DirecTV made a move this week that will result in less pro-Trump right-wing propaganda poisoning the minds of millions of Americans as One America News Network (OANN) will no longer air on the provider’s channel lineup.
OANN sprang up during the Obama administration back in 2013 in a scheme to spread right-wing propaganda deeper throughout the country. In fact, OANN is even more right-wing than Fox News. So, it came as no real surprise when the network latched onto Donald Trump and became his own personal propaganda network throughout his disgraceful presidency.
Among the most notable lies that OANN has told is the downplaying of the Capitol insurrection on January 6th and the frequent attacks on the House Select Committee investigating the events of that day when Trump and his supporters tried to violently overthrow democracy. In addition, OANN has repeatedly spewed Trump’s lies about the 2020 Election and the coronavirus pandemic, the former of which is why they are currently being sued by Dominion Voting Systems for defamation.
But it’s not just the $1.6 billion lawsuit that could cripple OANN, DirecTV has decided to cut ties with the network as well, which will cost the network millions of dollars in revenue and most of their viewership.
In a statement that did not explain the decision to dump OANN, DirecTV announced: “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.”
That’s a major blow to the network’s ratings, something that Trump is usually obsessed with. Ironically, it was last year when AT&T was exposed as one of the builders of the right-wing network. Now it’s AT&T-owned DirecTV that is cutting it.
Twitter users praised the decision while right-wingers predictably pouted.
Let DirecTV dropping OANN be a small reminder that your voice matters. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) January 16, 2022
DirecTV dropped OANN, a poisonous propaganda outlet
Newsmax & Murdoch’s Faux News should be next
These greedy conspiracy theorists have rocked the very foundation of our republic
Any company like @verizon that continues to carry OANN is complicit in the destruction of America
— Lindy Li (@lindyli) January 17, 2022
It’s capitalism, @ChuckGrassley. Private company business decision.
So are you advocating for the federal government dictating DirecTV’s lineup?
It’s interesting seeing how anti-corporate/capitalism Chuck is when market forces are against his interests. https://t.co/gwn5fgRYIL
— Charlie Hodges 🛹⚽️ (@CharlieHodgesIA) January 17, 2022
Seriously, @DIRECTV
I will pay MORE for a package that excludes Fox, Newsmax and OAN.
If you stop subsidizing their BS, it’ll be worth it. https://t.co/OSu4PGTOTa
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) January 15, 2022
BOOM! DirecTV says it will no longer air One America News after it’s contract expires in April.
BYE FELICIA!
— Jon Cooper 🇺🇸 (@joncoopertweets) January 15, 2022
DirecTV is the largest distributor for conservative media “news” channel One America News. But they are shutting them down when the contract ends in early April. Bravo, DirecTV! Thank you for helping preserve our democracy by limiting the spread of their harmful disinformation. https://t.co/vxHJTmIckL
— Edge 🌊🌊 (@TheLesson55) January 15, 2022
Well done, @DIRECTV. 👏
This is a major win for democracy. https://t.co/5x8xGkDjq1
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) January 15, 2022
Indeed, this is a win for democracy if it happens. Now if only television providers would drop Newsmax and Fox News, perhaps this country can get back to dealing in facts instead of being divided by right-wing lies.
What some might not realize is that this may not be a “political” decision at all, but rather a negotiation tactic. Often, when providers threaten to cancel networks from their lineup, it is more about money than content. DirecTV doesn’t plan to “dump” the network until the spring, and a lot of negotiating can happen between now and then.
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