Sunday Ticket Non-Competition Problematic, Appellants Say in DirecTV/NFL Antitrust Appeal

Sports bars and DirecTV subscribers aren't challenging the existence of DirecTV's "Sunday Ticket" but rather the agreements that prevent any competition with it, the appellants said in a docket 17-56119 reply brief (in Pacer) filed Friday in the 9th U.S. District Court of Appeals. The appellants said it's clear the Supreme Court's 1984 NCAA v. Board of Regents of University of Oklahoma ruling that NCAA exclusive contracts with broadcasters had apparently anticompetitive consequences holds sway in this case claiming anticompetitive consequences of DirecTV's agreements with the NFL. The appellants are challenging a U.S. district judge's decision last year throwing out consolidated complaints suing the MVPD and NFL over Sunday Ticket programming (see 1804020003). Outside counsel for DirecTV owner AT&T didn't comment Tuesday.