The Ongoing NFL Sunday Ticket Antitrust Case
Written by Natalie Lebovitz | March 26, 2026
What is NFL Sunday Ticket?
NFL Sunday ticket is a subscription package that allows viewers to stream Sunday afternoon regular season NFL games that are not typically available on local television. This is beneficial to people who live outside of the region of their favorite team so they can make sure that they can always stream a game. There are unique features like having the option to view multiple games at once with real-time stats. DirecTV had exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket package until the end of the 2022 season.
What is the case?
The Sunday Ticket Antitrust lawsuit case was originally filed in 2015, then tried in 2024 and then appealed in 2026. This was a class-action lawsuit filed by users claiming that all parties involved in Sunday Ticket were violating antitrust law. Antitrust laws are federal written statutes put in place to ensure market competition by regulating a competitive market. This aims to prohibit monopolies and protect consumers from higher prices. Plaintiffs claimed that NFL sold “Sunday Ticket” subscriptions at a higher price and restricted competition by allowing DirecTV to distribute the program exclusively. This case is before the Ninth Circuit which covers California, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. This Circuit does not hold trials but reviews cases for legal errors made by lower courts. A decision is binding here but can be appealed to the Supreme Court. There are specific local rules, mediations programs and procedures for the Ninth Circuit. In 2024 the Jury sided with Plaintiffs, and the NFL received over $4.7 billion dollars in damage. About a month later a Judge overturned the ruling due to the fact that there can’t be a reasonable jury to calculate appropriate damages due to other factors of the package like College Football.
Where is the case now?
Since the case was dismissed, plaintiffs have been revising it in anticipation of the appeal due to the initial perceived flaws in the evidence. This case is still in the midst of trial and could end up in the supreme court. The future for now could be the reinstitution of the $4.7 billion dollar verdict, a new trial, or dismissal of the case.
Significance of the case:
The NFL owns many media scapes now that makes streaming games highly accessible. This being said, usually you can find one game on one platform and have to search and buy other subscriptions to buy another. Since this case, The NFL has given rights to YouTube TV for a Sunday Ticket Subscription that makes it more accessible for more users because DirecTV is a satellite company. The case could lead to a much larger battle over Sports Broadcasting rights in general. The result of this case could lead the NFL to rethinking how they distribute their streaming practices and what platforms gain the rights to which games.
References
Jacobs, L. (2025, November 18). From Touchdown to Fumble: How Plaintiffs Lost Their $4.7 Billion NFL Sunday Ticket Victory on Expert Testimony – NYU Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law. NYU Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law. Retrieved March 16, 2026, from https://jipel.law.nyu.edu/from-touchdown-to-fumble/
Warr, N., Dulani, J., & Hill, S. (2024, November 6). Flag After the Play, Ruling on the Field Under Review: $4.8 Billion NFL Sunday Ticket Antitrust Litigation. Stinson LLP. Retrieved March 16, 2026, from https://www.stinson.com/newsroom-publications-flag-after-the-play-ruling-on-the-field-under-review-4-point-8-billion-nfl-sunday-ticket-antitrust-litigation
