Newsmax CEO calls for boycott of DirecTV and AT&T after cable news channel dropped from programming

(Fargo, ND) -- UPDATE: A representative from DirecTV has responded to a request for comment from WDAY News First, regarding the company's decision to drop Newsmax from its lineup.

"On multiple occasions, we made it clear to Newsmax that we wanted to continue to offer the network, but ultimately Newsmax’s demands for rate increases would have led to significantly higher costs that we would have to pass on to our broad customer base. Despite our continued requests, Newsmax refused to renew the agreement under terms that they've benefited from for many years. As a result, under copyright law, we no longer had the right from Newsmax to offer the network. We remain open to returning their the channel to our platforms under the right terms. In the meantime, 100% of U.S. households including our customers can stream the network for free online or via popular platforms."

INITIAL REPORT:

The CEO of Newsmax is asking conservatives and others to boycott DirecTV and its parent company AT&T. The request comes after DirecTV dropped Newsmax last week. 

"If we don't send them the message they're never going to change. So it's a very, very important thing that people stand up because they've been silencing conservative voices and frankly we haven't stood up strong enough," said Chris Ruddy. 

Ruddy says last week DirecTV stopped broadcasting Newsmax to 13 million homes, even though the news channel was the 4th highest rated cable news channel in the U.S. according to Nielsen ratings. Ruddy says "liberal voices always seem to have a place" during a time in which "conservative voices can be shutdown, de-platformed and silenced". 

Ruddy made the comments while appearing on "What's on Your Mind" on AM 1100 The Flag.  

An official with DirecTV has not yet responded to a request for comment from WDAY News First.