Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., told Newsmax Thursday that DirecTV's deplatforming of Newsmax is a "grave concern" to conservatives in his district.
"It's probably one of the number one calls we've gotten over the last three weeks," Hern said during an appearance on Newsmax's "National Report." "It's certainly a grave concern. We're in a very conservative district. It's very hard to get the conservative message out at all anyway, but when we have great networks like yourself doing that and getting it out, and then to see it basically shut off — it's very concerning."
AT&T's DirecTV cut Newsmax's signal Jan. 24, immediately blocking the network from more than 13 million customers of the satellite service, DirecTV Stream, and U-Verse.
DirecTV customers call toll free at 877-763-9762 to complain, demand Newsmax is returned! Oppose censorship – sign The Petition – Click Here
This is the second time in the past year AT&T has moved to cancel a conservative channel, with DirecTV deplatforming OAN in April.
Newsmax is America's fourth highest-rated news network in the cable landscape and a top-20 overall channel that reaches 25 million Americans weekly, according to the Nielsen ratings.
While DirecTV said it dropped the popular network due to "cost-cutting" measures, it also carries 22 left-leaning news channels, many of which draw considerably lower ratings than Newsmax.
Those channels all get paid license fees.
DirecTV has claimed that Newsmax was demanding "excessive fees" that would amount to "tens of millions" of dollars. Newsmax has denied that, saying it is seeking an approximate fee of $1 per cable subscriber per year, which is among the lowest requested fees in cable.
Hern said that the House Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, issued subpoenas to the CEOs of Big Tech companies as part of the ongoing investigation into the weaponization of the federal government.
"I think we're going to be seeing a lot of information that is going to make all Americans concerned — regardless of if you're Republican or Democrat — that the federal government and Big Tech companies have the ability to shut down the voice of Americans and just to hear one side," he said. "This is exactly how you radicalize America. You control the healthcare, you control the education. Then you control the message, and we've got to be greatly concerned about that."
Actions to Take Now
1. DirecTV customers call toll free at 877-763-9762 to complain, demand Newsmax is back on air!
2. 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!
3. Go to our online petition and get more info: iWantNewsmax.com.
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