(FiveNation.com)- According to a report, when AT&T-owned DirecTV cut off Newsmax’s signal at midnight last Tuesday, the network was immediately disconnected from more than 13 million users of the satellite service, DirecTV Stream, and U-Verse.
DirecTV also deplatformed One America News Network (OAN) in April 2022.
According to Nielsen, Newsmax is the fourth-highest-rated cable news channel in the country, a top 20 cable news channel overall, and is watched by 25 million Americans exclusively on cable. Nevertheless, DirecTV claimed that it was making the decision to cut costs and would not pay a cable license fee to Newsmax.
A report shows AT&T DirecTV’s decision to drop OAN and Newsmax comes from a February 2021 letter written by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and then-Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif. They demanded that cable and satellite TV providers explain their alleged role in spreading dangerous misinformation by carrying Conservative networks.
DirecTV pays cable license fees to all top 75 cable channels and to all 22 liberal news and information channels it carries. Almost all of these channels are paid hefty license fees significantly more than Newsmax was seeking despite most of the channels having much lower ratings than Newsmax.
Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, stated that it was a blatant act of political discrimination and censorship against Newsmax.
Newsmax revealed last week that as news spread in Congress that AT&T DirecTV was moving to deplatform Newsmax. Forty-one Republican congressmen led by Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, sent a letter to the CEOs of AT&T, DirecTV, and hedge fund TPG Capital, the minority operator of the satellite system, warning them of hearings.
AT&T continues to own 70% of DirecTV but added TPG Capital as its partner with a 30% stake in 2021.
TPG Capital, a Texas-based financial firm and hedge fund, is known for its liberal politics. FEC documents show that since 1993, ninety percent of its donations have gone to Democrat candidates and committees.
NewsmaxTV streaming is still available online and on apps.
