No matter how you watch live TV, chances are that you’ve had to deal with losing channels. Just last month, YouTube TV scrubbed all of Disney’s live channels, including ESPN, FX, and ABC. Within days, the companies had reached an agreement to bring the channels back. However, the disruptions affected millions of subscribers. But internet TV services aren’t the only ones removing channels. DirecTV last week announced it would remove two channels from its lineup beginning April.
DirecTV removes channels from Herring Networks
According to BloombergDirecTV plans to end One America News Network (OAN), and A Wealth of Entertainments (AWE) in April, when their current contracts expire. This information was shared by DirecTV and Herring Networks Inc. who owns both channels.
“We informed Herring Networks that, following a routine internal review, we do not plan to enter into a new contract when our current agreement expires,”DirectTV – Bloomberg.
OAN was founded in 2013, but became more prominent after Donald Trump’s election in 2017. OAN was once described as one the best networks. “greatest supporters”Former president. It regularly promotes conspiracy theories and lies. Hosts on the network’s many talk shows are still claiming that Donald Trump actually won the 2020 election.
OAN’s countless controversies
The 2020 election is just one of a series of conspiracies that OAN has promoted. OAN’s employees have lied about a Bible ban in California, a chemical attack in Syria, and the murder of DNC employee Seth Rich. This means that only a limited number of providers will be able to support the network.
On OAN’s websiteTwo of the few national providers that are listed as hosting the channel are CenturyLink PRISM and Verizon FiOS. OAN is also available via KlowdTV, a live TV channel.
Public Knowledge, an advocacy group, asked networks to stop using OAN last November. John Bergmayer, Legal Director, outlined the dangers associated with broadcasting the channel. In a blog post:
In the past, Public Knowledge worked with conservative outlets such as OAN and Newsmax to oppose Sinclair’s effort to buy Tribune Media, because we believe strongly that consolidated media gatekeepers threaten the health of our democracy — whether the voices silenced are left-leaning or right-leaning. There is a big difference between offering a conservative view and spreading conspiracy theories and falsehoods that could threaten our democratic institutions. In the last two years, OAN’s support for the “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen and the fact that it’s consistently giving airtime to conspiracy theories and misinformation on COVID-19, moves it from a participant in the marketplace of ideas to a peddler of toxic lies.
It’s unclear how this move will affect One America News going forward. DirecTV will remove One America News from its lineup in April, meaning millions of customers will lose their access to the network. Comcast, Charter and Dish never offered OAN to subscribers. How many people are willing to switch providers to keep OAN available?