If you purchased a YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream subscription from April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026, you may be entitled to a cash payment from Disney through a class action lawsuit settlement. An email you might’ve received regarding Biddle v. The Walt Disney Company is NOT a scam!
However, you will not see the money until 2027 and you are not guaranteed to get paid if you submit a claim.
This latest television streaming lawsuit was not an admission of guilt by Disney. It is a partial settlement.
What is Biddle v. The Walt Disney Company?
Heather Biddle, et al. v. The Walt Disney Company, was filed in a federal court in California. Most simply put, the lawsuit accused Disney of violating federal and state antitrust laws, which increased the prices for/of live television streaming services.
Plaintiffs argued that Disney’s negotiating and bundling practices limited competition in the streaming market. Its control over important television programming (especially ESPN and live sports content) artificially inflated the prices of streaming services. As a result, consumers were forced to pay more for YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream than they would have to pay in a fair, competitive market.
Disney denies that it engaged in unlawful anticompetitive conduct and disputes the plaintiffs’ interpretation of its business practices. It argues the plaintiffs failed to establish how its behavior violated antitrust law or caused harm to the consumer.
Disney initially sought a dismissal but the court allowed parts of the case to continue. Instead of going forth with the legal proceedings, it eventually decided to settle. Disney did not admit guilt and continues to deny wrongdoing. It was easier to just pay out $50 million as a partial settlement.
That $50 million will now kick back to the consumers. Eligible YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers will be compensated proportionally based on the length of his or her service.
YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers can join the class action lawsuit before the deadline of September 8, 2026.
If you purchased a YouTube TV subscription or DirecTV streaming live pay TV subscription (including DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now, and AT&T TV Now) from April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026, you can file a claim in one of two ways. Eligible individuals can either submit a claim form online via the settlement website or by mailing a claim form to the following address:
Biddle v. Disney
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 4720
Portland, OR 97208-4720
Claim forms must be submitted or postmarked by September 8. Any claim filed after the Sept. 8 deadline will not be included.
If you have a DirecTV Stream subscription and a YouTube TV subscription and would like to receive a cash payment for each individual subscription, you are able to double dip! You can submit one single claim form that contains information for both subscriptions. You do not need to file two separate claims. One joint claim will do.
I did not know about this settlement before I received the following email:
It does not benefit me to share this information with you. In fact, the more people who file eligible claims, the less money will be paid out. It would actually be better for me if you do not file a claim. I’m just trying to help you out!
I thought the email was a scam but I had to do my research. Upon further review, the Biddle, et al. v. The Walt Disney Company lawsuit and subsequent $50 million settlement is very real. Get your money from The Mouse!