- Disney is paying a share of $50 million to YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers
- This is part of a settlement it has reached with a class action lawsuit claiming it leveraged its control over channels like ESPN to force higher prices on users
- FuboTV users are also part of this class action, but they are not part of this settlement, meaning their portion of the case is ongoing
If you were subscribed to YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream at any point 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 alleged that Disney violated federal and various state antitrust and consumer protection laws by raising the prices of streaming packages. It claims it did this by forcing ESPN and other premium Disney-owned channels into basic packages offered by YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream, making these bundles pricier for end users and leaving them without more affordable alternatives that include premium sports channels.
Disney has strongly denied the allegations laid out in the lawsuit, and this settlement doesn’t determine whether it was right or wrong. Still, it does mean that subscribers — even folks who are no longer subscribed but were at some point during April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026 will get a cut of the $50 million payout.
FuboTV was also involved in this suit, but its plaintiffs have not settled with Disney. This means its segment of the class action is still ongoing, and you’ll need to wait and see how it resolves if you were/are a subscriber to this service.
Beyond the $50 million, Disney has also agreed to entertain proposals for channel packages that exclude ESPN or contain fewer Disney-owned channels overall. This would create more package flexibility and potentially offer non-sports fans more affordable, sports-free groupings that better fit their needs and budgets.
How do I make a claim?
The easiest way to submit a claim is to visit https://onlinetvsettlement.com.
From here, head to the Submit a Claim tab, which will ask you for the Unique ID printed on the notice that you received in the mail or email — this is a document that has been sent out to eligible plaintiffs in this case.
If you haven’t received this information, you can email info@OnlineTVSettlement.com for help, or send a written claim form (along with any required documentation) to Biddle v. Disney, Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4720, Portland, OR 97208-4720.
Any claims must be submitted before September 8, 2026, with mailed forms requiring a postmark of that date or earlier.
If you do nothing, you will not get your share of the settlement.
Am I eligible?
You should have received a notice if you are eligible to make a claim, but if you haven’t and think you should, you can check the full eligibility criteria by visiting https://onlinetvsettlement.com.
As the front page explains, “The Settlement Classes consist of the YouTube TV Settlement Class and the DirecTV Stream Settlement Class.”
“The “YouTube TV Settlement Class” includes all Persons who purchased a YouTube TV subscription from the period beginning April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026.
“The “DirecTV Stream Settlement Class” includes all Persons who purchased a DirecTV streaming live pay TV subscription (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 get?
You won’t get $50 million, instead, you’ll just get a share of the money determined by how many people claim their stake and how long you were subscribed for — someone who signed up for a couple of months won’t get as much as someone who was subscribed to either of these services for the full seven-year period between the cutoff dates.
The state you live in can determine what share you get as well.
Finally, on January 14, 2027, the court will hold its final approval meeting. On this date, it could decide to object to the settlement, meaning you wouldn’t get anything, at least not until a new verdict or settlement is reached. We can’t say how likely it is that this case specifically will fail the approval process, as we aren’t legal experts; however, it’s rare that they do.
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hamish.hector@futurenet.com (Hamish Hector)
