- Disney will pay a portion of $50 million to YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers
- This is part of a settlement it reached with a class-action lawsuit that claims it leveraged its control over channels like ESPN to impose higher prices on users.
- FuboTV users are also part of this class action lawsuit, but they are not part of this settlement, which means their part of the case is ongoing.
If you subscribed to YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream any time between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026, you could be owed a share of $50 million as part of a class action lawsuit.
The class action lawsuit alleged that Disney violated federal and state antitrust and consumer protection laws by raising prices on streaming packages. It claims it did so by forcing ESPN and other Disney-owned premium channels to opt for basic packages offered by YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream, making these packages more expensive for end users and leaving them without more affordable alternatives that include premium sports channels.
Disney has strongly denied the allegations made in the lawsuit, and this settlement does not determine whether it was right or wrong. Still, it means that subscribers, even people who are no longer subscribed but were at some point between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026, will get a share of the $50 million payout.
FuboTV was also involved in this lawsuit, but its plaintiffs have not reached a settlement with Disney. This means that your segment of the class action lawsuit is still ongoing and you will have to wait and see how it is resolved if you were or are a subscriber to this service.
Beyond the $50 million, Disney also agreed to consider proposals for channel packages that exclude ESPN or contain fewer Disney-owned channels overall. This would create greater flexibility in packages and potentially offer non-sports fans more affordable, sports-free groups that better fit their needs and budgets.
How do I make a claim?
The easiest way to file a claim is to visit https://onlinetvsettlement.com.
From here, go to the Submit a Claim tab, which will ask you for the unique ID printed on the notice you received by mail or email; This is a document that was sent to the eligible plaintiffs in this case.
If you have not received this information, you may email [email protected] for assistance or submit a written claim form (along with required documentation) to Biddle v. Disney, Settlement Administrator, PO Box 4720, Portland, OR 97208-4720.
Any claims must be submitted by September 8, 2026, with mailed forms requiring a postmark on or before that date.
If you do nothing, you will not receive your share of the settlement.
Am I eligible?
You should have received a notice if you are eligible to file a claim, but if you have not and think you should, you can check the full eligibility criteria by visiting https://onlinetvsettlement.com.
As explained on the cover, “The settlement groups consist of the YouTube TV settlement group and the DirecTV Stream settlement group.”
“The “YouTube TV settlement group” includes everyone who purchased a YouTube TV subscription from the period beginning April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2026.
“The “DirecTV Stream Settlement Group” includes all individuals who purchased a live pay TV subscription from DirecTV Stream (including DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now, and AT&T TV Now) from the period beginning April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2026.”
How much will I receive?
You won’t get $50 million; Instead, you’ll only get a portion of the money determined by how many people claim your share and how long you’ve been subscribed for; Someone who signed up for a couple of months won’t get as much as someone who was subscribed to any of these services for the entire seven-year period between the cut-off dates.
The state you live in may also determine which share you will receive.
Finally, on January 14, 2027, the court will hold its final approval meeting. On this date, you could decide to object to the settlement, meaning you would get nothing, at least not until a new verdict or settlement is reached. We cannot say how likely it is that this case specifically will not pass the approval process, as we are not legal experts; however, it is rare for them to do so.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
