Are you ready for some football? How antitrust laws can be used to break up DirecTV's exclusive right to telecast NFL's Sunday ticket package

• Published in: Federal communications law journal Vol. 64; no. 1; pp. 223 - 246
• Main Author: Bublick, Ariel Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington The George Washington University Law School 01.12.2011; George Washington University, National Law Center
• Subjects: Antitrust; Antitrust law; Antitrust laws; Benefits; Broadcasting rights; Communication; Competition; Consumers; Exclusive licenses; Football; History; Law; Laws, regulations and rules; Monopoly; Professional football; Service introduction; Television; Television broadcasting of sports; Television programming; Television sports; United States > US
• ISSN: 0163-7606; 2376-4457

There is almost no question that football has become modern America's pastime. Football has never been more popular, and every Sunday people are clamoring to watch as many games as possible. The Sunday Ticket package allows viewers to watch any National Football League ("NFL") game being played at any given time. However, the NFL has only granted DirecTV the right to air the Sunday Ticket package, denying this excellent service to a majority of television viewers. By limiting the reach of the Sunday Ticket package, the NFL may be in violation of antitrust laws. This Note begins by explaining antitrust laws, and then moves on to discussing the history of professional football and its complicated relationship with television. Finally, the Note argues that several aspects of NFL's agreement with DirecTV violate antitrust laws, and that making the Sunday Ticket package more widely available would benefit consumers.