DirecTV announced Thursday that it has filled the slot of Newsmax with conservative outlet the First.
The contract is “multiyear,” according to the television provider, with the First’s programs featured on a free channel to DirecTV customers. Previously, the First was only available via streaming on Paramount Pluto TV, starting in 2019.
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The First features the likes of Dana Loesch and Bill O’Reilly as primary hosts, as well as podcaster Liz Wheeler and Marine veteran Jesse Kelly. O’Reilly is the only host with renowned television broadcast experience prior to the First. He worked for Fox News for 20 years before he was fired over sexual assault allegations in 2017. Following his ousting, O’Reilly was in talks with Newsmax for a time slot of his own but kept his show No Spin News on his own website before bringing it to the First.
Big news! @TheFirstonTV is coming to @DIRECTV! I’m looking forward to bringing unbiased and unfiltered news to the millions of DIRECTV customers alongside my First TV colleagues @Liz_Wheeler, @DLoesch, and @JesseKellyDC.
— Bill O’Reilly (@BillOReilly) January 26, 2023
“I’m looking forward to bringing unbiased and unfiltered news to the millions of DIRECTV customers alongside my First TV colleagues,” O’Reilly tweeted after the announcement.
“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,” DirecTV’s Chief Content Officer Rob Thun said in a statement. Thun also expressed his anticipation to expand the First’s audience reach as the provider has done for other programs.
First TV CEO Christopher Balfe insisted that his audience isn’t “beholden to any one party’s talking points” so his hosts offer “a wide array of views and perspectives.”
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“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,” Balfe said, referring to Newsmax allegedly asking for rate increases from the provider before it was dropped.
Newsmax Media, which operates Newsmax TV, was founded by Christopher Ruddy, a noted ally of former President Donald Trump.
