AT&T's DirecTV cancellation of Newsmax is "another blatant example of liberal media out there censoring speech and free speech, and customers should voice their frustrations with the provider over the loss of service," Rep. Mike Collins said Thursday.
"I encourage everybody, if you're frustrated with it, you let DirecTV and AT&T know that," the Georgia Republican said on Newsmax's "National Report." "You can do that with your pocketbook."
He also rejected DirecTV's contention that it deplatformed Newsmax because of a cost-cutting business decision.
DirecTV customers call toll free at 877-763-9762 to complain, demand Newsmax is returned! Oppose censorship – sign The Petition – Click Here
"Newsmax is what, number four in the ranking?" said Collins. "It was obviously not a business decision, because if you wanted to make a business decision, there are several of the liberal stations that should have been taken down first."
But instead, it was "another attack on conservative talk," he said, adding that there are many people making the switch to other providers who do carry Newsmax."
DirecTV has claimed both Newsmax and OAN were removed as "cost-cutting" measures at the same time the company reported profits last year of $2.7 billion.
This week DirecTV claimed Newsmax was demanding "excessive fees" that would cost them in the "tens of millions" of dollars.
Newsmax has denied these claims, saying it was seeking a fee of about $1 per cable subscriber per year, among the lowest fees asked for in cable, and that the total amount of the deal was a fraction of "tens of millions."
"This was never about the fees being excessive," Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, said. "DirecTV's position has always been that Newsmax of all cable news channels should never get any cable fee whatsoever, not one penny."
DirecTV continues to carry 22 left-leaning news channels, many with much lower ratings than Newsmax. All of those channels get license fees.
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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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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