YouTube TV Subscribers Are Eligible for Payments Under an Agreement With Disney.
If you’ve paid for YouTube TV in the past seven years, you may be eligible for a refund from Disney. The company has agreed to a $50 million settlement over alleged antitrust violations that caused YouTube TV and DirecTV subscribers to overpay for their TV streaming services. Keep an eye on your inbox and email—if you’re eligible, you have until September 8th to submit your claim.
What is the essence of the agreement with Disney?
This settlement follows a 2022 class action lawsuit filed by YouTube TV subscribers who alleged that Disney’s control of ESPN and Hulu forced the streaming services (particularly those providing live TV) to raise prices. The lawsuit noted that Google’s agreements with Disney resulted in a nearly 100 percent price increase—from $35 to $65—for a basic YouTube TV subscription. Disney agreed to settle the lawsuit, although a final decision has not yet been made, with a hearing scheduled for January 14, 2027.
Who is eligible for a settlement with Disney?
The agreement with Disney provides for cash payments to two different groups of people:
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YouTube TV subscribers who signed up between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026.
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DirecTV customers who subscribed (under the DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now, and/or AT&T TV Now brands) between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026.
It is currently unclear how much each participant in the agreement will receive, although the place of residence (or domicile) during the term of the agreement will be significant.
Under the terms, 90% of the payout will go to customers who resided in the following states anytime between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The remaining 10% of the funds will be distributed among class action participants in all other states.
If you subscribed to both services, you can receive a cash payment for each, but you’ll only need to submit one claim. It’s worth noting that the payouts will likely be small: $50 million will be distributed among a large group of streaming service subscribers over seven years.
How to Claim Refunds from Disney
If you are a member of the Disney class action lawsuit, you can submit your claim online . You’ll need to log in using the unique ID and PIN provided in your notice. You’ll then need to provide some personal information, confirm your YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream subscription and state of residence, and select an electronic payment method (otherwise, you’ll receive a paper check).
If you haven’t received a notification but believe you’re eligible for payment, you can contact the administrator by email at [email protected] . You can also print a PDF version and mail it to the following address:
Biddle v. Disney. Dispute Resolution Administrator. P.O. Box 4720. Portland, OR 97208-4720
Applications for benefits must be completed online or mailed no later than September 8, 2026 (no mailing date specified).