There are 4.8 billion reasons why other leagues are watching the fallout from ‘Sunday Ticket’ case
Irwin Kishner, co-chair of Herrick's Sports Law Group, was quoted in the Associated Press in an article discussing the recent verdict against the NFL regarding the "Sunday Ticket" and how it may result in other sports leagues reviewing how they distribute out-of-market broadcasts.
The article notes that the jury "determined the NFL violated antitrust laws in distributing Sunday afternoon games not aired locally on Fox or CBS on a premium subscription service that only had one distributor. That kept the cost of the package high and limited those who could subscribe so that it would not impact local ratings."
The article further notes that "Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League also offer out-of-market packages, but they are structured in a different manner compared to the NFL. All three are offered on cable and satellite providers as well as streaming."
According to the article, the NFL has said it would appeal the verdict and the possibility remains that the case may settle down the line.
“People were critical of the way the plaintiffs’ case was put on because of the complicated nature of the evidence. Apparently it was the right strategy because they came out victorious,” said Irwin. “And the NFL trying to bring up wealthy owners might not have the best strategy. Hindsight’s always 20/20.”
Read the full article in the Associated Press here. Access may require a subscription.