Major US TV networks boycott White House pool coverage over media bans

WASHINGTON, September 21. /TASS/. Major US television companies will not broadcast live events featuring US President Donald Trump in protest against the deprivation of access to the White House for three outlets, Politico quoted a letter from Bryan Boughton, head of the Washington branch of the Fox News channel as saying.

"This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President," Boughton wrote in the email obtained by Politico.

The letter said that the television companies took this step after Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. The paper says the main television companies in the White House press pool include Fox News, CBS, ABC, and NBC.

Contrary to standard practice, the White House Monday schedule distributed on the evening of September 20 lacks a point about which television company will be responsible for broadcasting events involving the president. Politico said that the refusal may create difficulties with the flow of photographs and videos related to Trump’s activities at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

On September 18, Trump denied access to the White House to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico for spreading false information about his administration. He said that the list of banned media could be expanded, but he allowed for the possibility of reversing his decision. Correspondents and technical staff of the media outlets lost access to the White House on September 19.

The main general political debates of the 81st session of the General Assembly will begin on September 22.