Newsmax, Mr. Trump, and AT&T

VitaMan's Avatar
DirecTV, which is owned by AT&T and private equity firm TPG Capital, said it dropped Newsmax, which frequently broadcasts Trump's political rallies live, over the channel's "demands for rate increases" for its carriage fees—money cable and satellite TV providers pay to broadcasters for their content—which would have resulted in higher costs for customers.

And here is what Mr. Trump puts out about this:

In a post on Truth Social, the former president said the company's decision to remove the news network from the airwaves was "disgusting" and a "big blow" to the Republican Party.

"WOW. AT&T DIRECTV REMOVES NEWSMAX FROM ITS CHANNEL LINEUP. This disgusting move comes after 'deplatforming' OAN last year," Trump said.

"The Radical Left seems to have taken over the mind and soul of AT&T. This is a big blow to the Republican Party, and to America itself. For DIRECTV to drop very popular NEWSMAX, without explanation, will not be accepted.


Well, it was explained already Plus more explanation:

DirecTV said in a statement that "on multiple occasions, we made it clear to Newsmax" that it wanted to broadcast the network, but their demands were too high. The provider added that customers can still watch Newsmax for free via the channel's website, YouTube, or other streaming services such as Amazon Fire TV and Roku.


Other Republican figures have also condemned DirecTV's decision to drop Newsmax.


So a business decision is turned into an issue with “the Radical Left”. You can be sure if Mr. Trump was negotiating broadcast carriage fees, and demands for rate increases, he would be singing a different tune. He would probably sue them for something.

No wonder American politics is so screwed up since Mr.. Trump arrived. God help the Republicans being eaten away by Mr. Trump.
I am about as Republican as you can get, I have DirectTV, but I can’t recall ever watching one second of NewsMax.

I don’t even know what channel it is.
Why_Yes_I_Do's Avatar
DirecTV, which is owned by AT&T and private equity firm TPG Capital, said it dropped Newsmax, which frequently broadcasts Trump's political rallies live, over the channel's "demands for rate increases" for its carriage fees—money cable and satellite TV providers pay to broadcasters for their content—which would have resulted in higher costs for customers... Originally Posted by VitaMan
Sorry. I was all the way over the other side of the room. Are you saying Direct TV/ATT do NOT pay higher fees to other (lesser) channels that have a higher fee yet a lower audience? Is that what you are saying?
VitaMan's Avatar
This is what is being said:


"DirecTV, which is owned by AT&T and private equity firm TPG Capital, said it dropped Newsmax, which frequently broadcasts Trump's political rallies live, over the channel's "demands for rate increases" for its carriage fees—money cable and satellite TV providers pay to broadcasters for their content—which would have resulted in higher costs for customers."
Sorry. I was all the way over the other side of the room. Are you saying Direct TV/ATT do NOT pay higher fees to other (lesser) channels that have a higher fee yet a lower audience? Is that what you are saying? Originally Posted by Why_Yes_I_Do
I’m sure they do. But that’s likely due to some of those channels being part of the packet of other channels. Or some channels likely actually bring in vieweers ie kid channels.
Why_Yes_I_Do's Avatar
This is also being said:


...DirecTV pays cable license fees to all top 75 cable channels and to all 22 liberal news and information channels it carries. Almost all of these channels are paid hefty license fees significantly more than Newsmax was seeking — and despite the fact that most of the channels have much lower ratings than Newsmax...


Seems a little like a blatant act of political discrimination and censorship against Newsmax, don't ya think? You did catch how AT&T showed some TDS by mentioning Trump rallies. Right?
VitaMan's Avatar
Wrong again. AT&T did not mention that.

But your attempts are worthy of being a Trump cult member.
pittlicker's Avatar
Many are still drinking the kool aid
Precious_b's Avatar
They should just do a boss move like elon and buy themselves a bit of the spectrum.
Wrong again. AT&T did not mention that.

But your attempts are worthy of being a Trump cult member. Originally Posted by VitaMan

AT&T could also not be telling the truth, it is a common practice for liberals.
Sure. But it’s 99% more likely that they are canceling Newsmax for the exact reason they say. Newsmax could stay on the air by accepting what fees they were previously receiving. Or they could lower their fees if they wanted to prove AT&T was acting in a political rather than financial way.
Why_Yes_I_Do's Avatar
Sure. But it’s 99% more likely that they are canceling Newsmax for the exact reason they say. .. Originally Posted by 1blackman1
Yet if Musk says the government is involved in Tyranny via censorship, ya'll say he is lieing and hiding info/data. Yall progressive are a silly bunch - at best. I wonder, do thing that bounce vex you terribly? I'm guessing a yo-yo must be beguiling as all get out. No doubt revolving doors are beyond all ya'lls comprehension.



Why_Yes_I_Do's Avatar
This is what is being said:


"DirecTV, which is owned by AT&T and private equity firm TPG Capital, said it dropped Newsmax, which frequently broadcasts Trump's political rallies live, over the channel's "demands for rate increases" for its carriage fees—money cable and satellite TV providers pay to broadcasters for their content—which would have resulted in higher costs for customers." Originally Posted by VitaMan
My bad, because I thought you said they did not say: which frequently broadcasts Trump's political rallies live



VitaMan's Avatar
AT&T did not say that. Unfortunately you are not able to comprehend the paragraph. The writer said that.
VitaMan's Avatar
AT&T could also not be telling the truth, it is a common practice for liberals. Originally Posted by farmstud60

"They are lying."



The typical reply from the Trump cult. Is it page 24 of the playbook ?