Court Ruling Lets NFL Owners Keep 'Lockout Insurance' TV Money

Filed under: NFL Labor Negotiations

DALLAS -- An NFL work stoppage grew a little more likely Tuesday when the players' union lost its bid to block owners from access to roughly $4.5 billion in guaranteed TV contracts.

According to the league and the union, Special Master Stephen Burbank found that two of the TV deals in question (those with NBC and ESPN) violated the agreement between the two parties and awarded damages to the union. But the union had been asking that the $4.5 billion be held in escrow until a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated, and Burbank declined to do that. The union immediately said it would appeal the decision, and the league declared victory.

"Bottom line on TV case: A new CBA has to be negotiated at the bargaining table, not in the courtroom. Let's make a deal," league spokesman Greg Aiello wrote on Twitter. "If union commits to invest as much time and resources in negotiations as it has in litigation, a new agreement could well be reached by 3/4."

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/01/court-ruling-lets-nfl-owners-keep-lockout-insurance-tv-money/

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