Within the 9 days since a $4.7 billion verdict was entered in opposition to the NFL within the Sunday Ticket class motion, no proprietor of any crew has mentioned something concerning the final result.
Packers CEO Mark Murphy has.
In his month-to-month column throughout which he solutions 5 fan questions, Murphy selected to deal with a query in search of his ideas on the largest loss the NFL has ever taken in courtroom.
“This was clearly huge information final week,” Murphy writes. “I used to be dissatisfied within the verdict and know that we are going to attraction the choice. I might additionally echo the emotions that the league expressed in its assertion: ‘We’re dissatisfied with the jury’s verdict at the moment within the NFL Sunday Ticket trial class motion lawsuit. We proceed to consider that our media distribution technique, which options all video games broadcast on free over-the-air tv within the markets of the taking part groups and nationwide distribution of our hottest video games, supplemented by many extra selections together with Crimson Zone, Sunday Ticket and NFL+, is by far probably the most fan pleasant distribution mannequin in all of sports activities and leisure. We will definitely contest this resolution as we consider that the category motion claims on this case are baseless and with out advantage. We thank the jury for his or her time and repair and for the steering and oversight from Choose Gutierrez all through the trial.’”
Murphy finally didn’t say a lot. However why say something? Why give credence to a really dangerous final result for the NFL that has been, within the grand scheme of issues, ignored? Why even point out it in any respect?
Murphy’s resolution to acknowledge the decision in his column offers Packers followers who won’t have even heard concerning the case motive to begin poking round. To begin studying concerning the case. To begin piecing collectively the fact that, with or with out antitrust legal responsibility, the NFL intentionally overcharged for the Sunday Ticket bundle, selecting the pockets of displaced Packers followers who had been keen to pay no matter it took to observe the crew play — and freezing out any frozen tundra aficionados who lacked the disposable revenue to purchase a range pack of 32 cheeses once they had been solely concerned about Wisconsin’s most interesting.
The league workplace can’t be thrilled about this. On the subject of the Sunday Ticket trial, much less is extra. Past the $14 billion that the league may need to pay, the NFL runs the danger of customers realizing that the league has been gouging those that want out-of-market viewing with a view to shield the cash that comes from the networks that feed one recreation at a time (and at most three video games on any given Sunday) to native markets from sea to shining sea.
After all, this gained’t be Murphy’s drawback. He’s retiring in a yr. When all appeals are exhausted, it will likely be for his successor to determine how you can provide you with $441 million.
And if/when the league decides it has no selection however to let the Sunday Ticket accomplice cost no matter it desires, Murphy gained’t have to worry about what that might do to the charges paid by CBS and Fox.
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