Newsmax Returns to DirecTV, Resolving Months-Long Dispute

thewrap.com:

sent a letter expressing their concern about the move being an “un-democratic assault on free speech” and claimed the company was “actively working to limit conservative viewpoints on its system.”“It is our understanding that DirecTV — still majority-owned by AT&T and minority-owned and managed by TPG Capital — is moving to de-platform Newsmax by denying it cable fees on a fair and equitable basis,” the letter stated. “Congress intends to conduct extensive oversight on the extent to which House Democrats and officials in federal offices colluded with private companies to limit, restrict, and circumvent First Amendment rights.” In a statement on Wednesday, Ruddy said that Newsmax “recognizes and appreciates that DIRECTV clearly supports diverse voices, including conservative ones.” “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 that will deliver our network to DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM and U-verse customers over the next several years,” he added.The agreement is DirecTV’s latest successful resolution of a carriage dispute, which the company called “an unfortunate but increasingly frequent occurrence involving nearly every pay TV and streaming provider attempting to keep rising consumer costs in check.”According to DirecTV, the industry has endured “no less than 140 distinct disputes pitting programmers or station groups against their primary distributors” over the past five years alone.“While some resolve in as little as a few hours to days or weeks, others last several months to more than a year,” the company added.