YouTube TV, one of the leading live-streaming television services, is facing questions from Brendan Carr, the incoming head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), regarding its selection of faith-based programming.
The inquiry follows a complaint by Great American Media, which alleges that YouTube TV has refused to carry its cable networks.
Why Is YouTube TV Under Scrutiny?
Carr’s concerns were outlined in a March 7 letter sent to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. He questioned whether faith-based networks are being intentionally excluded from YouTube TV’s offerings. While YouTube TV currently includes UP Faith & Family as an optional add-on, it has not added Great American Family, a network available on several other streaming platforms and traditional cable services.
“YouTube TV does not appear to have a public-facing policy against faith-based programming, but I want to determine whether your company engages in this form of discrimination in practice,” Carr stated in his letter. He also linked this issue to broader concerns about digital censorship, arguing that tech platforms have increasingly limited certain viewpoints in recent years.
YouTube TV’s Response
A YouTube spokesperson denied any discrimination, stating that the platform makes strategic business decisions based on user demand, operational costs, and financial agreements. The company reiterated that it does not have policies preventing religious content from being included in its service.
The decision to exclude or include specific channels often comes down to licensing agreements, and it’s common for streaming services and cable providers to negotiate terms before carrying a network.
Political & Legal Implications
Great American Media’s complaint comes at a time when Google is already under heavy scrutiny from the U.S. government. The Justice Department is pursuing an antitrust case against the company, seeking to break up parts of its business, including its Chrome web browser.
Additionally, Great American Media’s owners have strong political ties. Bill Abbot, one of the network’s executives, recently spoke at CPAC, and Tom Hicks’ son was the National Finance Co-Chairman for Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. This political connection has led to speculation about whether YouTube TV’s decision was business-related or politically motivated.
What’s Next?
The FCC’s inquiry could lead to further investigations, particularly if Carr finds evidence of systemic exclusion of faith-based networks. While YouTube TV continues to maintain that its decisions are based on business factors, pressure from the FCC and ongoing legal battles with Google could force changes in the company’s approach to channel partnerships.
For now, subscribers will have to wait and see if YouTube TV expands its faith-based offerings or if this issue escalates into a larger debate on content censorship in streaming services.
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