NFL Triumphs as Judge Overturns $4.7 Billion Verdict in Sunday Ticket Lawsuit

A California judge overturned a $4.7 billion verdict against the NFL over claims of overcharging subscribers for its Sunday Ticket service. The judge ruled the damages were unjustified and unsupported by evidence. The NFL welcomed the decision, while the subscribers' lawyers have yet to respond.

A U.S. judge in California on Thursday nullified a $4.7 billion verdict against the National Football League in a lawsuit accusing it of overcharging subscribers for its Sunday Ticket game broadcasts over more than a decade. The ruling came after arguments from the NFL that the verdict was baseless and the result of a 'runaway' jury.

The NFL expressed approval of the decision. 'We believe that the NFL's media distribution model provides our fans with an array of options to follow the game they love,' the league stated. Attorneys for the subscribers did not immediately offer reactions.

'Sunday Ticket' remains the sole broadcast option for NFL enthusiasts aiming to watch out-of-market games. Subscribers contended that its prices were inflated to curb subscriptions and safeguard the distribution rights fees paid by broadcast networks for local game coverage. Judge Gutierrez, in a 16-page order, dismissed testimony from two pivotal witnesses for the subscribers and labeled the damages verdict as 'clearly unsupported by evidence.'