Disney Settles Antitrust Lawsuit Over Live TV Streaming Pricing Practices A federal antitrust lawsuit against Disney has reached a settlement, potentially entitling users of YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream to financial compensation. The case, filed in 2022, alleged that Disney leveraged its ownership of ESPN and other high-demand programming to compel streaming services to include these channels in their base packages. This bundling practice, plaintiffs claimed, prevented providers from offering lower-cost, sports-free subscriptions and artificially inflated prices across the industry. The lawsuit argued that Disney’s control over ESPN and Hulu—both owned by the company—forced streaming platforms to bundle expensive content into standard subscriptions. This led to significant price increases, with the base package for YouTube TV rising from $35 to $65. The plaintiffs contended that Disney’s acquisition of operational control over Hulu in May 2019 exacerbated the issue, causing subscription prices in the Streaming Live Pay Television (SLPTV) market to nearly double. Under the settlement terms, eligible users who subscribed to YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream—formerly known as DirecTV Now or AT&T TV Now—between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, may receive a payout. The deadline to claim compensation is September 8, 2026. To qualify, individuals must verify their subscriptions and submit claims through the settlement administrator’s website or by mail. Those who receive a notice via USPS or email will be directed to a dedicated website where they can log in using the ID and PIN provided. For users who do not receive a notice but believe they are eligible, the settlement administrator offers an email contact and a printable claim form. Physical claims must be postmarked by September 8.#california #youtube_tv #disney #direcTV_stream #district_of_columbia
