Sen. Marsha Blackburn stressed that it was "imperative" satellite providers like DirecTV's parent company AT&T reverse "woke policies" and begin answering to shareholders again.
Joining Newsmax's "Spicer & Co." on Tuesday, the Tennessee Republican argued that platforms need to put their fiduciary duties before diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies.
"These companies that have bought into woke policies, that have kowtowed to ESG — those are things that the American people are saying, 'Hey, wait a minute, we don't agree with you on this. You have a fiduciary duty to make the best decision,'" Blackburn explained.
"So, I think that some of these companies are beginning to think twice," she continued, adding that it "is imperative" satellite providers "begin to realize that they're going to lose viewers if viewers can't find what they want to see on that particular platform."
DirecTV customers call toll free at 877-763-9762 to cancel/complain
Her comments arrive several hours after President Joe Biden's nominee for an open seat on the Federal Trade Commission, Gigi Sohn, told a Senate panel that the agency should probe DirecTV's "deplatforming of Newsmax."
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, also confirmed last week that he spoke with AT&T executives, encouraging them to resolve the standoff as soon as possible or "I'm pretty confident that they'll be brought before Congress."
AT&T's DirecTV deplatformed Newsmax on Jan. 24 despite it being the fourth highest-rated cable news channel, a top 20 channel overall, and watched by 25 million Americans on cable alone.
Although AT&T called it a "cost-cutting measure," Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy noted that the provider rejected a licensing fee request far smaller than what is dished out to less-successful liberal news channels.
"This is a blatant act of political discrimination and censorship against Newsmax," Ruddy declared. "The most extreme liberal channels, even with tiny ratings, get fees from AT&T's DirecTV, but Newsmax and OAN [One America News Network] need to be deplatformed."
Actions to Take Now
1. DirecTV customers call toll free at 877-763-9762 to cancel/complain.
2. AT&T customers call toll free at 888-855-2338 to cancel/complain for U-verse, cellular, and wireless services.
3. Call your congressman or senator at 202-224-3121 and demand they stop AT&T DirecTV's censorship of NEWSMAX — ask them to give you a date on the hearings!
4. Go to our online petition and get more info: iWantNewsmax.com.