A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s Governor wants Congress to get answers on two conservative cable networks getting dropped.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who served three terms in the U.S. House, wants a legislative probe on recent decisions by cable carriers to remove One America News Network and Newsmax from their programming lineups.
In Bradenton, DeSantis suggested that the House, currently under Republican control, would be the best venue for that urgent inquiry into potential “intellectual discrimination.”
“I think it does warrant an investigation. I think probably the Congress, in the House, would probably be best to do it. We have helped all these organizations who have been under pressure since I’ve been Governor. … But I really think this is something the Congress needs to look at, and I think they need to ensure that there’s not intellectual discrimination going on when it comes to what people are able to view.”
DeSantis’ counsel comes after 41 GOP members of the U.S. House called for hearings. The Governor also contended Tuesday that the right-wing channels were dropped even while ratings losers were retained, solely for ideological reasons, which he decried.
“I think there should be no ideological litmus test when you have these big companies who have the decision to make or break a news network or any type of network,” DeSantis contended.
“And they’ll give different rationales for why they don’t want to do it. The reality is they have so much other content that is very lightly viewed, yet they keep that on. And it seems that it’s the One America News and the Newsmax who are being targeted.”
Regarding the recent nixing of Newsmax, DirecTV says the price was too high in defending its drop of the channel.
“We’ve discussed with Newsmax on several occasions that we’d like to offer their programming, however, the network is now seeking significant fees that we cannot pass on to our broad customer base,” a DirecTV representative claimed in a statement reported by Newsmax. For its part, Newsmax said their fee was a 75% discount to its “market value.”
Despite the alleged “deplatforming,” Newsmax continues to stream live, including on YouTube, so fans will not be deprived despite the lack of DirecTV carriage.
13 comments
Republicans are corrupt
January 31, 2023 at 12:14 pm
DeSantis is a clown
Tim
January 31, 2023 at 3:33 pm
You speak the truth. DeSantis is a dangerous clown that would be perfectly happy in his “white bread” world, not having to account for or answer to any of his racist actions against those who don’t have control of the bully pulpit he has.
Mr. Haney
February 7, 2023 at 11:09 am
No reason to be insulting clowns. They have standards.
SteveHC
January 31, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Well what do you know… whiney Republican DeSantis has transitioned into DeSantis the Republican *snowflake*! At first I thought well maybe it’d be just a temporary whim, but no he’s clearly transitioned into one PERMANENTLY. Go figure…
Josh Green
January 31, 2023 at 1:45 pm
DeSantis is such an idiot, but it sure is funny watching all these “Free Market/Small Government” hypocrites trying to force their agenda down the throat of a private business.
DirecTV is not a government agency. They are business that answers to nobody but the Free Market. They are fully allowed to decide which channels to carry, and government getting involved and forcing them to carry certain networks is Coerced Speech. It’s completely unconstitutional.
ScienceBLVR
January 31, 2023 at 1:47 pm
Again and again DeSantis ignores the needs of Floridians in his quest for national headlines. I’m not an expert on how cable program providers select what channels they offer in the package, but basic business sense dictates if the consumer wants it, they provide it when it’s fiscally prudent to do so. Certainly when enough people demand shows like Newsmax, and OANN, they be offered. Maybe nobody wants to watch the false facts and fake news that dribbles out of these right wing “News” outlets.
Josh Green
January 31, 2023 at 1:52 pm
But that would mean DeSantis has to actually govern, and he’s proven he literally does not give one single F**k about improving the life of the average Floridian. So he chases these bizarre headlines and gets involved in Culture War BS.
Meanwhile, there’s an affordable housing crisis, an insurance crisis, and Florida ranks #38th in average annual wage. He’s done nothing to improve any of this.
DeSantis is an absolute disgrace.
Hail Satan 😈
January 31, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Thank you Ron DeSantis!
I’ve started a cable TV channel with the goal is to promote Satanism in our country. It’s full of broadcasts of Satanic Mass for those who can’t make it in person, Satanic preachers giving Satanic sermons, and lots of other programming that hails and worships our Dark Lord.
If this sets the precedent, DirecTV will have no choice but to carry my new TV channel on their network. I will even start producing Satanic cartoons aimed at children to convert them to Satanism.
Can’t wait to see this become reality! 😈
JoJo
January 31, 2023 at 3:27 pm
Lol! These comments are very entertaining. Enjoying laughing AT them commenters.
tom palmer
January 31, 2023 at 4:37 pm
The cycle of political buffoonery continues to spiral into parody. Who is governing Florida these days? Certainly not this politically obsessed clown.
Mr. Haney
February 1, 2023 at 9:10 am
F**k DeSantis.
wendy
February 1, 2023 at 9:34 am
Next can we have Congress investigate why I can only get TCM as part of a sports package on Comcast? I feel my rights as an old person who loves black and white movies are being violated by this policy.
Tjb
February 1, 2023 at 11:21 am
Looks like DeSantis is becoming a socialist by having government dictate what a business can do or not do.
Comments are closed.