The federal judge overseeing the class-action lawsuit brought by 'Sunday Ticket' subscribers against the NFL expressed frustration with the handling of the case by the plaintiffs' attorneys. The lawsuit, covering 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses, alleges that the NFL violated antitrust laws by selling its out-of-market games package at an inflated price and restricting competition by offering 'Sunday Ticket' exclusively through a satellite provider.
The NFL argues that it has the right to sell 'Sunday Ticket' under its broadcasting antitrust exemption, while the plaintiffs contend that the exemption only applies to over-the-air broadcasts, not pay TV. If found liable, the NFL could face damages of up to $21 billion due to the potential tripling of damages in antitrust cases.
