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I know this isn't relevant to most fans here as there aren't many NHL fans here. That said, it is very relevant to buying sports packages like NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB.tv, and NBA League Pass.
I got this in my email today as I subscribe to NHL Center Ice to watch the Dallas Stars broadcasts here in the NYC area. I figured I would share since this can effect the other sports packages as well.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
NOTICE TO PERSONS WHO PURCHASED GAME CENTER LIVE FROM THE NHL OR PURCHASED NHL CENTER ICE FROM COMCAST OR DIRECTV
You Have an Opportunity to Subscribe to Discounted Individual Team Packages through NHL GameCenter LIVE and You May Have Access to Free NHL Center Ice Programming through Comcast or DIRECTV
A federal court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.
Automatic Benefits
You do NOT need to submit a claim form to obtain these benefits. They will be provided automatically.
Exclude Yourself by August 21
You may exclude yourself from the Settlement in the case and retain your rights to commence a lawsuit against Defendants for damages caused by the conduct challenged in this case. Because the Court certified an injunctive class only and Defendants have agreed to change the ways in which the packages are sold to all consumers as part of this Settlement, you cannot opt out of the injunctive claims.
Object by August 21
Submit a written statement to the Court about why you don't like the Settlement. If you submit an objection, you may also ask to be heard by the Court at the final Fairness Hearing.
Go to Fairness Hearing
You may attend the fairness hearing on August 31, 2015, whether or not you object or intend to speak.
Do Nothing
You will receive the full benefits of the Settlement, and will give up your rights to initiate any lawsuit against Defendants regarding the NHL's territorial broadcast limitations on its clubs and related blackout practices, including a lawsuit for alternative or additional relief to that provided here.
**These rights and options - and the deadlines to exercise them - are explained in this notice. **
WHAT THIS NOTICE CONTAINS
BASIC INFORMATION
1. Why is this Notice being provided?
2. What is this lawsuit about?
3. Why is this a Class Action?
4. Why is there a settlement?
WHO IS IN INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT
5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?
6. Are there exceptions to being included in the Settlement?
THE SETTLEMENT - WHAT YOU GET AND GIVE UP IF YOU QUALIFY
7. What does the Settlement provide?
8. What do I give up if the Settlement is given final approval?
EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE DAMAGES RELEASE
9. If I do not exclude myself, can I sue later?
10. How do I exclude myself from the Settlement?
11. How can I tell the Court that I object to the Settlement?
12. What happens if I object and the Settlement is approved?
13. What is the difference between objecting and asking to be excluded?
THE LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT YOU
14. Do I have a lawyer in the case?
15. How will the lawyers in the case be paid?
THE COURT'S FAIRNESS HEARING
16. How will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
17. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
18. Do I need to come to the hearing?
19. May I speak at the hearing?
OTHER INFORMATION
20. How do I get more information?
BASIC INFORMATION
1. Why is this Notice being provided?
Judge Shira Scheindlin of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York authorized this notice to inform you about a proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit and about all of your rights and options before the Court decides whether to approve the Settlement. This notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, and your legal rights.
The case is known as Laumann v. National Hockey League, et al., Case No. 12-cv-1817, which was filed in 2012. The people who sue are called "Plaintiffs." The companies being sued are collectively called the "Defendants."
This notice summarizes the Settlement, but you can view the complete Settlement Agreement at www.NHLbroadcastingsettlement.com.
2. What is this lawsuit about?
Plaintiffs allege that Defendants violated federal law by agreeing to allocate the country into exclusive territories in which certain teams would have the exclusive right to broadcast hockey games. Plaintiffs claim that this caused inflated prices for live hockey broadcasts and limited consumer options for viewing NHL hockey broadcasts. Defendants deny Plaintiffs' allegations, deny any wrongdoing, and contend that the challenged rules increased the quality and availability of NHL hockey programming, and increased consumer choice at reasonable prices, as well as providing other benefits.
3. Why is this a Class Action?
In a class action, one or more people sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. If allowed by a court, all of these other people become part of a "class" or "Class Members." One lawsuit resolves the claims of all Class Members, except for any who exclude themselves from the class. In this case, the Court held that the individuals who filed this suit could represent a class for the purposes of seeking practice changes and a declaration that Defendants' conduct is illegal, but could not pursue damages claims on behalf of the class.
4. Why is there a Settlement?
The Court did not decide in favor of Plaintiffs or Defendants. Instead, both sides agreed to settle this case to avoid the burden, cost and risk of further litigation. The Settlement does not mean that any law was broken or that Defendants did anything wrong. By settling, Defendants are not admitting any wrongdoing or liability. Defendants continue to deny all factual and legal claims in this case. Plaintiffs and their lawyers think the Settlement is best for all Class Members.
WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT
5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?
The Settlement includes all purchasers of NHL GameCenter LIVE and individuals who purchased NHL Center Ice through either Comcast or DIRECTV between March 12, 2008 and June 10, 2015. The class is defined as follows:
All individuals in the United States who purchased television service from DIRECTV and/or Comcast, or their subsidiaries, which included NHL Center Ice, and/or who purchased NHL GameCenter LIVE from the National Hockey League or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
6. Are there exceptions to being included in the Settlement?
Yes. The following are not included in the Settlement:
EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE DAMAGES RELEASE
If you want to keep any right to seek monetary damages from Defendants for the dispute in this case, then you must take steps to exclude yourself from that portion of the Settlement. Because Defendants have agreed to change the ways in which the packages are sold to all consumers, excluding yourself only would allow you to pursue monetary claims. You will not be able to pursue additional injunctive relief.
Laumann v. National Hockey League
c/o Heffler Claims Group
Po Box 58547
Philadelphia, PA 19102-8547
All requests must be completed or postmarked by August 21, 2015.
If you do not follow these procedures, you will lose any opportunity to exclude yourself from the Settlement for all claims, including claims for past damages.
I got this in my email today as I subscribe to NHL Center Ice to watch the Dallas Stars broadcasts here in the NYC area. I figured I would share since this can effect the other sports packages as well.
----------------------------------
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
NOTICE TO PERSONS WHO PURCHASED GAME CENTER LIVE FROM THE NHL OR PURCHASED NHL CENTER ICE FROM COMCAST OR DIRECTV
You Have an Opportunity to Subscribe to Discounted Individual Team Packages through NHL GameCenter LIVE and You May Have Access to Free NHL Center Ice Programming through Comcast or DIRECTV
A federal court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.
- A proposed settlement (the "Settlement") has been reached in a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of consumers who purchased NHL GameCenter LIVE from the NHL or purchased NHL Center Ice from Comcast or DIRECTV between March 12, 2008, and June 10, 2015. The proposed settlement is between the individuals who brought that lawsuit and the defendants. The defendants are the National Hockey League ("NHL"), NHL Enterprises L.P., NHL Interactive Cyberenterprises LLC, New York Rangers Hockey Club, New Jersey Devils LLC, New York Islanders Hockey Club L.P., Comcast-Spectacor L.P., Lincoln Hockey LLC, Lemieux Group, L.P., Hockey Western New York LLC, Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team Inc., San Jose Sharks LLC, DIRECTV, LLC, DIRECTV Sports Networks LLC, DIRECTV Sports Net Pittsburgh, LLC d/b/a Root Sports Pittsburgh, Comcast Corp., Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia, L.P, Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic, L.P., Comcast Sportsnet California, LLC, Comcast Sportsnet Chicago, LLC, and The Madison Square Garden Company ("Defendants"). The lawsuit alleges that the NHL's rules establishing the local broadcast territories and associated blackouts violated federal antitrust laws. If you purchased NHL GameCenter LIVE or NHL Center Ice from Comcast or DIRECTV between March 12, 2008 and June 10, 2015, your legal rights are affected whether you act or do not act. Please read this notice carefully.
- The lawsuit alleges that the territorial allocation of broadcast rights within the NHL assigned to each of its member clubs and thereafter sold to regional sporting networks violated federal antitrust laws, provides out of market consumers with fewer choices, and inflates prices charged to view broadcasts of live professional hockey games. Defendants dispute Plaintiffs' factual and legal claims and deny any wrongdoing and liability, as well as any adverse effect on consumer choices and that prices charged have been inflated. The parties have concluded that it is in their best interests to settle the litigation to avoid the expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty of litigation.
- In May 2015, the Court granted in part and denied in part Plaintiffs' motion for class certification. The court held that the individuals who filed this suit could represent a class for the purposes of seeking injunctive relief, but not damages.
- Under the Settlement and subject to the NHL's continued delineation of its clubs' local broadcast territorial rights, and associated blackout practices, the NHL has agreed to provide seasonal packages of single team's out-of-market games through NHL GameCenter LIVE for each and every NHL Club (e.g., a stream of just the Chicago Blackhawks' out-of-market games). These individual team bundles will be priced at 20% below the cost of the full GameCenter LIVE package. The NHL has also agreed to make this option available to Comcast and DIRECTV so that they may offer unbundled seasonal packages of single team games for each and every NHL Club available through NHL Center Ice, although Comcast and DIRECTV are not obligated to offer such packages.
