AT&T is allegedly One America News Network’s biggest backer
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. Based on court documents and other sources, Reuters recounts the telecom giant’s executives telling OAN creator Robert Herring Sr. that they wanted a conservative outlet that could sit alongside Fox News and balance out more liberal channels.
“They told us they wanted a conservative network,” Herring reportedly said in a 2019 court deposition. “When they said that, I jumped to it and built one.”
Reuters’ story draws on records from the companies’ tumultuous legal history, including an OAN complaint against AT&T and a retaliation lawsuit filed against OAN by a former producer. The report, disputed by AT&T in statements to Reuters, details a close relationship between the two companies that goes well beyond a simple carriage agreement.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/6/22712479/att-one-america-news-network-herring-conservative-news-channel-agreement
