AT&T allegedly played a pivotal role in the creation of One America News Network (OAN), a right-wing outlet frequently criticized for spreading false news stories, according to a Reuters report. “They told us they wanted a conservative network,” Herring reportedly said in a 2019 court deposition. Although OAN is carried by multiple cable services, a company accountant testified last year that AT&T provided 90 percent of Herring Networks’ income. (AT&T told Reuters and the court that it never made such an offer, and it spun off DirecTV earlier this year, although it retains a majority stake.) OAN later sued the telecom for breaking its alleged deal, and following a settlement, AT&T added OAN to its DirecTV lineup.

Source: The Nation October 06, 2021 15:33 UTC