Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) said that he has canceled his subscription to DirecTV after the television platform announced its plan to discontinue featuring One America News, the pro-Donald Trump conservative cable channel.
OAN is one of several conservative media platforms that have been sued in recent months for allegedly broadcasting false or defamatory claims that undermine the 2020 presidential election.
On Friday, DirecTV announced its plan not to renew its contract with OAN. It said that it made this devision following a “routine internal review.”
Paul announced the end of his DirecTV subscription on Twitter. “Why give money to people who hate us?” he asked in the tweet.
Other pro-Trump Republicans have also complained about DirecTV’s decision. Many claim that the move demonstrates a larger effort in the media to silence conservative voices.
“The Left’s purge continues: YouTube demonetizes Dan Bongino. DirectTV drops One America News. Twitter suspends Dr. Malone. Who’s next?” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said in a tweet on Saturday.
Verizon Fios and smaller carriers have maintained OAN, and it is available to stream online through KloudTV.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) criticized DirecTV’s move while also criticizing Democrats’ desire to reduce misinformation. She commented her belief that “misinformation” is synonymous with Republicans voices.
“Pretty convenient that this comes within a week after Biden begged companies to silence ‘misinformation’, meaning his opposition,” Boebert said.
A Reuters investigation reported in October that nearly all of OAN’s revenue came from a single contract with telecom giant AT&T, the parent company of DirecTV. AT&T faced increasing pressure to end its connection to OAN after recent lawsuits, as well as after OAN’s other controversial content.
“We are outraged to learn that AT&T has been funneling tens of millions of dollars into OAN since the network’s inception,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson after the Reuters report published. “As a result, AT&T has caused irreparable damage to our democracy. The press should inform the American public with facts, not far-right propaganda and conspiracy theories.”