- The NHL has also agreed to provide a 17.25% discount to the retail prices for the early bird, renewal, and full-season packages of GameCenter LIVE for the 2015-2016 season. This discount will also apply to any unbundled single team package, meaning that the price for a single team package will be discounted by 17.25% thereby maintaining the 20% discount set forth above.
- Comcast and DIRECTV have further agreed to provide the first three weeks of the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Center Ice seasons for free, comprising a 12.5% discount off of the price of a full-season Center Ice package for those customers who subscribe to Center Ice, provided that Comcast and DIRECTV each respectively carries Center Ice for the applicable season.
- The Court in charge of this case still needs to decide whether or not to approve the Settlement. If the Court approves the Settlement, and after any appeals are resolved, the benefits will be provided automatically to class members.
Automatic Benefits
You do NOT need to submit a claim form to obtain these benefits. They will be provided automatically.
Exclude Yourself by August 21
You may exclude yourself from the Settlement in the case and retain your rights to commence a lawsuit against Defendants for damages caused by the conduct challenged in this case. Because the Court certified an injunctive class only and Defendants have agreed to change the ways in which the packages are sold to all consumers as part of this Settlement, you cannot opt out of the injunctive claims.
Object by August 21
Submit a written statement to the Court about why you don't like the Settlement. If you submit an objection, you may also ask to be heard by the Court at the final Fairness Hearing.
Go to Fairness Hearing
You may attend the fairness hearing on August 31, 2015, whether or not you object or intend to speak.
Do Nothing
You will receive the full benefits of the Settlement, and will give up your rights to initiate any lawsuit against Defendants regarding the NHL's territorial broadcast limitations on its clubs and related blackout practices, including a lawsuit for alternative or additional relief to that provided here.
**These rights and options - and the deadlines to exercise them - are explained in this notice. **
WHAT THIS NOTICE CONTAINS
BASIC INFORMATION
1. Why is this Notice being provided?
2. What is this lawsuit about?
3. Why is this a Class Action?
4. Why is there a settlement?
WHO IS IN INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT
5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?
6. Are there exceptions to being included in the Settlement?
THE SETTLEMENT - WHAT YOU GET AND GIVE UP IF YOU QUALIFY
7. What does the Settlement provide?
8. What do I give up if the Settlement is given final approval?
EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE DAMAGES RELEASE
9. If I do not exclude myself, can I sue later?
10. How do I exclude myself from the Settlement?
11. How can I tell the Court that I object to the Settlement?
12. What happens if I object and the Settlement is approved?
13. What is the difference between objecting and asking to be excluded?
THE LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT YOU
14. Do I have a lawyer in the case?
15. How will the lawyers in the case be paid?
THE COURT'S FAIRNESS HEARING
16. How will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
17. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?
18. Do I need to come to the hearing?
19. May I speak at the hearing?
OTHER INFORMATION
20. How do I get more information?
BASIC INFORMATION
1. Why is this Notice being provided?
Judge Shira Scheindlin of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York authorized this notice to inform you about a proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit and about all of your rights and options before the Court decides whether to approve the Settlement. This notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, and your legal rights.
The case is known as Laumann v. National Hockey League, et al., Case No. 12-cv-1817, which was filed in 2012. The people who sue are called "Plaintiffs." The companies being sued are collectively called the "Defendants."
This notice summarizes the Settlement, but you can view the complete Settlement Agreement at www.NHLbroadcastingsettlement.com.
2. What is this lawsuit about?
Plaintiffs allege that Defendants violated federal law by agreeing to allocate the country into exclusive territories in which certain teams would have the exclusive right to broadcast hockey games. Plaintiffs claim that this caused inflated prices for live hockey broadcasts and limited consumer options for viewing NHL hockey broadcasts. Defendants deny Plaintiffs' allegations, deny any wrongdoing, and contend that the challenged rules increased the quality and availability of NHL hockey programming, and increased consumer choice at reasonable prices, as well as providing other benefits.
3. Why is this a Class Action?
In a class action, one or more people sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. If allowed by a court, all of these other people become part of a "class" or "Class Members." One lawsuit resolves the claims of all Class Members, except for any who exclude themselves from the class. In this case, the Court held that the individuals who filed this suit could represent a class for the purposes of seeking practice changes and a declaration that Defendants' conduct is illegal, but could not pursue damages claims on behalf of the class.
