DirecTV plans to drop One America News Network, the channel known for its pro-Donald Trump coverage and commentary.
The satellite provider, one of the largest distribution outlets, also plans to drop another channel, AWE, from OANN parent Herring Networks
“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,” a DirecTV spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
According to Bloomberg, which first reported the news, DirecTV’s contract with Herring Networks expires in early April. DirecTV will continue to carry their programming through their existing agreement. DirecTV began carrying OAN in April, 2017.
Trump has cited the channel as one of his favorites — an interview with him ran this week — and he singled it out in the aftermath of the presidential election. The channel, which advanced his unfounded claims that the election was rigged, is facing defamation lawsuits from two election systems companies, Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems.
A representative from Herring Networks did not immediately return a request for comment.
In October, Reuters ran an investigative report on how AT&T, which spun off DirecTV last year but retains a 70% share in the company, nurtured OAN, and how the rightward channel drew the bulk of its revenue from the telecom’s platforms. DirecTV has said that OAN was just one channel it has carried across the political spectrum.
OAN has been the target of public interest groups that have called on distributors to stop carrying the channel, citing its spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation about Covid-19.
The post DirecTV To End Carriage Of One America News Network, Channel Known For Pro-Donald Trump Views appeared first on Deadline.
