A class-action lawsuit against the NFL by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers began in federal court Thursday.
Subscribers claim the NFL violated antitrust laws by allowing DirecTV (NASDAQ:DTV) exclusive rights to the “Sunday Ticket” package, resulting in inflated prices.
Claimants seek $7.1 billion in damages, potentially tripling to $21 billion under federal rules.
NFL attorney Beth Wilkinson argued that "Sunday Ticket" is a premium product, providing fans with choices and not restricting access to local games on broadcast networks.
In contrast, subscribers' attorney Amanda Bonn accused the NFL, Fox, CBS, and DirecTV (NASDAQ:DTV) of creating an expensive product benefiting all parties involved.
The case, involving over 2.45 million subscribers from 2012 to 2022, could last three weeks.
Key witnesses include NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
The trial might reveal financial details about YouTube's current deal for "Sunday Ticket" and the costs networks incur to produce NFL games.