Biddle v. The Walt Disney Company Settlement Offers Compensation for Streaming Customers A major antitrust lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company has reached a settlement, offering eligible customers the chance to claim compensation for alleged price hikes in streaming live television services. The case, Heather Biddle, et al. v. The Walt Disney Company, was filed in a California federal court and accused Disney of violating antitrust laws by leveraging its control over popular programming to inflate costs for streaming providers. The settlement, which marks one of the largest recent resolutions in media industry disputes, allows affected consumers to submit claims for cash payments before a September 8 deadline. The lawsuit alleges that Disney used its dominance over high-demand content, particularly ESPN and sports programming, to force distributors to include these channels in base streaming packages. This practice, according to plaintiffs, limited the ability of streaming services to offer more affordable alternatives, ultimately driving up prices for consumers. Disney has denied wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to resolve the claims. Eligible customers are being notified via email or mail about their rights under the agreement. Those who do not submit a claim by September 8 will forfeit any potential compensation. Payments will be distributed only after the settlement receives final court approval, which is scheduled for a January 14, 2027, hearing. The settlement administrator will review all submitted claims ahead of the hearing, and if approved, funds will be distributed from the settlement pool. The amount each customer receives will depend on the length of their subscription and the total number of valid claims.#streaming_services #the_walt_disney_company #alex_beene #heather_biddle #online_tv_settlement
Study: Americans Spend More Time Watching YouTube Than Live TV A recent survey of American media consumption habits reveals that YouTube has become the dominant platform for daily engagement, surpassing both streaming services and live television in terms of user access. According to the findings, 90% of Americans access YouTube on a typical weekday, compared to 79% for streaming services and 73% for live TV. While YouTube holds the edge in user reach, the study also highlights that streaming services still command the most time spent, with users averaging one hour and 49 minutes per day, followed by YouTube at one hour and 46 minutes, and live TV at one hour and 31 minutes. The data underscores significant differences in viewing patterns across age groups. Gen Z, the youngest demographic, spends the most time on YouTube, averaging 2 hours and 25 minutes daily, far exceeding Millennials at 1 hour and 55 minutes, Gen X at 1 hour and 18 minutes, and Baby Boomers at just 53 minutes. Gender also plays a role, with men spending 2 hours and 9 minutes on YouTube compared to 1 hour and 23 minutes for women. These trends suggest a growing preference for short-form, creator-driven content over traditional linear television. Despite the shift toward YouTube, the study notes that longform content is not disappearing. Instead, the attention span of viewers is evolving. Only 12% of people give their full focus to TV programming, with the majority multitasking. For 68% of the total viewing time, users engage in second-screen activities such as scrolling social media, shopping, searching, messaging, or gaming. This fragmented attention pattern reflects broader changes in how audiences consume media, blending passive viewing with active interaction. The research also examines the role of advertising in driving these shifts.#streaming_services #youtube #gen_z #baby_boomers #live_tv
VPN deal of the week: I've found a $30 VPN that's faster than NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, can unblock your favorite streaming services, and has the best built-in ad blocker of any VPN I've tested — here's how to get yourself protected PrivadoVPN offers a capable suite of VPN tools for only $30, so why aren't more people using cheap tools to protect themselves online. #VPN #Surfshark #VPN_deal #streaming_services #VPN_tools #favorite_streaming #protected_PrivadoVPN #PrivadoVPN_offers #capable_suite #cheap_tools
Roku just added 6 more free streaming channels — and one of its most useful features is coming to more streaming services New channels are rollin', rollin', rollin'… OUT NOW… to your Roku sticks and Roku TVs #Roku #streaming_services #free_streaming #streaming_channels #Roku_TVs #Roku_sticks #rollin
Paramount Plus is easily one of the premier streaming services right now — and you've only got one more day to take advantage of this excellent deal From Yellowjackets to Yellowstone, and from South Park to Star Trek, Paramount Plus is one of the best streaming services going — and you've only got hours left to jump on this deal #streaming #Paramount #hours_left #streaming_services #Yellowstone #Star_Trek #South_Park #premier_streaming #excellent_deal #Trek
Our Favorite Amazon Streaming Stick Is Almost Half Off The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is great for the Prime Video devout, and handles other streaming services just as well. #Prime_Video #streaming_services #Favorite_Amazon #Video_devout #Amazon_Streaming #Streaming_Stick
I tried 7 video hosting and streaming services and here's my favorite one for PPV projects I tested out pay-per-view sites for creators to find my top video hosting platforms - here's what I found #video #streaming_services #video_hosting #PPV_projects #hosting_platforms #top_video
Amazon announced it will introduce ads to its streaming service in 2024, requiring Prime members to pay an additional fee to access ad-free content. The service will cost $4.99 per month in the U.S., a 66% increase from the previous rate of $2.99, effective April 10. The company explained in a blog post that delivering ad-free streaming with premium features demands substantial investment, and the pricing model aligns with other major streaming platforms while giving customers flexibility in how they watch content. Amazon’s latest annual filing revealed that advertising revenue for 2025 grew by 22% year over year to $68.6 billion, positioning the company as the third-largest player in the digital ad market, behind Google and Meta. The shift to a paid ad-supported model for Prime Video reflects broader industry trends as streaming services seek to balance profitability with user experience. Analysts noted that the price hike could impact subscriber retention, particularly as competitors like Netflix and Disney+ have maintained ad-free tiers without additional costs. The decision to introduce ads follows years of criticism over the rising cost of Prime membership, which now includes access to multiple services such as Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading. While some users may opt for the cheaper ad-supported plan, others could cancel their subscriptions altogether, potentially affecting Amazon’s revenue streams. The company emphasized that the change aims to sustain the quality of its offerings while adapting to evolving market demands. The move also highlights the growing competition in the streaming sector, where ad-supported models are becoming increasingly common.#streaming_services #amazon #prime_members #prime_video #digital_ad_market
5 of the best free movies to stream on Tubi, Pluto TV and more this week (February 17) There's horror, comedy and a western available on the best free streaming services this week. #February #week #streaming_services #free_movies #free_streaming #Tubi
