Disney to Pay $50 Million in Streaming Price Settlement as Sept. 8 Claim Deadline Nears
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 29
Disney to Pay $50 Million in Streaming Price Settlement as Sept. 8 Claim Deadline Nears
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 29
Summary
$50 million is the size of Disney’s proposed settlement in a 2022 class action alleging it helped drive up live TV streaming prices, with consumers required to file claims by Sept. 8, 2026.
Eligible subscribers include U.S. users who paid for YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, a nearly seven-year window.
Plaintiffs said Disney’s carriage deals forced platforms to include ESPN in base packages, limiting cheaper bundle options and giving Disney leverage over industry pricing; Disney denied wrongdoing and settled without admitting liability.
Payments will be split on a pro rata basis after a final approval hearing set for Jan. 14, 2027, so individual payouts will depend on subscription length and the number of valid claims.
The case adds to broader disputes over streaming carriage rights, bundling and pricing power that have already triggered temporary blackouts between Disney and distributors including YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.