFL Could Owe You a Share of $4.7 Billion After Losing Sunday’s NFL Ticket Trial

A Los Angeles jury agreed with fans who claimed the NFL overcharged them for NFL Sunday Tickets, resulting in a $4.7 billion judgment that found the NFL violated antitrust laws over its off-the-shelf televised games.

“We continue to believe that our media distribution strategy, which includes all NFL games broadcast on free over-the-air television in participating team markets and nationwide distribution of our most popular games, complemented by a variety of additional options including RedZone, Sunday Ticket and NFL+, is by far the most fan-friendly distribution model in all of sports and entertainment,” the NFL said in a statement.

So how do you find out if you qualify for part of your payout? If you subscribed to DIRECTV between June 17, 2011 and February 7, 2023 and paid for the NFL Sunday Ticket package, you are eligible for a portion of this $4.7 billion judgment. The exact amount has not yet been determined because lawyers will receive their share first. Additionally, the NFL plans to appeal the ruling delaying the payment.

This case began in 2015 and focused on how the NFL operates differently than other major sports with its NFL Sunday Ticket. The jury agreed in less than a day of hearings, finding that the NFL violated antitrust law with its NFL Sunday Ticket contract.

NFL fans who filed the lawsuit sought $7 billion in damages but received only a $4.7 billion judgment.

The case is likely to be appealed and it will likely take years for the NFL Sunday ticket payment to reach fans if it is upheld in court.

It is not yet known how this will affect the NFL’s deal with YouTube TV. DIRECTV was not a defendant in that lawsuit.