YouTube TV is facing scrutiny from FCC commissioner Brendan Carr regarding its selection of faith-based programming, following complaints from Great American Media about network carriage refusal.

In a March 7 letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, Carr questioned whether faith-based networks are being intentionally excluded from the platform. While YouTube TV offers UP Faith & Family as an add-on, it doesn't carry Great American Family, which is available on other streaming platforms.

YouTube TV maintains that their channel selection process is based on:

• User demand
• Operational costs
• Financial agreements
• Licensing terms

A YouTube spokesperson denied discrimination claims, stating they have no policies against religious content. The platform emphasizes that channel inclusion decisions are purely business-related.

The controversy occurs amid broader scrutiny of Google, including:

• An ongoing Justice Department antitrust case
• Questions about digital censorship
• Political connections between Great American Media's ownership and conservative causes

The FCC investigation could result in:

• Further examination of streaming service content policies
• Potential changes to YouTube TV's channel partnership approach
• Broader discussions about content censorship in streaming platforms

YouTube TV's response to these concerns and any potential changes to their faith-based programming lineup will likely shape the future of religious content on streaming platforms.

Related Articles

Previous Articles