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AT&T Spent Over $57 Million To Finance Fascistic OAN Cable Network

AT&T Spent Over $57 Million To Finance Fascistic OAN Cable Network

Reprinted with permission from Media Matters

Reuters published the first part of a special report today, revealing AT&T's central role in the creation and continued survival of One America News Network.

According to court records reviewed by Reuters, OAN founder Robert Herring Sr. testified that AT&T "told us they wanted a conservative network. … When they said that, I jumped to it and built one." Records also indicate that according to an OAN accountant, "ninety percent of OAN's revenue came from a contract with AT&T-owned television platforms." According to an AT&T filing that cites Herring's numbers, AT&T has paid OAN "about $57 million" in fees, though an AT&T spokesperson claimed this number is inaccurate.

OAN and all of its lies would not exist, and could not survive, without AT&T's blessing.

Whatever the figure AT&T has paid to help keep OAN alive, the network has been using the airwaves to push toxic -- and often dangerous -- misinformation.

That includes a deadly TV campaign against COVID-19 vaccines, hateful anti-LGBTQ content, and a network-wide assault on elections meant to hype bogus claims of fraud and overturn the 2020 results. The election attacks include a reporter's nonprofit seeking to fund fraudulent election "audits" around the country, a demented obsession with the MyPillow CEO and his money, and a correspondent's call for mass executions of election officials. And that's to say nothing of the host who used a racial slur on air or another host's apparent wish to shoot unhoused people.

We now know that AT&T didn't just choose this; it asked for this. Herring delivered, and we are all worse off for it.

Outside of AT&T, OAN is actively trying to expand its reach by encouraging its audience to pressure both Comcast and Charter Spectrum to carry the network. Its website features a prominent call for readers to call both providers and tell them that "you want OAN added to your channel lineup."

From the first of two parts of the Reuters special report:

OAN founder and chief executive Robert Herring Sr has testified that the inspiration to launch OAN in 2013 came from AT&T executives.
"They told us they wanted a conservative network," Herring said during a 2019 deposition seen by Reuters. "They only had one, which was Fox News, and they had seven others on the other [leftwing] side. When they said that, I jumped to it and built one."
Since then, AT&T has been a crucial source of funds flowing into OAN, providing tens of millions of dollars in revenue, court records show. Ninety percent of OAN's revenue came from a contract with AT&T-owned television platforms, including satellite broadcaster DirecTV, according to 2020 sworn testimony by an OAN accountant.
Herring has testified he was offered $250 million for OAN in 2019. Without the DirecTV deal, the accountant said under oath, the network's value "would be zero."
…
In a pivotal moment for the company, the Herrings say in court filings, depositions and sworn statements, unidentified AT&T executives told them there was an audience for another conservative news network. Herring seized the opportunity.
In his 2019 deposition in the labor suit unrelated to AT&T, the elder Herring said he created OAN for two reasons.
"To make money, number one," Robert Herring said. "But number two, is that AT&T told us … they wanted a conservative network."
The lawyer questioning Herring, Rodney Diggs, followed up.
"So," the lawyer said, "AT&T kind of dictated the kind of network that they wanted. Because there was an opportunity, you jumped at it?"
"Yes, sir," Herring replied.
House, Senate Lawmakers Promise Review Of AT&T-DirecTV Deal

House, Senate Lawmakers Promise Review Of AT&T-DirecTV Deal

By Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — “The proposed AT&T and DirecTV merger would be the fourth-largest telecommunications merger in history,” four top House Judiciary Committee members said. “The committee has a strong record of reviewing proposed transactions that could have a significant impact on consumers and the competitive marketplace.”

Committee Chairman Robert W. Goodlatte (R-VA), top Democrat John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, along with antitrust subcommittee chairman Spencer Bachus (R-AK), and that panel’s ranking Democrat, Hank Johnson of Georgia, said they would hold a hearing, though no date was announced.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) also implied that his panel would bring in top company executives for a hearing as well. He said the committee “will be looking closely at this transaction.”

“With this latest proposed merger, I am concerned that the telecommunications marketplace is trending even further toward one that favors big companies over consumers,” Leahy said.

Both committees held hearings recently on Comcast’s proposed purchase of Time Warner Cable.

Congress has no direct role in approving major corporate mergers, which are formally reviewed by regulators.

But hearings on Capitol Hill allow lawmakers to publicly question company executives and raise concerns for regulators to consider. The hearings also can give consumer groups, competitors and other opponents a forum to air their complaints.

The AT&T-DirecTV deal will need approval from the Federal Communications Commission and either the Justice Department or Federal Trade Commission.

The FCC and Justice Department already are reviewing the Comcast-Time Warner Cable deal.

AT&T’s move to acquire DirecTV adds to a busy agenda for FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.

In addition to the two major telecommunications deals, the agency is considering controversial net neutrality rules for Internet traffic and revised regulations covering ownership of multiple media outlets in the same market.

The FCC also is trying to lure broadcasters to give up some of their airwaves to be auctioned off for expanded wireless services next year.

Photo: MrVJTod via Flickr