ESPN on Disney+ is now available in the Philippines inside existing Disney+ subscriptions, with a dedicated ESPN hub for live sports, replays, studio shows and documentaries. UFC, Disney+ and ESPN also announced a multi-year exclusive media-rights agreement that makes ESPN on Disney+ the home of UFC in the Philippines. It covers live numbered events, Fight Nights, and originals such as UFC Countdown, UFC Connected and The Ultimate Fighter.

Coverage starts with UFC 333, Volkanovski vs. Evloev, from Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 24. Prelims begin at 10pm PHT, and the main card starts at 2am PHT on Sunday, October 25. NBA Tip-Off Week games stream from October 22 under the "Ito ang Homecourt Mo!" campaign.

Lens: Disney is leaning on live sports to grow Disney+ across Asia Pacific, putting every live UFC event on subscriptions Filipinos already have.

Photo: Haribhagirath / Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

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Consumer groups Euroconsumers, Altroconsumo (Italy), Testachats/Test-Aankoop (Belgium) and DECO PROteste (Portugal) have sent Disney a formal notice over its downgraded Disney+ Premium plan. A patent dispute with InterDigital led Disney to remove Dolby Vision and temporarily pull 4K UHD and HDR in 11 EU countries, while Premium kept its full price. Since early August Disney has brought 4K back on some devices using an alternative technology. HDR has not returned.

The groups want Disney to cut Premium prices automatically and credit subscribers at least €5 a month for the whole period. They put the cost at about €12 million a month for Italy, Belgium and Portugal, and up to about €63 million a month across all 11 countries. Disney has 14 days from receiving the notice to respond. After that, the groups say they will take the case to the EU's Consumer Protection Cooperation Network and national authorities.

Lens: Disney+ Premium subscribers, including in Portugal, kept paying full price for months after the patent fight stripped out premium picture features, and consumer groups now want automatic price cuts and refunds, or EU regulators get involved.

Photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

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About 1,700 Disneyland character and parade performers, organized as Magic United under Actors' Equity, rally today, Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to noon PT near the resort at Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue, pushing for a first contract. This is a rally, not a strike. The performers voted to unionize in May 2024, and the two sides have now bargained for more than 50 days. The union says Disney's proposal leaves out paid parental leave and offers no raise in the first year. Disney says these cast members already received a 4% raise in early 2026 and that it has proposed raises over the life of the agreement. Talks resume October 27–28.

Lens: the costumed faces guests line up to meet still have no first contract after two years, with paid parental leave and first-year pay at the center of the gap.

Photo: Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times.

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