The Walt Disney Company has launched a lawsuit against Dish Network and its streaming platform Sling TV over what it calls violations of deals agreed to by the two parties.
Sling recently announced new “passes” for short-term subscribers, which could be used for the platform’s full offering in either one day, one weekend, or one weekend. Those mini-bundles start at $4.99, which pales in comparison to the $45.99 per month the subscription costs.
The new mini-bundle offerings from the streaming platform come as the launch of the football seasons for both the NCAA and NFL have begun. The packages are designed to serve as an almost quasi-pay-per-view opportunity for the company.
Meanwhile, Disney argues that it’s a clear violation of the agreement signed by the two companies.
“Sling TV’s new offerings, which they made available without our knowledge or consent, violate the terms of our existing license agreement,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement. “We have asked the court to require Dish to comply with our deal when it distributes our programming.”
After the lawsuit was launched, Dish Network and Sling TV have argued that the suit is “meritless. A spokesperson told Deadline that the company will “vigorously defend our right to bring customers a viewing experience that fits their lives, on their schedule and on their terms.”
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