Disney Sues Sling TV to Block New Short-Term Streaming Passes

Sling TV's new short-term streaming passes have landed the company in legal trouble with Disney, which filed a lawsuit alleging the new offerings violate the terms of its carriage agreement. The conflict pits Disney's traditional monthly subscription model against Sling's push for more flexible, pay-as-you-go access to live TV.

• Pay by the day: Timed for the start of the college football season, the new offerings from the Dish-owned service allow customers to buy 24 hours of access for just $4.99—a steep departure from its standard $45-a-month subscription. In a statement, Disney called the passes a violation of its license agreement, claiming the plans were launched without consent and breach a deal that only permits monthly subscriptions.

• Terms of disagreement: Sling TV called the lawsuit "meritless," vowing to "vigorously defend our right to bring customers a viewing experience that fits their lives." The company framed the move as a consumer-friendly innovation, saying it was "proud" of an offering designed to redefine streaming and give viewers more flexibility and control.

• A familiar playbook: The move is a direct shot at the pay-TV business's foundation, which has long relied on monthly subscriptions for revenue stability. As Deadline notes, it’s a familiar playbook for Sling's parent company, Dish, which was sued a decade ago by broadcasters over its ad-skipping "Hopper" DVR.

This legal battle highlights the escalating tension between media giants trying to protect lucrative, long-standing business models and streaming services experimenting with new pricing structures to attract and retain customers in a fractured market. But the fight over TV packaging extends beyond this lawsuit. Rival streamer Fubo previously sued Disney and its partners over antitrust concerns, while Sling has also been testing other pricing strategies, including a separate, low-cost "Sling Select" package.