In a move that shocked many, Newsmax has been deplatformed by DirecTV. This comes following another controversial move by DirecTV to deplatform OAN in April of 2022. The move by DirecTV has angered many Republicans, and Newsmax is looking to fight back by seeking a Congressional hearing about the alleged censorship by DirecTV, as they’ve never sought to remove liberal-leaning networks such as CNN, MNSBC, ABC, or other mainstream and liberal-leaning outlets.
Newsmax, previous to the move by DirecTV, was available to over 50-70 million houseolds across the United States, and was typically the only news network to stream full Trump rallies. While Truth Social was speculated to eventually also stream Trump’s rallies as well, Newsmax up until this point had the privilege that even Fox News didn’t have. Many have gone on to speculate that the massive audiences that Newsmax was able to accumulate during Trump rallies were a major reason why DirecTV may have decided to deplatform Newsmax.
With this move by DirecTV, Newsmax is now seeking a Congressional hearing to investigate their alleged censorship of conservative-leaning news networks. The company has argued that removing just one conservative outlet would constitute censorship and that other outlets such as CNN, ABC, and MSNBC are being given preferential treatment when it comes to airing political content.
In addition, Newsmax is also focusing on its digital expansion plans, which would make it easier for viewers to access their content online, in an effort to reach a larger audience. To expand their influence even further, the company has recently partnered with streaming services such as Roku, Amazon FireTV and Apple TV.
Ultimately, this move by DirecTV could have serious implications for the future of conservative media outlets. For example, an increase in deplatforming would give progressive-leaning networks a massive advantage when it comes to the dissemination of political news and information. To prevent this, conservative news sources need to focus on digital expansion and audience growth. Ultimately, a larger audience will help level the playing field and make independent media more competitive in the industry. By expanding their reach, conservative outlets can ensure that their message and values are heard by as many people as possible. This is an important step to preserving freedom of speech in the 21st century.
Many have weighed in on the move from DirecTV, including both former President Donald Trump, as well as Donald Trump Jr.:
OUTRAGEOUS: ATT just dropped Newsmax!
It’s time for Americans to return the favor and drop ATT.@PatriotMobile is the ONLY conservative mobile provider — use code "DONJR" for FREE activation! https://t.co/taP9TthyMg
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 25, 2023
According to Newsmax:
Despite Newsmax being the 4th highest-rated cable news channel in the nation, a top 20 cable news channel overall, and watched by 25 million Americans on cable alone, according to Nielsen, DirecTV said it was taking the step as a “cost-cutting” measure and would never pay Newsmax a cable license fee.
“This is a blatant act of political discrimination and censorship against Newsmax,” Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax said.
“The most extreme liberal channels, even with tiny ratings, get fees from AT&T’s DirecTV, but Newsmax and OAN need to be deplatformed,” Ruddy added.
Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX), along with 41 other Republican co-signers, has made an effort to save Newsmax by writing a letter to General Counsel and Chief External Affairs Officer at DIRECTV Michael Hartman, saying:
“If Newsmax is removed from DirecTV, in less than a year House Republicans will have lost two of the three cable news channels that reach conservative voters on a platform that primarily serves conservative-leaning areas of the country,”
DirecTV had stated that the economics of the situation were the main issue, not the ideology of conservative-leaning Newsmax. General Counsel and Chief External Affairs Officer at DIRECTV Michael Hartman said:
“In no way is DirecTV working to limit conservative viewpoints,” adding, “We remain hopeful that we will reach an agreement with Newsmax that will allow us to continue to carry their programming while keeping our service affordable. We appreciate your concern for our customers. And we would be happy to meet to provide additional information if it would be helpful to do so.”
“We think that it is also important to keep our dispute with Newsmax in perspective. According to Nielsen, nationwide Newsmax’s average household audience is only 101,000 households, representing less than 0.1% of total TV households… That is 92% lower than Fox News. If Newsmax ceases to authorize our carriage of their channel, our customers will still have access to their clearly preferred conservative news channel, Fox News, which has more viewers than MSNBC, CNN and Newsmax combined.”
They don’t have me. Neither one has me.
Looks like directtv has a management VERMIN problem and needs to SCATTER the roaches and get their crap together before THEY get dropped by a discerning public!
Yea directtv sucks !
Just wait for the cancellations. I printed this and put it the mail box of every neighbor, and am going to other neighborhoods to do the same. I’ve also sent a batch to friends in 7 other states, and will send more to their friends. I have the title of this article in my window and we’re making stickers. DirectTV will regret their censorship!
It’s Free Enterprise, moron. Are you suggesting that somebody censored Newsmax?
FYI– putting anything in or hanging on a mailbox other than postal mail is a Federal Crime. Please don’t do what you have done and are going to do as someone could get peed-off and turn you into the postmaster for prosecution. Your good intentions will land you in a lot of trouble.
Bullsh!t
DirectTV needs to be deplatformed by their viewers. Out of business permanently. No second chances. There need to be consequences for wokeist terrorism.
Thats ok, just more people will go with dish to watch President Trumps rallies and better TV. We still have OAN.
DIRECTV just lost another customer.
NOT a great financial move by them!
Their action in doing this is an assault on FREE SPEECH, which is UN-AMERICAN!
Exactly how the dumbocraptic press planned it
will NEVER use direct TV
This is just another sign of a communistic state taking place in our country. Cutting off communication that they decide they don’t like. The battle and fight is just beginning!!
Guess I will be calling to cancel ATT computer and phone service. I will not be dictated to about who I can and can not watch. Shove it AT&T.
I am a member of the conservative audience that is apparently the issue being discussed here. Having said that, I hope that Newsmax is not insisting to charge DirectTV a higher cable license fee than are liberal channels, as referred to by the DirectTV spokesperson in this article. This article doesn’t address that issue. Liberal cable channels should also be paying comparable cable channel fees to CableTV that Newsmax is being requested to pay, no more and no less.
I HOPE ALL THESE WOKEASS COMPANIES GO BROKE. WHO EVER IS IN CHARGE IS A WOKEASS STUPID IDIOT TRAITOR