After the 2020 election, the MAGA cable channelOne America Newswas experiencing an existential crisis as it was discarded by thethe majority of its cable and satellite providersamid the network’s enthusiastic support of Donald Trump’s unfounded claims about election fraud.
With Trump once again in the White House and OAN resolving multiple defamation lawsuits related to its false election fraud allegations, the prospects for the far-right network seem to be improving.
Herring Networks, the parent organization of OAN, revealed on Wednesday that it has entered into a long-term agreement with YouTube TV to include One America News along with its lifestyle channel A Wealth of Entertainment in the streaming service’s standard package.
The agreement would increase OAN’s presence on the Google-owned platform’s9.4 million subscribers. In truth, earlier this year, YouTube TVsurpassedDisney is set to take the top position in Nielsen’s “Distributor Gauge” with an 11.6 percent share of total TV consumption nationwide.
“By adding OAN and AWE, YouTube TV subscribers will have access to 16 hours of live, ongoing news coverage every weekday on OAN, along with AWE’s popular blend of travel, adventure, lifestyle, and family entertainment content,” said Herring Networks, headed by president Charles Herring and founder Robert Herring.statedin its Wednesday press statement.
The debut of OAN and AWE on YouTube TV is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025.
We are thrilled to introduce OAN and AWE to YouTube TV’s expanding group of subscribers. This collaboration simplifies for audiences across the country to access our networks — from detailed news coverage to uplifting entertainment,” said Richard Levine, President of Distribution at OAN and AWE, in a statement. “We are pleased to be included in the YouTube TV channel selection.
The company’s “goal has always been to offer our subscribers a diverse selection of content,” said Justin Connolly, YouTube’s Global Head of Media, who added, “we’re thrilled to introduce One America News to YouTube TV.” Connolly also mentioned that the collaboration provides OAN with “access to our expanding audience, while offering our subscribers even more options in terms of news and entertainment.”
The OAN statement arrives as the streamer hasreached an impasseWith Fox securing a new agreement to distribute the media conglomerate owned by Rupert Murdoch, which may lead to all Fox content—such as Fox News, Fox Sports, and Fox Business—being removed from YouTube TV by Wednesday afternoon.
Fox is demanding payments that are significantly greater than what partners with similar content provide,” Google stated to subscribers in a message this week. “Our goal is to achieve an agreement that recognizes the value of their content and is equitable for both parties without increasing costs for subscribers.
Fox has responded by stating that it is “offering a fair and complete agreement to maintain our connection with YouTube TV,” while claiming that Google is “trying to leverage its market influence to push Fox into accepting unfair and one-sided conditions.”
In the meantime, Brendan Carr, chosen by Trump as the head of the Federal Communications Commissionhas inserted himselfinto the carriage battle, urging Google to “get a deal done” even though his agency lacks the power to get involved in the conflict. “We’re working hard to negotiate a deal that is fair to Fox, our loyal subscribers, and all our partners. Keep an eye on this,” YouTube replied to Carr’s social media comment regarding the issue.
Before this new agreement with YouTube, OANhad been suspendedIn 2020, the video platform suspended the pro-Trump network due to repeated breaches of its COVID-19 misinformation guidelines, leading to the removal of ad revenue from its content. However, in December of last year, YouTube notified the network that it had been reinstated into the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), allowing its videos to generate income through advertisements once more.
“I’m excited about YouTube’s decision to allow OAN back into the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube is still the leading video platform and being able to earn money from our content is important for the network,” Charles Herringreacted at the time.
In early 2022, as OAN dealt with multi-million-dollar defamation lawsuits from voting software companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, the networklost its largest distributorWhen the satellite provider DirecTV announced it was removing the channel from its offerings, at that point, DirecTV served as the main source of income for the network.
Despite its owner beggingViewers of OAN are encouraged to contact other cable companies and ask them to carry the network, One America News.lost its final major pay-TV servicein the middle of 2022, when Verizon stated it would be discontinuing the network due to failure in reaching a new contract.
Nevertheless, in the past few months, it seems that OAN has gained a fresh opportunity under the Trump administration.
With the White House aiming to eliminate the state-supported media outlet Voice of America, Trump senior advisor Kari Lakeannounced this springthat she had struck an agreement with OAN to supply a news feed for VOA’s broadcasts.
The network also brought onformer Republican congressman and self-proclaimed MAGA “firebrand”Matt Gaetzas a primetime host in January after Gaetz’s unsuccessful attempt to become Trump’s attorney general. The high-profile appointment has helped the network draw inincreased visibilityalong with the administration as well asgreater attention from mainstream media outlets.
Furthermore, OAN has managed to resolve most of its severe defamation lawsuits related to the network’s claims about the 2020 election, reaching settlements.lawsuits with Smartmatic, a former leader from Dominion, and several Georgia election workers.
The case of Dominion against One America News is still in progress. However, with the companyrecently settling with Newsmax– another mid-level pro-Trump network – for $67 million, it appears more and more probable that an agreement will be finalized with the Herring-led channel.
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