NFL defends 'Sunday Ticket' as premium amid $21 billion antitrust lawsuit

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league's "Sunday Ticket" package as a premium product during his testimony in a federal court on Monday, amid a class-action lawsuit claiming antitrust violations. 

According to the Associated Press, Goodell emphasised the quality and premium nature of the product, stating, "Fans make that choice whether they wanted it or not. I'm sure there were fans who said it was too costly."

Goodell testified for nearly four hours as the trial entered its third week. The lawsuit, representing 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses, alleges that the NFL sold the "Sunday Ticket" package at inflated prices and restricted competition by offering it exclusively through a satellite provider.

"We have been clear throughout that it is a premium product. Not just on pricing but quality," Goodell reiterated during his cross-examination in a Los Angeles courtroom. This marks the first time Goodell has testified in federal court since becoming commissioner in 2006.

The plaintiffs argue that the NFL violated antitrust laws, maintaining that the league's exemption only applies to over-the-air broadcasts, not pay TV. If found liable, the NFL could face damages up to $21 billion, as antitrust cases can triple the damages awarded, the Associated Press reports.

The trial also revealed internal concerns from networks like Fox and CBS about the impact of a more widely distributed "Sunday Ticket" on local game ratings. Former CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus noted in a memo that the network always viewed these packages as premium, thereby limiting their distribution.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who testified after Goodell, supported the league's centralised broadcast model despite acknowledging that teams like the Cowboys could financially benefit from selling their own out-of-market rights. "I am convinced I would make a lot more money than the Bengals," Jones said, adding, "I'm completely against each team doing TV deals. It is flawed."

Jones' testimony will continue on Tuesday, with McManus also expected to take the stand.