Judge Rejects Large Parts of FTC Suit Against DirecTV

Regulator had sought nearly $4 billion in restitution, claiming false advertising

A California federal judge on Thursday rejected large parts of a nearly $4 billion government lawsuit alleging satellite-TV giant DirecTV engaged in deceptive advertising.

At issue was a 2015 lawsuit by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that alleged DirecTV didn’t adequately disclose that its lower promotional prices lasted only for the first year of a two-year contract. The FTC also alleged the pay-TV service offered free months of premium channels without telling customers they needed to cancel those channels at the end...