In January, The Gateway Pundit reported that DIRECTV l de-platformed popular conservative Newsmax.
DIRECTV l canceled OAN Network last year, but pays the license fee for 22 liberal news and information channels in their lineup.
The red flag First Amendment violation led to boycotts, cancelled subscriptions and intense Congressional pressure.
This week Newsmax announced they have reached a deal and will return to DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM and U-verse in the coming days.
The Congressional pressure likely helped.
When the two companies were initially unable to agree on financial terms to extend their carriage agreement, DIRECTV lost the rights to distribute the programming on Jan 25, 2023. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in the pay TV industry, and often consumers are caught in the middle.
“Newsmax recognizes and appreciates that DIRECTV clearly supports diverse voices, including conservative ones,” said Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax. “As a standalone company, DIRECTV gave Newsmax its start nearly a decade ago as it continues to do with upcoming news networks, which is why we are pleased to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that will deliver our network to DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM and U-verse customers over the next several years.”
“This resolution with Newsmax, resolving an all-too-common carriage dispute, underscores our dedication to delivering a wide array of programming and perspectives to all our customers,” said Bill Morrow, Chief Executive Officer for DIRECTV. “Through our persistent negotiations, we reached a resolution under mutually-agreeable business terms allowing us to deliver the conservative news network at the right value – a reflection of the free market at work.”
Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy celebrated the agreement.
“Newsmax recognizes and appreciates that DirecTV clearly supports diverse voices, including conservative ones,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in a press release announcing the new deal. “As a standalone company, DirecTV helped give Newsmax its start nearly a decade ago as it continues to do with upcoming news networks, which is why we are pleased to reach a mutually beneficial agreement… over the next several years.”
The news was widely celebrated.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott wrote in a statement, “This agreement between Newsmax and DirecTV is a huge win in protecting the right of conservative voices and viewpoints to be heard, and I am proud to have helped facilitate this pivotal business renewal to preserve the strength of public discourse on television. The United States was founded on freedom of speech and healthy public debate, and we must preserve the free flow of information in our country to maintain the dignity of our nation’s core values.Efforts to silence conservative viewpoints are antithetical to the very principles our Founding Fathers wrote in our Constitution.This agreement will set the standard for future business deals to maintain our nation’s position as a beacon of freedom. Here in Texas, we will always fight to defend First Amendment rights for Texans and Americans.”
There’s a lot to be upset about but Newsmax coming back to DirecTV is a huge victory
Boycotts, social media posts, canceled subscriptions, Congressional pressure, and potential lawsuits
We raised our voices to defend the 1st Amendment
And it worked https://t.co/C7wUkiDhHV
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) March 22, 2023
When we speak up loud enough, we’re heard.
DIRECTV & NEWSMAX have reached a deal and NEWSMAX WILL RETURN!
This is a huge win for We The People!
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) March 22, 2023
Congratulations to @ChrisRuddyNMX and @NEWSMAX for getting back on @DIRECTV, where they belong, and thanks to all the people that supported and defended the first amendment! pic.twitter.com/5wQRWkjeu3
— Bernard B. Kerik (@BernardKerik) March 22, 2023
Unfortunately, the battle for free speech against the current crop of communists in power is ongoing. But we will fight on!
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