The verdict came back because the 9th Circuit ruled the trial judge should not have discarded the plaintiffs' expert testimony and overturned the jury. A jury verdict "must stand unless it is clearly not supported by the evidence," the panel held. Sunday Ticket is the NFL's out-of-market package for watching games outside your local area. Subscribers claimed the league pooled team rights and kept DirecTV as the exclusive seller to lift prices.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Wtbx — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from Nbcsports — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What did the appeals court restore?
- Why did expert witnesses decide the outcome?
- Who falls inside the class?
- Will subscribers get money now?
What did the appeals court restore?
On Oct. 30, 2026, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the jury's antitrust liability verdict. It sent the case back for formal reinstatement plus a new damages trial. Reuters reported the ruling in its Reuters account of the ruling.
The court did not keep the $4.7 billion figure. The award rested "on its improper consideration of the evidence rather than according to" the instructions. NBC Sports ProFootballTalk described that damages flaw in its detailed ProFootballTalk breakdown. Reuters reported that a Los Angeles federal jury set that figure after a three-week trial ending June 27, 2024. It awarded about $4.6 billion to residential subscribers and $96.9 million to commercial subscribers.
Why did expert witnesses decide the outcome?
U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez overturned the verdict on Aug. 1, 2024. He excluded experts Daniel Rascher and John Zona for flawed methods and granted judgment to the NFL. NPR, via WAMC, detailed that order in its NPR report carried by WAMC.
The appeals panel disagreed. It held the judge was wrong to reject the experts. A jury may weigh imperfect methods unless no reasonable juror could rely on them. Because the experts stayed in, the liability evidence stayed sufficient. The verdict therefore had to stand.
Who falls inside the class?
The class covers about 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 commercial subscribers. It includes DirecTV buyers from 2011-2022. Competition Policy International summarized the class scope in its Competition Policy International summary.
Members claim pooled rights and DirecTV exclusivity inflated out-of-market prices. That is the core antitrust theory. It targets the deal structure, not game quality.
Will subscribers get money now?
No. No payment is due now. Subscribers must wait for the new damages trial to set a lawful amount. The stakes remain large.
Kutak Rock noted federal antitrust damages are trebled, so the original $4.7-$4.8 billion award could have meant about $14.1-$14.4 billion if sustained. The NFL calls its model the "most fan-friendly" and is weighing further review, Reuters reported. You cannot file a payout claim yet. Until the court approves notice: Keep one file with your subscription years and payment proof until that notice arrives.
- Keep DirecTV bills, account numbers, and Sunday Ticket years.
- Save business proof if you bought for a bar, office, or shop.
- Watch for court-approved notice before sharing personal data.