The name of the case is In re National Football League’s “Sunday Ticket” Antitrust Litigation, and it is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California (Case No. 2:15-ml-02668-PSG (JEMx)).

This is an antitrust matter brought by the Plaintiffs against the Defendants based on agreements that are alleged to work together to suppress competition for the sale of professional football game telecasts in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. Specifically, acting on behalf of the 32 individual NFL teams, the NFL entered into: (1) agreements in which CBS and Fox create a single telecast for every Sunday afternoon NFL game and are permitted to broadcast only a limited number of games in regional windows through free, over-the-air television; and (2) an agreement allowing DIRECTV to obtain all of the live telecasts produced by CBS and Fox and bundle them into a subscription package called NFL Sunday Ticket. Football fans who are not NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers can view only locally available games each Sunday afternoon, but Sunday Ticket subscribers can view both locally available games and out-of-market games.

In other words, fans who want to watch out-of-market games must choose either Sunday Ticket or nothing. Plaintiffs claim that absent the allegedly anticompetitive agreements at issue, the telecasts available on Sunday Ticket would be available through other means, which would result in more access to telecasts of NFL games at lower prices.

In a class action lawsuit, one or more individuals or entities called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of other individuals or entities who have similar claims. That group of individuals or entities is a “Class” made up of “Class Members.” The Class Representatives that sued here—and all the Class Members like them—are called the Plaintiffs. The companies they sued are called the Defendants. One court resolves the issues for everyone in the Classes—except for those people who choose to exclude themselves from the Damages Classes.

The lawsuit continues against the Defendants for violations of federal antitrust laws related to the sale of NFL Sunday Ticket, with a trial scheduled for June 6, 2024.

No money or benefits are available now because the lawsuit is not resolved. There is no guarantee that money or benefits ever will be obtained. If they are, a separate notice will be issued about how to ask for a share of any potential money or benefits.

The Court has certified two damages classes and two injunctive-relief classes in this litigation (together, “the Classes”), comprised of residential subscribers and commercial subscribers to Sunday Ticket.

Damages Classes:

• Residential Damages Class: All DIRECTV residential subscribers that purchased the NFL Sunday Ticket at any time between June 17, 2011 and February 7, 2023.
• Commercial Damages Class: All DIRECTV commercial subscribers that purchased the NFL Sunday Ticket at any time between June 17, 2011 and February 7, 2023.

Injunctive Classes

• Residential Injunctive Class: All DIRECTV residential subscribers that purchased the NFL Sunday Ticket at any time DIRECTV June 17, 2011 and February 7, 2023.
• Commercial Injunctive Class: All DIRECTV commercial subscribers that purchased the NFL Sunday Ticket at any time between June 17, 2011 and February 7, 2023.

The Classes exclude individuals or commercial entities that only received the NFL Sunday Ticket for free, e.g., as part of DIRECTV’s program to entice new customers, or that purchased the NFLST.tv streaming service and were not DIRECTV satellite subscribers. The Classes also exclude the Defendants and any of their current or former parents, subsidiaries, or affiliates. The Classes also exclude all judicial officers presiding over this action and their immediate family members and staff, and any juror assigned to this action.

No money or benefits are available now because the case is not resolved. There is no guarantee that money or benefits ever will be obtained. If they are, you will be notified about how to ask for a share.

If you are a member of the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class, you may exclude yourself from that damages class. You may also choose to do nothing.

You may not opt out of the Residential Injunctive Class or Commercial Injunctive Class and will be bound by the judgment in this litigation with respect to injunctive relief.

You can exclude yourself or your business from the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class. If you do not want to be part of the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class and you want to keep your right to sue the Defendants for damages in connection with the conduct that was or could have been alleged in In re: National Football League’s “Sunday Ticket” Antitrust Litigation, then you must take steps to remove yourself or your business from the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class. This is called excluding yourself, or “opting out,” of the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class. If you exclude yourself, you or your business will not receive any potential payment or anything else from the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class.

You cannot exclude yourself or your business from the Residential Injunctive Class or Commercial Injunctive Class.

To exclude yourself or your business from the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class, you must send a letter by mail or email saying that you wish to be excluded. You must include your name, business name (if applicable), address, telephone number, email and signature, and a statement that you want to exclude yourself or your business from the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class. You cannot exclude yourself or your business by telephone. You must mail or email your request for exclusion, postmarked no later than October 8, 2023, to:

In Re: National Football League’s “Sunday Ticket” Antitrust Litigation
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91316
Seattle, WA 98111
info@NFLSundayTicketLawsuit.com

Unless you exclude yourself or your business, you or your business will be bound by the outcome of the case. You will not be able to file a lawsuit or be part of any other lawsuit asserting claims against Defendants concerning or relating to the claims and factual allegations that were or could have been raised in this lawsuit.

If you exclude yourself or your business, you keep the right to file your own lawsuit against the Defendants for damages concerning or relating to the claims and factual allegations that were or could have been raised in this action.

No. Unless you exclude yourself or your business, you or your business will be bound by the outcome of the case. You will not be able to file a lawsuit or be part of any other lawsuit asserting claims against Defendants concerning or relating to the claims and factual allegations that were or could have been raised in this lawsuit

No. You are not able to exclude yourself or your business from the Residential Injunctive Class or the Commercial Injunctive Class. Those classes do not seek any money damages from the Defendants. Those classes seek only injunctive relief—i.e., they seek to modify Defendants’ conduct.

If you do nothing, you will be bound by the outcome of this lawsuit. If you remain in the Residential Damages Class or Commercial Damages Class and Plaintiffs obtain money or other value from this lawsuit—either as a result of any ruling, trial or Court-approved settlement—you may qualify for a payment. Unless you exclude yourself or your business, you will not be able to file a lawsuit or be part of any other case asserting claims against Defendants concerning or relating to the claims and factual allegations that were or could have been raised in this lawsuit.

Yes. The Court has appointed lawyers to represent you and other members of the Classes. These lawyers are called the Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel. You will not be charged individually for these lawyers.

THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU

In the event of a judgment against Defendants after trial or a settlement, Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel will ask the Court to approve and award attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with the litigation. They also may ask for service or “incentive” awards for the Class Representatives. The amount of these fees, costs, and awards, will ultimately be determined by the Court.

You do not need to hire your own lawyer, but if you hire a lawyer to speak for you or your business or appear in court, your lawyer must file a notice of appearance. If you hire your own lawyer, you will have to pay for that lawyer.

The Notice contains a summary of relevant court filings and orders. Complete copies of public pleadings, Court rulings, and other filings are available for review and copying at the Clerk’s office or online at https://pacer.uscourts.gov. The address is U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, First Street Courthouse, 350 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California 90012. Chief Judge Philip S. Gutierrez of the United States District Court for the Central District of California is overseeing this class action.

Please do not contact the Court or Judge Gutierrez.

No. The Defendants cannot provide you with legal advice concerning your options in this lawsuit.