If You Are A YouTube TV Or DirecTV Subscriber, You May Qualify For This Proposed $50M Settlement By The Walt Disney Company – AfroTech
If you are a YouTube TV or DirecTV subscriber, you may qualify for a payout from a $50 million proposed settlement.
Lawsuit Explained
Top Class Actions reports that an antitrust class action lawsuit, titled Biddle et al. v. The Walt Disney Company, was filed against the Walt Disney Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. It alleges that Disney increased subscription costs for YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream in violation of federal and state antitrust and consumer protection laws. YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream claim they had to include Disney networks, including ESPN, owned by the Walt Disney Company, in their subscription packages, driving the increase. The inclusion of Disney’s channels, they claim, made it impossible to offer subscribers more affordable packages. For example, the lowest YouTube TV tier reportedly increased from $35 to $65, per the outlet.
Disney has agreed to a proposed settlement that would require it to offer subscription packages with fewer Disney-owned networks, including ESPN, according to Top Class Actions. It has also agreed to a $50 million nonreversionary settlement fund. Eligible class action members are those who had a YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream subscription between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, AL.com reports. Class action members are split into two categories, with the first being Repealer Jurisdictions, referring to those in Alabama, New York, California, Florida, and 36 other states. Those in the remaining states fall under Non-Repealer Jurisdictions, per the outlet.
Deadline To File Claim
There is a Sept. 8, 2026, deadline to submit a claim form.
How To File
You can file a claim online or by mail.
How Much Will I Receive
The amount received will be based on how long a user has had a subscription service, according to Boston 25 News.
When Will I Receive The Payment
A final hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2027, per AL.com, when a judge will decide whether to approve the settlement. Payments would be released after that date.