4. Why is there a Settlement?
The Court did not decide in favor of Plaintiffs or Defendants. Instead, both sides agreed to settle this case to avoid the burden, cost and risk of further litigation. The Settlement does not mean that any law was broken or that Defendants did anything wrong. By settling, Defendants are not admitting any wrongdoing or liability. Defendants continue to deny all factual and legal claims in this case. Plaintiffs and their lawyers think the Settlement is best for all Class Members.
WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT
5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?
The Settlement includes all purchasers of NHL GameCenter LIVE and individuals who purchased NHL Center Ice through either Comcast or DIRECTV between March 12, 2008 and June 10, 2015. The class is defined as follows:
All individuals in the United States who purchased television service from DIRECTV and/or Comcast, or their subsidiaries, which included NHL Center Ice, and/or who purchased NHL GameCenter LIVE from the National Hockey League or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
6. Are there exceptions to being included in the Settlement?
Yes. The following are not included in the Settlement:
- Officers, directors, or employees of any of the Defendants or any entity in which any of the Defendants have a controlling interest, and the affiliates, legal representatives, attorneys, heirs, or assigns of any of the Defendants; and
- Judge Shira Scheindlin and members of her judicial staff of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and members of their immediate families.
7. What does the Settlement provide?
- Subject to teams' local broadcast territories and related blackout practices, individual team Internet season packages for each and every NHL team will be offered by the NHL priced at 20% below the NHL GameCenter LIVE Package price. These individual Internet packages will be offered for the next 5 seasons after which the NHL will no longer be obligated to offer unbundled Individual Team packages.
- The NHL will allow Comcast and DIRECTV the opportunity to offer similar packages.
- For the 2015-2016 season, all GameCenter LIVE subscribers will be entitled to a discount of 17.25% off the 2014-2015 retail prices for the early bird, renewal, and full season packages of GameCenter LIVE. This discount will also apply to any unbundled single team package, meaning that the 17.25% discount will maintain the 20% discount. For example, next season, a fan will be able to purchase an individual team's out-of-market games for an early bird price of $106 instead of the current cost of $159 for GameCenter LIVE, and will be able to purchase the full GameCenter LIVE package at an early bird price of $132.
- Comcast and DIRECTV have agreed to provide the first 3 weeks of the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Center Ice seasons for free to all of their residential subscribers (for DIRECTV) and interactive digital subscribers (for Comcast), comprising a 12.5% discount off of the price of a full-season Center Ice package for those consumers who subscribe to Center Ice, provided that Comcast and DIRECTV each respectively carries Center Ice for the applicable season.
8. What do I give up if the Settlement is given Final Approval?
If the Settlement is given Final Approval, you and all other Class Members will release certain claims defined in the Settlement as "Released Claims." In general terms, Class Members who do not validly request to be excluded from the Settlement will release all Defendants from any claims that have been or could have been asserted based upon the facts alleged in the complaint, including claims for money damages. In addition, for the next five years you will release any claims based on the conduct permitted by the Settlement. If the Settlement is given Final Approval, the claims that were asserted against Defendants in the lawsuit will be dismissed with prejudice.
EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE DAMAGES RELEASE
If you want to keep any right to seek monetary damages from Defendants for the dispute in this case, then you must take steps to exclude yourself from that portion of the Settlement. Because Defendants have agreed to change the ways in which the packages are sold to all consumers, excluding yourself only would allow you to pursue monetary claims. You will not be able to pursue additional injunctive relief.
9. If I do not exclude myself, can I sue later?
No. Unless you exclude yourself from the damages release, you give up the right to sue Defendants for any claims that this Settlement resolves.
10. How do I exclude myself from the Settlement?
To exclude yourself from the damages release, you must either do so by following the instructions at the Settlement website, www.NHLbroadcastingsettlement.com, or by sending a letter by mail clearly stating that you want to be excluded from the Settlement in Laumann v. National Hockey League, et al., Case No. 12-cv-1817. Include your name, address, telephone number, signature, and date, and mail your request for exclusion to:
Laumann v. National Hockey League
c/o Heffler Claims Group
Po Box 58547
Philadelphia, PA 19102-8547
All requests must be completed or postmarked by August 21, 2015.
If you do not follow these procedures, you will lose any opportunity to exclude yourself from the Settlement for all claims, including claims for past damages.
11. How can I tell the Court that I object to the Settlement?
You can object to the Settlement if you do not like some part or all of it. You must give reasons why you think the Court should not approve the Settlement. You may also object to Plaintiffs' Counsel's request for attorneys' fees, reimbursement of expenses, and Plaintiff incentive awards. To object, you must file your objection with the Court no later than August 21, 2015, and mail your objection to these five addresses postmarked no later than August 21, 2015.