After a long controversy, DirecTV arrives at a deal to spread the right-wing network Newsmax

March 23, 2023: On Wednesday, DirecTV said it reached a deal with Newsmax Media to carry the right-wing network in its satellite TV and streaming packages again.

DirecTV has not been carrying Newsmax since late January when carriage to negotiate broke down between the two companies. Newsmax had alleged at the core of the dispute was “political discrimination,” with a few politicians getting involved along the way. At the same time, DirecTV said it came down to economic differences.

Newsmax will come back to DirecTV’s packages at no additional cost. The financial situation of the deal was not disclosed.

The TV network, run by CEO Christopher Ruddy, is pushing to receive fees. Initially, DirecTV carried the network without paying fees, and Newsmax relied on advertising earnings, which is typically the case for recent TV channels.

“Newsmax recognizes and appreciates that DirecTV supports diverse voices, which include conservative ones,” Ruddy said, adding DirecTV helped give Newsmax it’s nearly ten years ago.

Throughout the public dispute, DirecTV said blackouts were common in the pay-TV industry, and consumers were often “caught in the middle.”

“This resolution with Newsmax, which resolves an all-too-common carriage dispute, underscores our dedication to provide a wide array of programming and perspectives to the customers,” Bill Morrow, CEO of DirecTV, stated.

Higher fees to TV networks often mean pay-TV package prices increase, accelerating the exodus of customers. Pay-TV providers like DirecTV have been bleeding customers in recent years due to improved streaming services. At the same time, negotiations between pay-TV distributors and TV channels have long been tense, like discussions have become fraught.