THE SIGNAL · THE FAN WEEKLY · Issue #12 ·
NFL Sunday Ticket Pricing Fight Heads Back to Court
The cost of following your team
NFL Sunday Ticket’s antitrust case is heading to a new damages trial, with no confirmed payout yet. This week’s Signal also covers NHL and NBA viewing options, two free MLS Decision Day streams and added seats in Seattle.
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01 · NFL / PRICING
NFL Sunday Ticket Pricing Fight Heads Back to Court
The Ninth Circuit ordered the jury’s antitrust-liability finding against the NFL reinstated in the Sunday Ticket case. The dispute concerns what DirecTV subscribers paid to watch out-of-market games during the 2011–2022 seasons. A new trial will determine damages, so the original $4.7 billion award is not a confirmed payout.
- The Oct. 30 ruling restores the jury’s liability finding and sends the case back for a new trial on damages.
- The case concerns DirecTV’s 2011–2022 Sunday Ticket seasons; the ruling does not establish a refund amount or a lower price for today’s package.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO FANS: Following a team outside your local TV market can be expensive. This case keeps the price fans paid under scrutiny, but any damages still have to be decided.
Source: Associated Press · Court opinion: Ninth Circuit
02 · MLS / STREAMING
MLS Puts Two Decision Day Matches on Tubi for Free
MLS and Tubi announced that two Nov. 7 Decision Day matches will stream live and free in the United States, complementing full-league coverage on Apple TV. The free windows are Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC at 4 p.m. ET and LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders FC at 7 p.m. ET.
- Free U.S. simulcasts: Inter Miami vs. Charlotte at 4 p.m. ET and LAFC vs. Seattle at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 7.
- Decision Day is the final regular-season match day, with playoff qualification and positioning still at stake.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO FANS: Free access matters on a day when playoff qualification and positioning are still in play. It gives more fans a way to watch two high-stakes matches without adding another paywall.
03 · NHL / STREAMING
ESPN’s November NHL Exclusive Slate Lands on Apps Fans Already Know
ESPN’s November NHL streaming slate runs through Nov. 19 on ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu, with nine games scheduled from Nov. 5 onward. Fans should check their subscription’s access to the listed service. The remaining slate includes Capitals-Lightning on Nov. 17 and Stars-Golden Knights on Nov. 19.
- The slate began Nov. 3; nine games remain scheduled from Nov. 5 through Nov. 19.
- Nov. 5 is a streaming doubleheader: Hurricanes at Islanders at 7 p.m. ET and Predators at Avalanche at 9:30 p.m. ET, both on ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO FANS: The remaining schedule helps fans plan for a streaming-only stretch and check which subscriptions cover the games they want to watch.
04 · NBA / STREAMING
Prime Sets Four November NBA Friday Doubleheaders, Ending on Black Friday
Amazon’s Prime Video November guide lists eight NBA games across Friday doubleheaders on Nov. 6, 13, 20 and 27, included with a U.S. Prime membership. The month ends with a national Black Friday window of Heat at Knicks at 7 p.m. ET and Lakers at Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET.
- The first November NBA on Prime doubleheader is Nov. 6: 76ers at Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET and Trail Blazers at Lakers at 10 p.m. ET.
- Prime Video is included with Prime at $14.99 a month or $139 a year in the U.S.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO FANS: Fans get a clear November schedule for Prime’s Friday NBA windows, including the Black Friday national slot. It’s useful for anyone tracking which games are included with a U.S. Prime membership.
05 · MLS / TICKETS
Sounders Add More Lumen Field Seats for a Playoff-Shaping Decision Day
Seattle is opening select 300-level sections at Lumen Field for Saturday’s Fan Appreciation match against LAFC, giving more fans a chance to attend a game that can decide playoff qualification. Kickoff is 4 p.m. PT on Nov. 7, and single-match tickets are on sale at SoundersFC.com/tickets.
- Additional 300-level seating is available for the Nov. 7 match, with kickoff at 4 p.m. PT.
- Sounders entered Decision Day in 10th in the West with 43 points, level with Portland and Colorado.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO FANS: More inventory means more fans can get in for a match with postseason stakes. That matters for supporters who were waiting to see if attendance options would expand.
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The Signal / This week’s question
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