DirecTV and Newsmax have reached a new multiyear deal that will bring the conservative channel back to about 13 million customers this week.
The deal marks the end of a long and bitter PR battle between the two companies that hinged on carrier fees, with Newsmax’s leadership repeatedly accusing the cable provider of political bias.
“Newsmax recognizes and appreciates that DirecTV clearly supports diverse voices, including conservative voices,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in a statement celebrating the agreement. “As an independent company, DirecTV helped give Newsmax its start nearly a decade ago as it continues to work with upcoming news networks, which is why we are thrilled to have reached a mutually beneficial agreement that will bring our network to DirecTV, DirecTV STREAM and U-Meet customers over the next several years.”
The initial dispute between the two companies hinged on the carrier’s fee, which under its previous deal dictated DirecTV pay Newsmax nothing to carry the conservative channel. DirecTV said Wednesday that its new deal with Newsmax will not come at any additional cost to its subscribers, indicating that Newsmax’s request for a price increase has not been met, though terms of the deal were not disclosed by either side.
However, Rudy and other leading Newsmax hosts accused the cable provider of political censorship, prompting a wave of condemnations from House Republicans.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) suggested earlier this year that he wouldn’t rule out holding congressional hearings on DirecTV’s decision to part ways with Newsmax, which has an audience share dwarfed by other leading news channels.
In a statement Wednesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) — who wrote to DirecTV asking for clarification to drop Newsmax, citing political bias was a factor — praised the two parties who reached an agreement.
“The return of Newsmax on the air is a victory for free speech over powerful corporations that want to put their thumbs on the scale of the national conversation,” Cruz said. “This result speaks to the strength of citizens and their elected representatives working to stop discrimination in viewpoints.”
DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow sought to portray the dispute as routine in a statement on Wednesday.
“This resolution with Newsmax, which resolves a very popular dispute over transfer, underscores our commitment to offering our clients a wide range of programs and perspectives,” Morrow wrote.
He added, “Through our ongoing negotiations, we have reached a decision under mutually agreed commercial terms that allow us to offer the conservative news network at the right value – a reflection of the free market in action.”
Updated: 12:18 p.m
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