Credit: DisneyDisney has taken legal action against Dish Network, alleging that the satellite and streaming provider’s internet TV service, Sling TV, is violating its distribution agreements by offering ultra-short-term pay-TV packages.
A New Lawsuit Emerges
The dispute stems from Sling TV’s recent launch of flexible “pass” options, introduced two weeks ago, that allow subscribers to access live TV for as little as 24 hours or for just a single weekend or week. While the packages were designed to give viewers unprecedented flexibility, Disney and ESPN contend that the offerings breach the terms of their programming agreements with the service.
“Sling TV’s new offerings, which they made available without our knowledge or consent, violate the terms of our existing license agreement,” a Disney representative said in a statement. “We have asked the court to require Dish to comply with our deal when it distributes our programming.”
Disney filed the lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking to force Dish to remove Disney-owned networks from the short-term packages until the dispute is resolved. The move highlights the tension between traditional content holders and newer streaming models that aim to offer more flexible viewing options.
What Comes Next?
For its part, Sling TV has dismissed the lawsuit as “meritless,” emphasizing its intent to defend its service. The company stated that it will “vigorously defend our right” to provide viewers with flexible pay-TV packages, arguing that the offerings fall within the bounds of its agreements.
The case is likely to test how traditional licensing contracts accommodate increasingly short-term and a la carte streaming options, a debate that has grown alongside the rapid expansion of internet-based TV services.
At present, Disney’s networks remain available on Sling TV’s standard subscription tiers, but the lawsuit could complicate access to the new short-term passes if the court sides with the media giant.