Sports fans have secured a $2.5 million Mid-Atlantic Sports Network class action settlement, resolving claims that the company sent unwanted text ads in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

If you received a Mid-Atlantic Sports Network text ad from or on behalf of TCR Sports Broadcasting Holding on your mobile phone since Dec. 12, 2013, you could get cash from this settlement.

TCR Sports Broadcasting Holding, also known as Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, specializes in putting local and collegiate sports on television, including baseball, basketball, and football games; and related pregame and postgame shows. The company operates in Pennsylvania and North Carolina and is available through cable and satellite.

A class action lawsuit accused the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network of sending spam text messages to consumers in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The plaintiff said that he and others had signed up to receive updates via text about sporting events, but received ads for car companies as well.

“After visiting the MASN website and reading and relying on the above-mentioned statements concerning MASN’s texting service, Plaintiff texted the keywords ‘Nationals’ and ‘Orioles’ to the SMS short code 29292 from the 5841 Number – for the sole purpose of receiving informational ‘updates and breaking news’ concerning the Orioles and Nationals, as promised on the MASN website,” the class action lawsuit states.







However, within days the plaintiff started receiving Jiffy Lube, Mercedes and Hyundai text ads being sent from Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

The class action lawsuit was originally filed in 2017. In it, lead plaintiff Sebastian Gonzalez, claimed that in addition to sending unwanted text ads, it used an automatic dialing system in violation of federal law.

The federal law, known as the TCPA or the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, prohibits companies from contacting consumers with advertising via phone without prior permission.

Additionally, the law, originally enacted in 1991, does not allow the use of automatic dialing systems, or systems that allow companies to randomly store and dial phone numbers to use to send telemarketing or spam text messages to consumers.

The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network text ad class action lawsuit claims were ended when the company agreed to pay $2.5 million. In addition, the company has agreed to revise its business practices regarding the use of text messages to market to consumers.







Class Members will receive a portion of the settlement award, minus attorney and settlement administrator fees and the plaintiff’s award. The exact amount each Class Member receives depends on the number of valid claims that are filed.

To submit a claim online, Class Members must provide a Notice ID and Confirmation Code provided on their Notice.

Class Members who do not receive Notice will need to print and mail a Claim Form. Claim Forms must include the Class Member’s cellular telephone number that received the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network text ads.

The deadline to object to or opt out of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network text ads class action settlement is April 16, 2019.