DirecTV to Return Newsmax to Lineup After GOP, Conservative Outcry

Signage for the Newsmax conservative television broadcasting network is displayed at a broadcast TV booth at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual meeting at the George R. Brown Convention Center, in Houston, Texas, on May 28, 2022. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Newsmax and DirecTV announced on March 22 they have reached an agreement to bring back the conservative cable news and opinion network.

Newsmax channel will return to DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse on March 23.

“Newsmax recognizes and appreciates that DirecTV clearly supports diverse voices, including conservative ones,” said Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy in a statement. “As a standalone company, DirecTV gave Newsmax its start nearly a decade ago as it continues to do with upcoming news networks, which is why we are pleased to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that will deliver our network to DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse customers over the next several years.”

“This resolution with Newsmax, resolving an all-too-common carriage dispute, underscores our dedication to delivering a wide array of programming and perspectives to all our customers,” said DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow. “Through our persistent negotiations, we reached a resolution under mutually-agreeable business terms allowing us to deliver the conservative news network at the right value–a reflection of the free market at work.”

Newsmax contributor Bryan Leib called the development “Great news for all parties!”

There is no extra fee for DirecTV customers to get Newsmax.

The agreement comes months after DirecTV dropped Newsmax on Jan. 24 in what conservatives, including the outlet itself, decried as an act of censorship. The move was made due to a carriage fee dispute.

However, a DirecTV spokesperson said in a statement, “On multiple occasions, we made it clear to Newsmax that we wanted to continue to offer the network, but ultimately Newsmax’s demands for rate increases would have led to significantly higher costs that we would have to pass on to our broad customer base.”

On Feb. 24, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) called on DirecTV to work out their dispute with Newsmax “or else.”

“So, I think if anyone has ever watched the House Oversight Committee—any of our first three hearings—they have to ask themselves: Do you really want to go in front of the House Oversight Committee? This is something the 26 Republicans on the committee are very passionate about,” he said on “John Bachman Now.”

“We’re all huge fans of Newsmax. We don’t like to see Newsmax not being offered on DirecTV—especially considering that Newsmax is the fourth highest rated news show on TV now. And they [DirecTV officials] have dozens of news shows that have much lower ratings than Newsmax. So, I’m doing everything in my ability to see that this gets worked out. If it doesn’t, then I would expect the Republican majority to begin to take steps to take action.”