Since DirecTV dropped Newsmax on Jan. 24, AT&T’s stock has fallen by almost 7%, wiping nearly $10 billion from its market value.
AT&T, the 70% owner of DirecTV, has come under fierce criticism after deplatforming Newsmax from its satellite TV systems — the second conservative channel it has removed in the past year, with OAN going last April.
Days after the Newsmax drop, former President Donald Trump called on Americans to cancel not only DirecTV but all AT&T services, including cellular and wireless services.
DirecTV customers call toll free at 877-763-9762 to cancel/complain
“I think it’s deplorable,” Trump said of the cancellation. “Newsmax did well in the ratings, so they actually took something off that was actually doing well in the ratings, as opposed to other shows that don’t.”
Since the removal of Newsmax, AT&T stock appears to be significantly underperforming the market while major stock indices have held steady during the past 12 trading days.
The S&P 500 actually rose 0.37% between Jan. 25 and Feb. 10, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined just 1.84% between those dates.
Newsmax has been alerting its supporters about AT&T’s decision through its network, the fourth highest-rated cable news channel, reaching 25 million Americans, according to Nielsen.
Newsmax also reaches more than 40 million Americans through significant online platforms, apps, its social media network, as well as radio and print outlets.
The reaction against AT&T and DirecTV for the deplatforming has been swift and serious.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has joined with Trump in urging conservatives to cancel AT&T and DirecTV products.
Other leaders — including former Arkansas GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee; Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.; Dennis Prager — have encouraged Americans to switch their service providers.
This week, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel sent out an urgent email to committee members calling DirecTV’s decision “anti-free-speech and anti-American.”
“DirecTV has claimed that their decision was the result of a dispute over carrier fees, but this is yet another example of powerful corporations silencing conservative viewpoints,” she wrote.
DirecTV claimed both Newsmax and OAN were removed as “cost-cutting” measures.
At the same time, the service continues to carry 22 left-leaning news channels, many with much lower ratings than Newsmax. All of those channels get hefty license fees, all higher than what Newsmax was seeking.
“DirecTV’s position has always been that Newsmax — of all cable news channels — should never get any cable fee whatsoever, not one penny,” Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy said.
Ruddy said AT&T’s targeting of Newsmax for unequal treatment is “an act of political discrimination and blatant censorship.”
Actions to Take Now
- DirecTV customers: Call toll free at 877-763-9762 to cancel/complain.
- AT&T customers: Call toll free at 888-855-2338 to cancel/complain for U-verse, cellular and wireless services.
- 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!
- Go to our online petition and get more info: iWantNewsmax.com.
Article and photo courtesy of Newsmax.
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