A U.S. District Court jury in Los Angeles has found the NFL guilty of violating antitrust laws by monopolizing Sunday afternoon games through a premium subscription service.

The ruling resulted in a $4.7 billion damages award to 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses.

The lawsuit, filed in 2015, covers the period from 2011 to 2022, when DirecTV held a monopoly until YouTube took over in 2023.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones testified during the trial.

The league plans to appeal the decision, which could lead to significant changes in the Sunday Ticket package.

Post-trial motions are scheduled for July 31st, with potential implications for the future of sports broadcasting and fan access to games.

Other leagues are closely watching the outcome of this case, which represents a rare setback for the NFL, a major force in American TV and culture.