History of NFL Sunday Ticket in Timeline

NFL Sunday Ticket is a subscription-based sports package providing out-of-market NFL games. It allows viewers to watch regional Sunday afternoon games from Fox and CBS that are not broadcast locally. Primarily targeted at fans outside their team's broadcast area and commercial establishments like sports bars, it was exclusively distributed by DirecTV from 1994 to 2022. Starting in 2023, the residential rights moved to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels, while a new entity, EverPass Media, handles distribution to commercial venues.

1994: NFL Sunday Ticket launched

In 1994, the NFL Sunday Ticket was launched and was initially available on C band and Ku band satellites. DirecTV became involved later in the 1994 season, airing the package in the last 5 weeks of the regular season.

1998: Service available to cable systems in Canada

In 1998, the NFL Sunday Ticket service became available to cable systems in Canada, with Rogers Cable in Ontario being the first to offer it.

1998: Blackout policy implemented

Starting in 1998, Sunday afternoon games on local Fox and CBS affiliates within a viewer's media market were blacked out on the NFL Sunday Ticket feed. Viewers had to watch those games on their local broadcast stations.

2005: DirecTV offers Superfan package

From 2005 to 2009, DirecTV offered extra features as part of an add-on package called Superfan, costing $100 extra.

2005: Red Zone Channel Launched

The Red Zone Channel, hosted by Andrew Siciliano, was launched in 2005, offering commercial-free "whiparound" coverage of NFL games, highlighting key plays. In the earlier years, only FOX games were featured.

2008: High-definition feed added

Starting in 2008, the multi-game channel on NFL Sunday Ticket added a high-definition feed.

2009: End of Superfan package

From 2005 to 2009, DirecTV offered extra features as part of an add-on package called Superfan, costing $100 extra.

2009: NFL RedZone service launched

In 2009, the NFL RedZone service, hosted by Scott Hanson and produced by NFL Network, was launched and distributed to other television providers and platforms. It co-existed with the DirecTV Red Zone Channel until the 2023 season.

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2009: NFL Sunday Ticket To Go available

Starting in 2009, NFL Sunday Ticket To Go became available to non-DirecTV subscribers with line of sight issues, costing $50 more than those with DirecTV service.

2009: All games in high definition

Starting in 2009, all games on NFL Sunday Ticket were broadcast in high definition. These HD games were previously part of the Superfan package.

September 26, 2010: NFL Sunday Ticket offered on JetBlue flights

On September 26, 2010, DirecTV began offering the full slate of NFL Sunday Ticket games on JetBlue flights.

2011: Class-action lawsuit covered subscribers

Between 2011 and 2023, the class of plaintiffs covered by the lawsuit included more than 2.4 million residential and 48,000 commercial subscribers to NFL Sunday Ticket.

2011: Larger cells added

In 2011, the multi-game channel on NFL Sunday Ticket added larger cells when four or fewer games were being played.

2011: NFL.com Fantasy Football TV app launched

Starting in 2011, the NFL.com Fantasy Football TV app was launched, allowing NFL.com fantasy players to view their teams and scores on their TV screen.

2012: NFL Sunday Ticket Max package introduced

Beginning in 2012, some of the extra features offered by DirecTV were part of the NFL Sunday Ticket Max package, which cost an extra $100.

2012: Highlights available on NFL Sunday Ticket Max

From 2012 to 2022, recaps of every NFL game in 30 minutes or less were available on the NFL Sunday Ticket Max package.

2014: DirecTV extends NFL Sunday Ticket contract

In 2014, DirecTV decided to extend their contract to carry NFL Sunday Ticket beyond 2014 by paying the NFL $1.5 billion per year for the next eight years.

2014: Blackout policy in effect

Until the end of the 2014 season, if a game was blacked out in the home market due to not being sold out, the game remained blacked out on NFL Sunday Ticket.

2015: Online-only subscription available

As of the 2015 season, DirecTV offered the NFL Sunday Ticket service through an online-only subscription exclusively for those who are unable to use DirecTV services.

