Introduction to the Controversy

Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman appointed by Donald Trump, is questioning the lack of airtime given to faith-based programming. He has sent a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan to inquire about YouTube TV’s policies regarding faith-based content.

The Complaint and Inquiry

The letter was prompted by a complaint from Great American Media, which claims that YouTube TV refuses to carry its cable networks. Carr is puzzled by this decision, given that Great American Media’s Great American Family channel is the second-fastest growing channel in cable television and has already been picked up by other platforms such as Comcast, Cox, Hulu, FuboTV, and DirecTV. He is seeking clarification on YouTube TV’s stance on carrying channels like Great American Family, which features programming like "Farm Kings" and "Celebrity Motorhomes".

Business Decision or Discrimination?

A reasonable operator might assume that YouTube TV’s decision is based on a simple cost-benefit analysis, considering that Great American Family is a niche operation that primarily produces made-for-TV films with a born-again Hallmark-esque theme. However, Carr suspects that there may be something more sinister at play, fearing that YouTube TV might be marginalizing faith-based and family-friendly content, thereby harming public discourse. He believes that tech companies like YouTube TV may be silencing individuals for expressing themselves, citing instances where individuals have been silenced for doing nothing more than expressing themselves in the digital town square.

Potential Favor-Trading

Another observer might view the FCC’s pursuit of this matter as a form of favor-trading. Great American Media is co-owned by Bill Abbott, a Trump supporter who spoke at CPAC this year and has been using Trump’s victory to promote his own programming. Abbott has claimed that the 2024 presidential election results demonstrate a demand for content that uplifts "faith, family, and country". Moreover, the son of Great American Media’s other owner, Tom Hicks, served as the National Finance Co-Chairman for Trump’s 2016 campaign and was the Texas chair for Trump’s America First Super PAC.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it seems ironic that God would need access to an over-the-top streaming platform when he has the ability to communicate with humans directly. If anything, it appears that God has the advantage when it comes to reach, rendering the need for YouTube TV’s platform unnecessary. Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding YouTube TV’s decision to not carry Great American Family channel raises important questions about the role of tech companies in promoting public discourse and the potential for favor-trading in the media industry.