College Athlete Advocates Target Sports TV With Class Action

Ten former college athletes have filed a class action lawsuit against ESPN, CBS, Fox and NBC, asking that the networks be ordered to disgorge all profits and nullifying contracts that they claim violate athletes’ rights. The plaintiffs are claiming their publicity rights are being violated under Tennessee law, as well as violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act, civil conspiracy, false endorsement and unjust enrichment. The lawsuit joins a stable of actions challenging the status of unpaid college athletes, including an antitrust against the NCAA filed by former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon that has landed at the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.