Disney Agrees to $50M Settlement for Select Subscribers (Do You Qualify?)

If you subscribed to YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream between April 2019 and March 2026, a new Disney class action settlement might put extra cash in your pocket. Disney reached a $50 million partial settlement following accusations that it violated federal antitrust law. Now, qualifying customers may submit a claim for a share of the settlement, but the deadline is quickly approaching.

Here's what to know about the settlement, how to tell whether you may be eligible, and how to submit a claim.

About the accusation against Disney

Four YouTube TV subscribers filed a class action complaint in November 2022, alleging that Disney required distributors to include ESPN in their base packages. Disney owns ESPN, and the subscribers allege that by requiring ESPN to be included, Disney drove up the price of TV services. The complaint also notes that since Disney increased prices for ESPN and for Hulu and Live TV, Disney increased prices across the entire industry.

According to the complaint, the price of YouTube TV's base package increased from $35 to $65 after the Disney-owned channels were added. The plaintiffs alleged that Disney's actions limited competitors' ability to offer cheaper bundles, increasing overall costs for consumers.

Disney's reach

Disney owns a significant portfolio of networks, including ESPN, ABC, FX, and others, giving it significant power in the streaming and media industries. Both YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream were reportedly affected by the pressure to include Disney channels.

There is also a similar case against Disney involving FuboTV that has not yet been resolved.

Understanding the settlement

Disney agreed to a $50 million settlement agreement regarding the YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream services. Disney admitted no wrongdoing and, as part of the settlement, noted it would "consider" offering distributors an option to offer fewer Disney-owned channels for three years after the settlement's final approval.

Eligible customers may receive part of the $50 million settlement.

Who may be eligible for the settlement

Customers who had an active YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream subscription between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026 may submit a claim form to receive a cash payment. Fubo TV subscribers are not eligible, since that portion of the lawsuit has not been settled.

The cash payment is pro-rata and proportional to the length of your subscription; if you subscribed for years during that period, your payment should be larger than that of a customer who only subscribed for a few months. Other factors, including the number of eligible claims filed and the attorneys' fees, may also affect the size of the payments.

If you're not sure if you're part of the settlement, you may contact the settlement administrator at 1-877-704-2517.

How to file a claim

Eligible subscribers must file a claim before September 8, 2026. You should have received a notice in the mail or by email alerting you to your eligibility. That notice included a unique ID, and you'll need that when you file a claim.

You may complete the claim form online at OnlineTVSettlement.com, and the settlement administrator may contact you for additional information if needed. Once you submit the claim form, you should receive an email with a confirmation code for the completed submission.

Alternatively, you may complete, sign, and date the claim form, and you may submit it by mail. All claims must be submitted or mailed by September 8, 2026.

How to opt out of the settlement

Unless you opt out of the settlement, you'll be part of the settlement class, and you won't be able to sue or participate in another lawsuit against Disney about the same claims made by the class action lawsuit. To exclude yourself, you must mail a written request for exclusion including your full legal name, mailing address, telephone number, physical signature, date, and a statement requesting that you be excluded.

Your request for exclusion must be mailed by First Class United States Mail, and it must be postmarked by September 8, 2026. There is no option to exclude yourself by telephone or email.

When to expect a payment

The settlement's final approval hearing is scheduled for January 14, 2027, and payments should be provided after the settlement is approved and becomes final. The court may address any objections to the settlement during the final hearing. You may check the settlement website for updates.

Bottom line

The settlement isn't yet approved, so no payments are certain at this time, but if you think you're eligible, it's important to file your claim by the upcoming September 8, 2026 deadline. The official settlement website, OnlineTVSettlement.com, has additional information about the settlement, as well as a link to the online claim form that you'll need to use.

The size of the cash payments may vary depending on the duration of your subscription and the number of eligible claims filed, but if you're eligible for a payout, that extra cash might be a nice perk and help eliminate some money stress.

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