The Walt Disney Company is an antitrust lawsuit alleging that Disney's programming practices helped drive up the cost of streaming live television services. Eligible customers have just days to submit a claim for compensation by September 8. Disney has denied wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to resolve the claims.
The settlement could affect millions of households that subscribed to YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream during the nearly seven-year class period. While individual payments are expected to vary, consumers who do not submit a claim before the deadline will forfeit any cash benefit available through the settlement. The case is also one of the largest recent settlements tied to allegations that media companies used their market power to influence the cost of streaming television packages.
The lawsuit, Heather Biddle, et al. v. The Walt Disney Company, was filed in federal court in California and accused Disney of violating federal and state antitrust laws through business practices that allegedly increased prices for Streaming Live Pay Television services. Plaintiffs argued Disney used its leverage over highly sought-after programming, particularly ESPN and related sports content, to require distributors to include those channels in base packages, limiting the ability of streaming providers to offer lower-cost alternatives.
Disney denied the allegations and denied violating any laws but agreed to a $50 million partial settlement with YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers. Newsweek reached out to Disney and the settlement administrator for comment on whether reminder notices were recently distributed to class members. According to the settlement website, eligible consumers may receive email or mailed notices informing them of their rights under the settlement.
The notices are intended to alert subscribers that they may qualify for compensation and explain how to file a claim before the deadline. Consumers concerned about the legitimacy of a notice can verify information through the official settlement website, OnlineTVSettlement.com, or by contacting the settlement administrator at 1-877-704-2517. The settlement covers two groups of subscribers: Consumers do not need to be current subscribers to qualify.
Eligible customers can submit a claim for a pro-rata cash payment based in part on the length of their subscription and the number of valid claims ultimately filed. The deadline to submit a claim, request exclusion from the settlement, or preserve certain legal rights is September 8. Claims can be filed online through the settlement website or submitted by mail.
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