Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statement following the announcement of a multi-year distribution agreement between Newsmax Media, Inc and DIRECTV that will return the Newsmax channel to the satellite television provider:

"This agreement between Newsmax and DIRECTV is a huge win in protecting the right of conservative voices and viewpoints to be heard, and I am proud to have helped facilitate this pivotal business renewal to preserve the strength of public discourse on television. The United States was founded on freedom of speech and healthy public debate, and we must preserve the free flow of information in our country to maintain the dignity of our nation's core values. Efforts to silence conservative viewpoints are antithetical to the very principles our founding fathers wrote in our Constitution. This agreement will set the standard for future business deals to maintain our nation's position as a beacon of freedom. Here in Texas, we will always fight to defend First Amendment rights for Texans and Americans."

Governor Abbott has long-championed freedom of speech for Texans. In 2021, the Governor signed House Bill 20, protecting Texans from wrongful censorship on social media platforms. During the 86th Legislative Session, Governor Abbott also signed Senate Bill 18 to protect free speech on Texas' college campuses.