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READ THIS NEXT: If You Use These Cable or Streaming Services, Prepare for Higher Prices on Your Next Bill .

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Newsmax is a television channel owned by Newsmax Media, Inc., a media company founded by Christopher Ruddy in 1998. While the company advertises the channel as an “independent news network with a conservative perspective ,” it has faced criticism for views that many consider to be extreme. In particular, Newsmax has been embroiled with controversy over false claims about the 2020 election.

Smartmatic Corp., an election security firm, sued the network in 2021 for “ amplifying false claims that Smartmatic voting machines rigged the election against then-President Donald Trump , who persists in falsely claiming his defeat was the result of fraud,” per Reuters. Dominion, another voting machine company, did the same, and in June 2022, a judge denied Newsmax’s motion to dismiss the suit , according to ABC News.

But the network has continued to defend its coverage. “Newsmax reported on both sides in the election dispute without making any claim about the results other than saying they were ‘legal and final,’” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement to ABC. “We are confident that Newsmax will ultimately prevail given the strong First Amendment protections provided to ensure free speech and a free press.”

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Amid the controversy, several cable companies have cut ties with Newsmax TV.

As Forbes noted at the time, Newsmax losing other major cable companies or TV providers could be “problematic.” And now, that seems to be happening.

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“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,” a DirecTV spokesperson told the magazine in a statement.

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Despite making it clear this is not a moral or political move, DirecTV is facing backlash for its decision—especially from the network itself.

“This is a blatant act of political discrimination and censorship against Newsmax. The most extreme liberal channels, even with tiny ratings, get fees from AT&T’s DirecTV, but Newsmax and OAN need to be de-platformed,” Ruddy said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter . (OAN, also known as One America News Network, is another conservative channel that was dropped by DirecTV in April 2022).

Several Republican lawmakers wrote a Jan. 20 letter to the CEO of DirecTV, along with the CEOs of AT&T and private equity firm TPG Capital, to express concern about the potential removal of Newsmax given the provider’s decision to remove OAN last year.

“It is our understanding that DirecTV—still majority-owned by AT&T and minority-owned and managed by TPG Capital—is moving to de-platform Newsmax by denying it cable fees on a fair and equitable basis,” the letter reads.

The lawmakers also claim that DirecTV still has 11 “liberal news and informations channels” on its lineup, including Vice Media, which “appears to receive higher fees” than what Newsmax is requesting. “Taken together, these two actions lead us to believe that DirecTV, one of the nation’s largest multichannel video programming distributors, is actively working to limit conservative viewpoints on its system,” the letter concludes.

If You Use These Cable or Streaming Services, Prepare for Higher Prices on Your Next Bill

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READ THIS NEXT: If You Have This Popular TV Provider, Prepare to Lose Access to Football .

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Cable subscription services aren’t cheap, but as Americans watch about three hours of TV every day, they’re often considered a necessity. On average, cable TV plans will run you approximately $87 each month , according to CableTV.com, with costs ranging from $20 to $250 each month.

Now, those averages may be going up, as certain providers have announced price hikes.

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Cable modem rentals are also going up by $1.50, while a remote and TV box is up from $8.50 to $10, according to PennLive and TechHive.

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In a statement to PennLive, Comcast confirmed that broadcast television and sports were “the biggest drivers of increases on customers’ bills,” as networks and other programmers raise their prices.

“We’re continuing to work hard to manage these costs for our customers while investing in our broadband network to provide the best, most reliable Internet service in the country and give our customers more low-cost choices in video and connectivity so they can find a package that fits their lifestyle and budget,” the statement reads. “Our national average increase of 3.8% is about half of the most recent rate of inflation.”

If you haven’t noticed a spike in your monthly bill or automatic payment, be warned that it’s coming soon. According to PennLive, new rates are effective as of Dec. 20.

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The introduction of Disney+ in late 2019 was a game changer, giving viewers access to movies and content that was previously kept under lock and key in the “Disney Vault.” But as of today, Dec. 8, the streaming service is upping its fees , CNET reported. Customers paying $7.99 per month for basic Disney+, which offers ad-free shows and movies, will now have to shell out $11 to avoid ads.

Hulu, which is owned by Disney, will see a $2 bump for ad-free service (now $15), while service with ads is up by $1 (now $8). If you’re not willing to pay more, Disney is offering additional options.

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If you don’t mind a commercial break while streaming, you can stay at the $8 mark you’ve been paying for Disney+, according to CNET. Want both Disney+ and Hulu? Opt for a new bundle option that gets you both services with ads for $10. Add ESPN+ (also owned by Disney), and get all three with ads for $13.

Those who already have the premium trio bundle (no ads for Hulu and Disney+, but ads for ESPN+), your subscription remains at $20 per month. However, a new “Legacy Disney Bundle” is available for $15, with ads for ESPN+ (Disney doesn’t offer an option to avoid them) and Hulu, but not Disney+.