Trump coverage boycott puts US TV networks under probe

The Justice Department is examining whether five television networks broke antitrust law after briefly halting White House pool coverage when reporters from CNN, Politico and MS Now were barred. The inquiry focuses on whether that coordinated pause amounted to a prohibited group boycott under the Sherman Act.

In Short

• The inquiry began after broadcasters briefly stopped sharing White House pool footage
• Reporters from CNN, Politico and MS Now had their credentials withdrawn
• The five broadcasters later resumed coverage under the long-running pool arrangement

The US Justice Department is investigating whether five major television networks violated federal antitrust laws by briefly boycotting White House coverage after the Trump administration revoked press credentials for reporters from three news organisations, including CNN.

The networks under investigation are ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News, the Justice Department said on Saturday.

"Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act," a Justice Department spokesperson said.

"The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws."

The investigation marks another escalation in the Trump administration's prolonged clashes with major news organisations. President Donald Trump has repeatedly branded mainstream media outlets "fake news" and frequently sparred with journalists during interactions with the press.

The probe could also increase legal and financial pressure on broadcasters over their collective response to the White House's treatment of journalists. However, the investigation does not establish that any network violated the law.

WHITE HOUSE REVOKED PRESS CREDENTIALS IN SEPTEMBER

The dispute began on September 19, when the White House revoked the credentials of reporters from CNN, Politico and MS NOW, barring them from entering the building. The administration defended the restrictions, saying covering the president was a "privilege – not a right".

The three news organisations sued the administration, arguing that the exclusions violated their First Amendment rights and amounted to retaliation over their reporting.

The five television networks that form the primary White House television pool — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC — subsequently suspended coverage in solidarity and declined to provide replacement coverage.

The pool operates on a shared basis, with participating broadcasters splitting coverage costs, taking turns organising coverage of the president and distributing footage to other news outlets across the country.

COURT ORDERED RESTORATION OF ACCESS

The White House restored the reporters' credentials on September 24 after US District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the ban was likely unconstitutional. He ordered the administration to "immediately return, reinstate, and restore" their access.

The restoration, however, did not end disputes between the White House and news organisations. Arguments over access to specific presidential events and assignments within the press pool continued.

The latest Justice Department investigation centres on whether the networks' coordinated suspension of coverage breached the Sherman Act, a federal law that prohibits certain agreements among competitors that restrain trade. Whether their actions violated the law remains to be determined.

- Ends
With inputs from Reuters