This is the annual gathering of Sun Valley tycoons and billionaires, and like almost every year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave an interview to CNBC.
Goodell was specifically asked about the recent Sunday Ticket judgment, which as you know is for over $4.7 billion and which stands to triple in value to over $14 billion if finalized.
The trial focused on allegations that the 32 NFL franchises, operating with the backing of Big Shield, required DirecTV to grossly overcharge consumers for its Sunday Ticket out-of-market packages to encourage them to choose to watch games offered by CBS and Fox in their local markets. The jury found that the NFL violated federal antitrust laws during its 12-season tenure, as well as over 2.4 million residential customers who paid excessive fees for the packages.
“Well, we obviously disagree with the jury’s verdict and we are committed to following the legal process,” Goodell told CNBC, in a recording distributed by the network. “This is a long process, we know that, but our position, particularly on our media policy, is that we are very strong believers in bringing our sports to as wide an audience as possible, and Sunday Ticket is just a supplemental product. So we are committed to following this litigation to the end and making the right decision.”
Reducing the price of the Sunday Ticket would help attract a larger audience, allowing more people to buy the ticket and watch the games they want to see, rather than games curated for their area.
When Goodell says “the largest possible audience,” he means “the largest possible ratings” (i.e. “the largest possible revenue”). If more people tune in to CBS or Fox on their local channels, that will drive ratings even higher, up to the largest possible numbers nationwide.
But the NFL will likely make compelling arguments about whether it can avoid antitrust liability and whether the jury’s damages calculation, which it allegedly concocted using an iPhone calculator, was correct. Should be rejected.
Either way, the jury’s verdict raises the stakes considerably for everyone, including Sunday Ticket customers from 2011 through 2022 who may end up receiving checks for thousands of dollars, possibly signed by Goodell himself.
