NCAA Players Win Piece of $800 Million Broadcast Pie
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National Collegiate Athletic Association rules barring student athletes from seeking a share of its $800 million in annual broadcast revenue are illegal, a federal judge ruled in a decision that may sweep away players’ amateur status and opens the door for them to be paid.
The lawsuit, filed in 2009 by ex-college basketball player Ed O’Bannon, challenged the treatment of students as amateurs as college basketball and football evolved into multibillion-dollar businesses, with money flowing to the NCAA, broadcasters, member schools and coaches -- everyone but the players.