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Law 360: MLB Fans Get Initial OK For TV Antitrust Settlement

Jan 25, 2016

Law360’s Jeff Zelesin reports that MLB Fans Get Initial OK for TV Antitrust Settlement.

Major League Baseball fans who were taking the league to trial over its business model for out-of-market game broadcasts won a New York federal judge’s initial approval Friday to settle the antitrust class action in exchange for some new viewing options and discounts.

U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin granted preliminary approval to the deal, which was reached just before what would have been a nine-day bench trial over policies that allegedly suppressed competition in the baseball broadcast market. The deal resolves long-running claims brought by baseball fans against MLB, Comcast Corp., DirecTV LLC and some teams and sports networks.

Peter E. Leckman of Langer Grogan & Diver PC, an attorney for the plaintiffs, praised the MLB settlement Monday.  “We think it’s a very good deal, and it’s very good for baseball fans,” Leckman told Law360.