DirecTV Dumps Newsmax Instead of Paying New Fee

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Newsmax is no longer on DirecTV, as the satellite video provider today said it decided not to renew an expiring deal because of Newsmax's money demands.

Posted by lamplighter at 02:31 PM | 20 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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..."On multiple occasions, we made it clear to Newsmax that we wanted to continue to offer the network, but ultimately Newsmax's demands for rate increases would have led to significantly higher costs that we would have to pass on to our broad customer base," DirecTV said in a statement provided to Ars. (AT&T owns 70 percent of DirecTV.)

The carriage deal expired at midnight last night. The "rate increase" demanded by Newsmax was actually from a base of $0 because DirecTV didn't have to pay Newsmax to carry the network under their now-expired deal, a DirecTV spokesperson told Ars. DirecTV says it was one of the first pay-TV providers to carry Newsmax starting in 2014.

While DirecTV described it as a financial decision, Newsmax accused DirecTV of discrimination and censorship. "This is a blatant act of political discrimination and censorship against Newsmax," Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in an article on the Newsmax website titled, "AT&T's DirecTV Cancels Newsmax in Censorship Move."...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2023-01-26 11:57 AM | Reply

Haha. Whine about your so-called "free speech" being taken, fascist dopes.

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-01-26 12:18 PM | Reply

Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) and 41 other Republican members of Congress last week sent a letter to the CEOs of AT&T and DirecTV claiming that DirecTV appears to be "actively working to limit conservative viewpoints on its system." The Republicans' letter asked DirecTV to provide information on viewership ratings of Newsmax and liberal news channels and details on "the corresponding fees paid by your company to these networks."

DirecTV responded to the lawmakers with a letter on Monday. DirecTV said Nielsen data shows that "Newsmax's average household audience is only 101,000 households [nationwide], representing less than 0.1 percent of total TV households. That is 92 percent lower than Fox News.

In other words: Capitalism.

#3 | Posted by Sycophant at 2023-01-26 12:18 PM | Reply

LOL news maxi pad deserves whatever horrible fate awaits them

#4 | Posted by Tor at 2023-01-26 12:30 PM | Reply

Apparently a new upstart will take its place hosted by disgraced or otherwise out of work "conservative" crisis actors

It's sure to be a hit with the "values" crowd

#5 | Posted by ChiefTutMoses at 2023-01-26 01:26 PM | Reply

To hear the MAGA whiners on Twitter, this is yet another example of their views being "CeNsOreD!!" by big tech that requires government intervention in the market.

#6 | Posted by jpw at 2023-01-26 02:11 PM | Reply

I dropped directv because they funded OAN and newsmax. I let them know why when I cancelled.

Now they've dropped them both, and am moving soon, so I'll consider directv again.

#7 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-01-26 03:32 PM | Reply

Plus directv used to be owned by AT&T, the most evil of the telecoms, but now they're not. If they were still owned by AT&T, who eagerly helped the bush administration spy on every citizen, they'd still carry OAN and newsmax.

#8 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-01-26 03:35 PM | Reply

Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas)

So an actual witch hunt.

#9 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-01-26 03:54 PM | Reply

Newsmax is a very reliable source of information said nobody ever.

#10 | Posted by moder8 at 2023-01-26 04:21 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

So . . who's going to cover a rally "like the world has ever known" in South Carolina this weekend?

#11 | Posted by Twinpac at 2023-01-26 10:42 PM | Reply

Just another reason that I am leaving Directv and AT&T.

#12 | Posted by NewOrleans at 2023-01-27 01:22 AM | Reply | Funny: 2

This is your cross? Newsmax? Nice. I've tried to watch it. They exist for anger addicts that do not want solutions, just the fix.

#13 | Posted by Brennnn at 2023-01-27 03:19 AM | Reply

Hah! Hahahah!
Death by Capitalism...
Oh the irony is sweet!

#15 | Posted by earthmuse at 2023-01-27 06:39 AM | Reply

DirecTV said Nielsen data shows that "Newsmax's average household audience is only 101,000 households [nationwide], representing less than 0.1 percent of total TV households.

They peddle in nothing but lies and right wing extremism that no one is interested in.

He's free to start his own system to distribute this garbage.

#16 | Posted by Nixon at 2023-01-27 07:50 AM | Reply

Just another reason that I am leaving Directv and AT&T.

#12 | POSTED BY NEWORLEANS

Good for you!

Now how about leaving the country too?

#17 | Posted by Sycophant at 2023-01-27 12:25 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Just another reason that I am leaving Directv and AT&T.

#12 | Posted by NewOrleans

Not enough fascist propaganda for me!

#18 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-01-27 01:19 PM | Reply

#8 | Posted by SpeakSoftly

IIRC, AT&T still owns 70% of Direct TV. They sold only 30% to TPG.

#19 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2023-01-27 02:03 PM | Reply

Every time this issue comes up; that is the contract with one of the stations is expired and they want more money to allow the cable or satellite company the "privilege" of carrying their broadcasting, they don't realize that without cable or satellite no one would be able to view them. So, the providers should start charging CNN, MSNBC,FOX etc. and if they won't pay, don't carry their content! I applaud Directv, as this may be the start of a break for consumers who pay several hundred dollars a month just for television service.

#20 | Posted by gasman21 at 2023-01-28 07:10 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1