2015: Class-action lawsuit filed

In 2015, a class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers, alleging antitrust law violations related to DirecTV's exclusive rights and pricing.

2015: NFL suspends local blackout policy

In 2015, the NFL suspended the local blackout policy for the regular season, and has since done so indefinitely.

July 2017: DAZN acquires rights to NFL out-of-market package in Canada

In July 2017, it was announced that the streaming service DAZN had acquired the rights to the NFL's out-of-market package in Canada beginning in the 2017 NFL season. Games previously available through NFL Game Pass were also bundled with DAZN's service.

December 29, 2019: NFL Sunday Ticket offered on JetBlue flights

DirecTV offered the full slate of NFL Sunday Ticket games on JetBlue flights between September 26, 2010, and December 29, 2019.

2019: All games in high definition

All games were broadcast in high definition from 2009 to 2019.

2021: NFL considers partnering with a streaming service

On the opening weekend of the 2021 season, it was reported that the NFL was interested in partnering with a streaming service for future rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, along with a stake in NFL Network.

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July 2022: NFL to select a streaming service to host Sunday Ticket

In July 2022, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated that the league would select a streaming service to host Sunday Ticket, with an announcement expected that fall.

December 22, 2022: NFL Sunday Ticket to move to YouTube TV

On December 22, 2022, the NFL announced that NFL Sunday Ticket would move exclusively to YouTube TV and YouTube's recently launched Primetime Channels service for residential customers.

2022: Highlights available on NFL Sunday Ticket Max

From 2012 to 2022, recaps of every NFL game in 30 minutes or less were available on the NFL Sunday Ticket Max package.

2022: DirecTV's exclusive rights to NFL Sunday Ticket end

The 2022 NFL season marked the end of DirecTV's exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket package in the United States.

2022: End of DirecTV's extra features

Until the end of the 2022 season, DirecTV offered extra features in NFL Sunday Ticket, some of which were part of the NFL Sunday Ticket Max package.

March 28, 2023: EverPass Media formed

On March 28, 2023, the NFL announced a partnership with RedBird Capital to form EverPass Media to distribute commercial rights to NFL Sunday Ticket.

May 25, 2023: EverPass reaches agreement with DirecTV

On May 25, 2023, EverPass Media reached its first agreement with DirecTV to sell NFL Sunday Ticket directly to its business customers.

August 2023: EverPass Media signs agreement to distribute Peacock Sports Pass

In August 2023, EverPass Media signed a multi-year agreement to distribute commercial rights to Peacock Sports Pass, delivering limited live sports content from the streaming service Peacock.

2023: NFL Sunday Ticket moves to YouTube TV

Beginning with the 2023 NFL season, NFL Sunday Ticket moved exclusively to YouTube TV for residential customers.

2023: Class-action lawsuit covered subscribers

Between 2011 and 2023, the class of plaintiffs covered by the lawsuit included more than 2.4 million residential and 48,000 commercial subscribers to NFL Sunday Ticket.

2023: YouTube TV version of Sunday Ticket only carries the NFL RedZone channel

In 2023, the YouTube TV version of Sunday Ticket only carries the NFL RedZone channel.

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June 2024: Arguments begin in NFL Sunday Ticket antitrust case

In June 2024, arguments began in federal court in the class-action lawsuit over NFL Sunday Ticket pricing. On June 27, a jury found that the NFL had violated antitrust law in setting the price of the package and ordered a penalty totaling more than $4.7 billion. With triple damages allowed under federal antitrust laws, the NFL could ultimately be liable for $14.39 billion. The league said it would ask the judge to set the verdict aside then appeal the verdict if needed. On August 1, Judge Philip Gutierrez overturned the verdict, ruling that two experts' testimony employed flawed methodologies.

July 2024: EverPass Media receives investment from TKO Group Holdings and acquires UpShow

In July 2024, EverPass Media received an additional investment from Endeavor subsidiary TKO Group Holdings, and Mark Shapiro joined its board of directors. EverPass also announced its acquisition of out-of-home media provider UpShow.