The Federal United States Communications Commission (FCC) demands Google responses to the concern that its YouTube TV transmission service could be discriminating against religious channels in its programming decisions.
The accusations derive from the YouTube TV refusal to allow the religious television network Great American Familyowned by Great American Media, transmits on its platform. The channel, which seeks to promote Christian values for the whole family in their programs, is available in cable and satellite television suppliers, as well as in many other services of streaming.
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“These worrying accusations come at a time when the American public discourse has experienced an increase in unprecedented and unacceptable censorship,” said FCC president Brendan Carr, who was appointed by President Donald Trump to direct the agency, In an X post.
“I am asking for answers to Google,” he added.
Carr’s letter from March 7 to Google and its parent company, Alphabet, states that YouTube TV “does not seem to have a public policy against this type of programs.” However, he wrote: “I want to determine if your company incurs this form of discrimination in practice.”
“Concerns have been raised claiming that your company has a policy (secret or not) that discriminates the religious program,” adds the letter. “For example, Great American Media wrote to me a letter in which he affirms that YouTube TV deliberately marginally the religious content and suitable for the whole family.”
Carr wrote that the Great American Family chain “is the second fastest growing channel on cable television”, but “YouTube TV refuses to transmit them.” He also expressed concern about technological companies that “silence people for simply expressing themselves online and in digital space.”
“Understanding the nature of transport policies … can help guide the FCC approach to the widest set of regulatory issues that the FCC must address,” says the letter.
Carr asked Google to inform the FCC about the role of the multichannel video programming distribution in the media market and inform the agency on the TV TV transmission negotiation process and the potential role of discrimination based on views.
Great American Media has been trying to make its Great American Family chain available on YouTube TV chain. In November 2024, Bill Abbott, President and Executive Director of Great American Family, declared the Washington Examiner that had tried by all possible means to reach an agreement with YouTube TV.
“Well, we have offered YouTube TV all possible ways to access the platform, even free, and that has not been accepted so far, we’ll see,” said Abbott on that occasion.
“We hope you recognize the value of the audience, strength and quality of content, and the premise of being based on the pillars of the family, faith and homeland, but we do not know how that will come.”
Google did not respond to a request for comments from CNA, an agency in English of Ewtn News.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.
Tyler Arnold
Tyler Arnold is a reporter of the National Catholic Register. He previously worked at The Center Square and has published in various media, including The Associated Press, National Review, The American Conservative and The Federalist.