On the heels of dropping conservative news network Newsmax earlier this week, DirecTV on Thursday disclosed it’s soon adding conservative opinion and commentary channel The First to its lineup across video services.
The move is likely in an effort by the pay TV provider to further show that it isn’t trying to block programming with a conservative viewpoint – something certain Republican lawmakers accused DirecTV of in connection with the decision to no longer carry Newsmax after an existing contract expired.
In a statement announcing that The First will be available on DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-Verse “very soon,” the company also highlighted its commitment to delivering a variety of viewpoints in its channel lineup.
“DIRECTV values different viewpoints and perspectives and will always work to preserve expansive choice among a wide variety of entertainment and information services to appeal to the unique tastes and interests of our diverse customer base,” said Rob Thun, Chief Content Officer at DirecTV, in a statement. “As we’ve successfully done with other emerging channels, we look forward to helping The First continue to expand its audience reach, while constantly ensuring that our customers receive a strong value.”
Under the new multi-year commitment, The First will be available on DirecTV systems at no extra fee and continue to be offered online and through various streaming providers.
DirecTV said it is the first MVPD to make the programming available across the U.S., as it was previously only available on streaming. The channel was initially available on Paramount’s FAST service Pluto TV starting in 2019.
DirecTV also noted that The First won’t put undue financial pressure on the pay TV provider’s customers, and the company will continue to support The First and distribution of its free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel to reach viewers via streaming.
“Our programming choices are strictly driven by identifying the right programming for our customers at the best value,” DirecTV stated.
Motives behind choices to carry or drop specific networks and programming was squarely in focus amid DirecTV’s dispute with Newsmax. Before DirecTV dropped the channel on Tuesday, a group of Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives last week sent a letter to the CEOs of DirecTV, AT&T and TPG Capital suggesting the company was “ actively working to limit conservative viewpoints on its system” by not reaching a deal with Newsmax and also dropping One America News Network in 2022.
The pay TV provider, for its part, which had carried Newsmax since 2014, emphasized “in no way is DIRECTV working to limit conservative viewpoints,” instead indicating it was a business decision as it had negotiated for months to reach a new agreement, but said Newsmax wanted to change terms of an existing deal to instead require a fee that would’ve passed increased costs along to customers.
DirecTV is already dealing with a declining pay TV business as it faces industry challenges including rising costs for programming alongside continued cord cutting. In an effort to save on operations costs, the company this month slashed roughly 10% of its management workforce. In defending its decision to drop Newsmax, DirecTV, in a response letter to lawmakers, pointed to the network’s low popularity, citing Nielsen data that showed national household audience of just 101,000, or less than 0.1% of total TV households – 92% lower than that of leading conservative cable news channel Fox News.
As for adding The First, DirecTV also said the agreement marks another step in its ongoing strategy to integrate leading streaming content alongside more traditional linear channels. In pointing to its commitment to offer a variety of perspectives, DirecTV noted it launched Fox News’ subscription video service Fox Nation as one of its SVOD offerings last March, offering a 60-day free trial to new and existing customers.
“DIRECTV clearly recognizes the importance of offering a wide array of views and perspectives to their customers across the U.S., and we’re thrilled The First is now among them since we reach conservatives who aren’t beholden to any one party’s talking points,” said Christopher Balfe, CEO at First TV, in a statement. “We give rise to voices who are passionate about American values yet too often ignored, and now have a unique opportunity to broaden our reach without saddling DIRECTV and its customers with any added financial demands.”