Disney settlement could pay YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream users
Eligible subscribers have until Sept. 8, 2026, to file claims tied to a proposed $50 million settlement over live-TV streaming prices.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Disney has agreed to a proposed $50 million settlement that could send payments to some YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream customers. If approved, the deal would resolve allegations that Disney used carriage agreements to push up prices in the live-TV streaming market, though Disney denies wrongdoing.
According to a court-authorized settlement notice, subscribers may qualify if they had YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream at any point from April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026. Claims must be submitted through the online settlement portal by Sept. 8, 2026, the notice says.
The notice does not state how much each eligible customer could receive. AL.com reported that payments are expected after a final approval hearing scheduled for Jan. 14, 2027.
What the lawsuit alleged
The settlement stems from a class action lawsuit filed in 2022 by four YouTube TV subscribers. According to the complaint, Disney’s contracts with competing streaming live pay television services gave the company broad influence over pricing across the market.
The complaint pointed to Disney’s control of ESPN and Hulu. It alleged that Hulu was the second-largest streaming live pay television provider behind YouTube TV, and that Disney used its position to affect prices charged by rivals as well as its own services.
The plaintiffs also alleged that competing distributors had to carry ESPN in standard channel packages. According to the complaint, that requirement limited the ability of rival services to sell lower-cost bundles without ESPN.
Disney has not admitted liability. The settlement agreement says the company denies the allegations and any claim that it violated the law.
Court approval is still pending
According to the settlement agreement, Disney and the plaintiffs reached the deal in March. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California gave preliminary approval later that month, clearing the way for notices and claim submissions.
The final approval hearing is set for Jan. 14, 2027, according to the court notice. At that hearing, the court is expected to consider whether the settlement should receive final approval and whether payments can move ahead.
The proposed settlement comes after a series of carriage disputes involving Disney, YouTube TV and DirecTV. The Verge has reported that Disney channels were temporarily removed from rival streaming services during those disputes.
The Verge also reported that a 15-day blackout of Disney-owned channels on YouTube TV last year was believed to have cost Disney $110 million in lost revenue. That figure is more than twice the proposed settlement fund for eligible YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers.
Customers seeking payment must use the settlement portal and meet the eligibility rules described in the court-authorized notice. The court notice says the claim deadline is Sept. 8, 2026.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.