Disney has agreed to a $50 million settlement to resolve a class-action antitrust lawsuit involving subscribers of YouTube TV and DirecTV.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleged that Disney's control over ESPN and Hulu forced live TV streaming services to artificially inflate subscription prices.
According to the suit, Google's agreements with Disney caused YouTube TV's base package to jump from $35 to $65.
Eligible Subscribers and Payout Details
Eligible class members include YouTube TV and DirecTV live streaming customers who held subscriptions between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026.
Covered DirecTV brands include DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now, and AT&T TV Now.
Payout distributions will heavily depend on geographic location.
Under the settlement terms, 90% of the funds are allocated to residents of 39 specific states and territories, while the remaining 10% will be distributed across all other states.
Individual payout amounts remain undetermined but are expected to be small due to the massive pool of eligible subscribers.
Claimants must submit forms online using a unique ID or via mail postmarked by Sept. 8, 2026.
A final court approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2027.
