US Justice Department Launches Antitrust Probe into TV Networks over White House Coverage Boycott

Washington: The US Justice Department said on Saturday it is investigating whether major television networks violated federal antitrust laws by boycotting coverage of the White House. The networks suspended coverage after the White House revoked the credentials of reporters from three news organisations, including CNN.

The networks under investigation are ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News. A Justice Department spokesperson said that group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act, and that the Antitrust Division is investigating to determine whether these news organisations have broken the antitrust laws.

The probe follows weeks of tension between the White House and the press. On September 19, the White House barred reporters from CNN, Politico and MS NOW from entering the building and revoked their credentials, saying that covering the president is “a privilege, not a right.” The three outlets have sued the administration. They allege that the exclusions violate the First Amendment and amount to retaliation for their coverage.

CNN is one of the five networks, along with ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC, that make up the primary White House television pool. Pool members share the cost of covering the president, take turns organising coverage and distribute the footage to outlets across the country. After the credentials were revoked, all five networks, including Fox News, suspended coverage in solidarity and declined to provide replacement coverage.

The investigation is the latest in a series of clashes between the Trump administration and major news organisations. President Donald Trump has repeatedly described the mainstream media as “fake news” and often clashes with reporters. The probe also puts legal and potentially financial pressure on the networks to keep covering the president even when they object to how the White House treats the press.

The networks did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The investigation was first reported by The New York Times.