DirecTV is replacing Newsmax with the right-wing cable news network

January 28, 2023

The vacant cable slot is occupied by First, whose on-air personalities include Bill O’Reilly and Dana Loesch.

Don’t look so down, conservative DirecTV subscribers: The satellite TV provider has already replaced Newsmax with another right-wing cable channel.

First, a conservative-leaning opinion and commentary network that boasts former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly and former NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, will “soon” take over Newsmax’s vacated channel 349 on DirecTV- n and Channel 1220 on AT&T’s U-verse. he said on January 27.

Subscribers won’t have to pay any additional fees, and a person with knowledge of the deal told IndieWire that the parties reached “essentially” the same deal as Newsmax. It will be available for free to DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse customers under a multi-year contract.

This is the first time The First will be available outside of streaming. It originally launched in 2019 on Paramount’s Pluto TV, where it remains as FAST (free ad-supported streaming television). The insider said the satellite provider supports The First remaining as a FAST channel, as it does with Newsmax.

“DirecTV values different perspectives and perspectives and will always work to maintain a wide variety of entertainment and information services to meet the unique tastes and interests of our diverse customer base,” said DirecTV Chief Content Officer Rob Thun. resolution. “As we’ve done successfully with other emerging channels, we look forward to helping The First continue to expand its audience reach while continuing to ensure our customers receive strong value.”

“DirecTV clearly recognizes the importance of offering a wide range of views and perspectives to its customers across the U.S., and we’re thrilled to have The First as one of them as we reach conservatives who don’t stick to either party’s talking points.” added Christopher Balfe, CEO of First TV. “We have voices that are passionate about American values but are too often ignored, and we now have a unique opportunity to expand our reach without placing additional financial burdens on DirecTV and its customers.”

While DirecTV maintained that Newsmax’s dumping was about carrier fees, Newsmax accused DirecTV of “political discrimination and censorship” and decided to push out conservative voices like theirs and the pro-Trump network OAN (which DirecTV dropped from its lineup last April). DirecTV also offers Fox News and Fox Nation SVOD, the latter of which is available to DirecTV customers through a free 60-day trial.

The First’s daily programming includes the afternoon “The Dana Show” with Loesch and the prime-time series “The Liz Wheeler Show,” “No Spin News with Bill O’Reilly” and “I’m right with Jesse Kelly.” hosted by the former Marine and combat veteran.

In IndieWire’s December ranking of 126 cable channels in 2022, Newsmax TV ranks No. 56 in primetime (8:00-11:00 p.m.) according to Nielsen Live + Same Day ratings. That put Newsmax below BBC America and Disney Junior, as well as NFL Network and the Science Channel, while Fox News, MSNBC and CNN were all top 10 channels. Nexstar’s NewsNation, a more centrist cable news channel, was 85th.

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