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NFL Fined $4.7 Billion Over Sunday Ticket Controversy

Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus (8) boots a field goal during overtime in an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Cleveland. The Broncos won 26-23. (AP Photo/David Richard)

The damages a federal jury has ordered the NFL to pay for violating antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service is $4,707,259,944.64.

The figures from the June 27 judgment against the NFL were listed on the verdict form, which was posted on the case docket Tuesday.

The lawsuit covered 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses in the United States who paid for the package on DirecTV of out-of-market games from the 2011 through 2022 seasons. The lawsuit claimed the league broke antitrust laws by selling the package at an inflated price. The subscribers also say the league restricted competition by offering “Sunday Ticket” only on a satellite provider.

The jury of five men and three women found the NFL liable for $4,610,331,671.74 in damages to the residential class (home subscribers) and $96,928,272.90 in damages to the commercial class (business subscribers).

Since damages can be tripled under federal antitrust laws, the NFL could end up being liable for $14,121,779,833.92.

Damages would be spread equally among the 32 teams, meaning each team could owe $441.3 million.

Read the full story here.

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