Disney Settles $50M Streaming Pricing Lawsuit as FCC Probe Sparks ABC Viewer Campaign
DIS•Disney agreed to a $50 million class-action settlement over alleged live-TV streaming price inflation, offering eligible YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers pro rata payouts with claims due by Sept. 8, 2026. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr accused Disney of misinformation in two investigations, prompting an ABC viewer campaign.
1. Streaming Settlement Details
Disney has agreed to a $50 million settlement to resolve a class-action suit alleging it inflated live TV streaming prices by leveraging ESPN and other content in carriage agreements. Eligible subscribers to YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream who paid between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, may file claims by Sept. 8, 2026, with payments allocated pro rata after a Jan. 14, 2027 approval hearing.
2. FCC Misinformation Allegations
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr accused Disney of launching a misinformation campaign regarding two pending FCC investigations, prompting ABC to encourage viewers to submit comments to the regulator. The investigations examine Disney’s compliance with broadcast rules and potential misleading statements about the scope of those inquiries.
