DirecTV Says Possible Newsmax Blackout Is Business, Not Politics
DirectTV is "not trying to de-platform Newsmax," the MVPD wrote House Republican Conference members this week in response to their letter earlier this month complaining about the news network potentially being dropped from DirecTV's lineup. "We want to continue our…
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carriage of Newsmax on the same terms as at present, and we have made that clear to Newsmax," wrote General Counsel Michael Harman, saying, with the current agreement expiring, it began a short-term extension to allow more negotiating time. A DirecTV spokesperson told us the programmer, which has been carried for free, now is seeking payment, though its programming is available free via YouTube, Newsmax's website and streaming platforms such as Google Play, Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Jan. 20 letter from the House Republicans to DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow, AT&T CEO John Stankey and TPG Capital CEO Jon Winkelried accused the direct broadcast satellite operator of "actively working to limit conservative viewpoints on its system." The House Conference members cited Vice Media being carried by DirecTV and receiving higher fees than Newsmax does. The letter said Congress plans "extensive oversight on the extent to which House Democrats and officials in federal offices" limited and restricted free speech, with the investigations "not ... limited to social media companies." It demanded ratings for and fees paid to the networks. AT&T and TPG respectively have majority and minority stakes in DirecTV. Newsmax didn't comment Tuesday.