The trial of the Sunday Ticket class action against the NFL is set to end this week, with closing arguments being held on Wednesday. All evidence has been presented, and the jury will be instructed on the applicable law. Jury deliberations are scheduled to begin on Wednesday morning or afternoon, with the jury continuing to deliberate until a verdict is reached or an impasse is declared. If the NFL loses, the presiding judge may enter judgment notwithstanding the verdict for the defense.
Regardless of whether the league wins or loses, an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit remains a possibility. The league may have a stronger case on legal grounds than they do on factual evidence presented in court. While there is evidence that supports a jury verdict on whether Sunday Ticket was priced high enough to encourage consumers to watch games on local CBS and/or Fox affiliates, it appears that the league had other options for pricing their product lower without losing viewership.
No matter what happens in court, remember that next time you’re told football is family, think about how much money is at stake in these legal battles over Sunday Ticket pricing.
