Disney has agreed to create a $50 million settlement fund for eligible YouTube TV and DirecTV streaming customers who allegedly paid higher prices because of the company’s channel-packaging practices. Customers who want a payment must submit a valid claim by September 8, 2026.
The proposed settlement covers qualifying subscriptions purchased from April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026. Disney denies wrongdoing, and the court has not ruled that the company violated the law.
Key details
- Settlement fund: $50 million before approved deductions
- Claim deadline: September 8, 2026
- Individual payment: Not yet known
- Final approval hearing: January 14, 2027, at 9 a.m.
Who may qualify?
The settlement includes people, businesses and other entities that purchased YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now or AT&T TV Now during the covered period. Former customers can qualify, and subscribers who used both YouTube TV and an eligible DirecTV streaming service can include both on one claim.
FuboTV customers are not included because that part of the broader lawsuit has not been settled with Disney.
How to submit a claim
Claims can be filed through the court-authorized Online TV Settlement website. Paper claims must also be postmarked by September 8, 2026.
The claim form asks for contact and subscription information, and the administrator may compare submissions with provider records. Customers should keep their confirmation and any old billing or account records that may help verify their subscription.
Paper forms should be mailed to:
Biddle v. Disney
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 4720
Portland, OR 97208-4720
How much could customers receive?
No fixed payout has been announced. Payments will depend on factors including subscription length, the claimant’s jurisdiction and the number of approved claims.
The amount available for distribution will be lower than $50 million after court-approved legal fees, administration expenses and other permitted costs. Class counsel may request up to 30% of the gross fund, or $15 million.
Large settlement funds do not necessarily produce equal payments for everyone. The Equifax settlement claim process is another example where eligibility and final payment amounts depend on the specific terms of the case.
Why location can affect payments
Under the proposed distribution plan, 90% of the net fund is allocated to eligible customers who lived in a designated Repealer Jurisdiction at some point during the class period. The remaining 10% is reserved for qualifying claimants elsewhere.
That means two customers with similar subscription histories could receive different amounts depending on where they lived and how many approved claims are paid from each pool.
Why Disney was sued
The 2022 case, Heather Biddle, et al. v. The Walt Disney Company, alleges that Disney’s arrangements involving ESPN and other networks contributed to higher prices for streaming live television services.
Disney disputes the allegations. The settlement resolves the YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream claims without an admission of liability.
Payment timing can also vary widely after a settlement is announced. The Anthropic copyright settlement payment timeline shows why court approval and actual distributions can occur at different stages.
Read More
When could payments arrive?
The final approval hearing is scheduled for January 14, 2027, at 9 a.m. Payments cannot be issued until the settlement is approved, becomes final and any appeals are resolved.
No payment date has been announced. Customers who want compensation should focus on the September 8, 2026 claim deadline. The exclusion deadline is the same day, while objections must be filed by December 1, 2026.
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