In January, DirecTV decided to drop One America News (OAN) after the company stated it would not renew its contract, adding that business needs drove the decision.
However, a report from Reuters reveals that AT&T, DirecTV’s parent company, is attached with OAN for another couple of years until 2024. This information was first disclosed in a lawsuit filed by OAN against the telecom giant.
According to the news agency, AT&T signed an advertising deal with OAN’s owner, Herring Networks, in 2019. As a result, that contract bines the two companies into doing business with one another until at least 2024.
Over the length of this agreement, AT&T will sell ads on behalf of OAN on various platforms. Herring contends a grand conspiracy resulted in the removal of OAN from DirecTV.
It maintains its dismissal from DirecTV was “part and parcel of a larger, coordinated, extremely well-financed political scheme to take down Herring and unlawfully destroy its ability to operate in the media business.”
Herring is seeking $1 billion in damages for the alleged harm. AT&T spoke of Herring’s lawsuit, “These allegations are completely without merit.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
