San Francisco bar sues NFL, DirecTV over exclusive 'NFL Sunday Ticket' game broadcasts

A San Francisco bar is suing the NFL and DirecTV, alleging the satellite TV provider's exclusive right to broadcast certain football games is an illegal monopoly that results in higher prices.

The lawsuit filed this week in federal court in California challenges DirecTV's deal with the league for "NFL Sunday Ticket," which gives subscribers nationwide live broadcasts of some Sunday games in other cities. Those games are available to the subscribers only through DirecTV.

The lawsuit by the bar Ninth Inning Inc. says the deal stifles competition by preventing other TV providers, such as Dish Network, from airing the games.

It seeks class-action status on behalf of other commercial subscribers to "Sunday Ticket," unspecified damages and a court order forbidding the exclusive deal.

Calls to the NFL and DirecTV weren't immediately returned.