Conservative network Newsmax has gone dark on DirecTV, and Republican lawmakers are accusing the private broadcaster of an “attack on free speech.”
DirecTV, which is owned by AT&T and private equity firm TPG, blames the carrier disruption on “significant fees” charged by the news outlet.
“We have spoken with Newsmax several times about offering their programming, but the network is now charging significant fees that we will have to pass on to our broad subscriber base,” the operator said in a statement. “Furthermore, the same programming that Newsmax offers today is already available for free to 100% of US homes, including our customers through NewsmaxTV.com, YouTube.com, and on multiple streaming platforms such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Google Play.”
Newsmax’s free streaming on digital channels will end later this year, the network noted. In a statement, it added, “DirecTV believes Newsmax should receive ZERO cable royalties, despite being the fourth highest paying cable news network in the country, according to Nielsen.”
DirecTV has lost subscribers in recent years due to cable outages, particularly in its traditional satellite business, but it still has about 13 million customers. This makes it one of the largest pay TV providers in the United States
Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy is a personal friend of former President Donald Trump, and the network has continued to cover Trump’s rallies. It helped promote his widely debunked allegations of fraud in the 2020 election process and is one of several media outlets being sued by Dominion Voting Systems for defamation.
Ruddy called DirecTV’s position a “blatant act of political discrimination and censorship,” according to the station’s own report on the promotion dispute. He claimed that “the most extreme liberal networks, even those with small ratings, get royalties from DirecTV,” but “distorted” Newsmax and One America News Network, another right-wing network shut down by DirecTV.
The network comes to the aid of a group of Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX), who claimed DirecTV’s move was an “undemocratic assault on free speech.” A letter from lawmakers was sent to the CEOs of AT&T, DirecTV and TPG.
Author: father Hayes, Ted Johnson
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
