The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr has expressed concerns regarding YouTube TV’s alleged discriminatory practices against faith-based programming. In a formal letter dated March 7, 2025, addressed to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, Carr requested clarity on YouTube TV’s carriage policies toward faith-based channels, specifically highlighting concerns raised by Great American Media.
Great American Media claims that YouTube TV deliberately marginalizes faith-based and family-friendly content by refusing to carry their Great American Family network, despite the network’s substantial growth and carriage by other major platforms such as Comcast, Cox, Hulu, FuboTV, and DirecTV stream.
Chairman Carr emphasized that these allegations come amid rising public discourse over censorship and viewpoint-based discrimination in digital media. He cited Section 616 of the Communications Act, reminding Google and YouTube of the FCC’s authority to address discriminatory practices in carriage agreement negotiations.
In response, the FCC seeks further information regarding YouTube TV’s negotiation processes and the possible role of viewpoint-based discrimination. Carr requested YouTube TV brief the FCC staff promptly to assess the platform’s compliance with regulatory standards and ensure fair treatment for all programmers.
This inquiry underscores the broader debate over digital platforms’ responsibilities to uphold equitable programming practices, particularly concerning faith-based and family-friendly networks.
