Newly appointed Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr has announced an investigation into allegations that YouTube TV, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, is discriminating against conservative and faith-based programming.
Carr’s decision follows a formal complaint from Doug Deason, chairman of Great American Media, a Texas-based media company that owns the rapidly growing Great American Family channel. Despite the network’s success—ranking as the second fastest-growing cable channel—YouTube TV has refused to carry it, according to Deason.
“These concerning allegations come at a time when American public discourse has experienced an unprecedented—and unacceptable—surge in censorship,” Carr wrote on social media last Friday.
Accusations of Content Bias
In his letter to Carr, Deason claimed that YouTube TV’s current channel lineup is overwhelmingly biased toward liberal content, while faith-based and conservative perspectives are underrepresented.
“YouTube TV prominently features an overwhelming number of channels showcasing content with sex, violence, and profanity, while faith-based programming is almost nonexistent,” Deason wrote.
He further pointed out that 12 of YouTube TV’s 17 news channels lean liberal, while only four offer conservative viewpoints. Notably, the service does not include One America News (OAN) or Salem News, two prominent conservative outlets.
Thomas Graham, a spokesperson for Great American Media, described the company's repeated attempts over two years to get YouTube TV to carry its channel.
“When I first learned that YouTube TV wasn’t carrying our channel, I thought, ‘Oh, we can fix this.’ It’s a no-brainer; we’re a top 20 cable channel, and YouTube TV carries over 100 channels,” Graham said.
However, after numerous discussions with Google representatives, Graham claimed the excuses kept changing.
“YouTube TV’s team first said they lacked the bandwidth or resources to add a channel,” he explained. “But then, just before the 2024 election, they added one conservative channel—NewsMax. So we reached out again and again, but the answer was always no.”
Growing Political Pressure on Big Tech
Carr’s investigation into YouTube TV comes amid increasing scrutiny of Big Tech companies over allegations of political bias and censorship.
The House Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-4), recently subpoenaed Alphabet for documents related to alleged collusion with the Biden administration to suppress certain viewpoints.
“The Committee’s oversight has revealed that YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet, was a direct participant in the federal government’s censorship regime,” a Judiciary Committee press release stated.
Google has also been accused of working with China, Russia, and other foreign governments to control online content, further fueling concerns about the company's influence over public discourse.
Antitrust and Media Bias Concerns
Beyond YouTube TV, Google has faced legal challenges over its business practices. A multi-state lawsuit, including Texas, led a U.S. district court judge to rule that Google violated federal antitrust laws and created an illegal monopoly.
Meanwhile, Carr has been actively investigating other media entities. Since stepping into his FCC role, he has launched probes into NPR, PBS, and major TV networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC over potential violations of federal regulations and alleged political bias in their programming.
Conservatives Call for Accountability
Carr’s investigation has gained support from conservative leaders, including Donald Trump Jr., who reposted the letter and asked, “Is anyone surprised that Google is discriminating against Christian faith-based programming?”
Great American Media CEO Bill Abbott, who previously led the Hallmark Channel’s parent company, welcomed the FCC’s action.
“After years of petitioning YouTube TV for consideration, it is encouraging to see action being taken to address these concerns,” Abbott stated. “We appreciate the FCC’s efforts to hold platforms accountable for potential viewpoint discrimination.”
The Road Ahead
With the FCC now involved, YouTube TV may face increased pressure to provide answers regarding its content policies. Whether this will lead to policy changes, regulatory action, or legal consequences remains to be seen.
