Justice Department Launches Antitrust Probe Into Five TV Networks Over Press Pool Suspension

The Justice Department has launched a formal antitrust investigation into five major U.S. television networks — CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News — over their decision to stand together in the White House television press pool after the Trump administration barred CNN from pool coverage.

The probe centers on the networks’ agreement not to substitute for CNN on the days the administration blocked the network from fulfilling its assigned shifts in the television pool, the shared rotation in which networks cover presidential appearances and distribute footage to other outlets. A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed the investigation on Saturday, saying members of the television press pool had “proudly boycotted” covering White House events and that group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act, the core federal antitrust law. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the department contacted the networks Friday and requested their communications about the decision to suspend the pool.

The dispute began in mid-September, when President Donald Trump had aides bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House grounds after calling their coverage “purposefully negative.” The administration also stripped White House press passes from more than 70 journalists. The three outlets sued in federal court; a judge issued a temporary stay requiring their passes be restored and said he would make a more enduring ruling by Tuesday evening.

A missing event, and a court deadline

As a consequence of the CNN pool ban, the networks did not cover an event Trump held with Chinese President Xi Jinping, because no other network agreed to fill CNN’s slot. NPR reports that the networks have been making the backfill decision day to day and have softened their stance at times, but the administration is treating the coordinated refusals as potential illegal collusion.

Press rights advocates denounced the probe. Bruce Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said that “summoning antitrust authority, on top of the retaliatory actions the White House has already taken to bar certain outlets, is another and even more brazen attempt to try to intimidate journalists.” All five networks declined to comment over the weekend, according to NPR.

Reporting based on coverage by NPR and The Hollywood Reporter via mxdwn Television.