Posted on 02/28/2018 1:40:27 AM PST by MilesVeritatis
"We do not curate or censor based on viewpoint."
Streaming company Roku on Tuesday issued a statement that it will not be dropping NRA TV from its lineup of programming options.
Pressure for companies to cut ties with the National Rifle Association have increased over the past week following the fatal school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead. The hashtag #DumpNRATV began trending, calling for such streamers as Apple, Google, Amazon and Roku to pull NRA TV content from their services.
"While the vast majority of all streaming on our platform is mainstream entertainment, voices on all sides of an issue or cause are free to operate a channel," Roku said in its statement. "We do not curate or censor based on viewpoint." The company noted that it does "not and have not ever had a commercial relationship with the NRA."
NRA TV is a free channel that Roku users can seek out. The channel has no ads and showcases content focused on firearms. Roku said that it welcomes "other important groups to use our platform to share their messages too," such as Moms Demand Action, a group formed shortly after the Parkland shooting demanding streamers cut ties with NRA TV.
A change.org petition was started demanding Amazon remove NRA TV from its services, with over 200,000 signatures.
Roku is the first and only company to respond to calls for dropping NRA TV at this time.
Read the full statement below.
We share deep sadness about the recent tragedy that occurred in Florida.
Our streaming platform allows our customers to choose from thousands of entertainment, news and special interest channels, representing a wide range of topics and viewpoints. Customers choose and control which channels they download or watch, and parents can set a pin to prevent channels from being downloaded. While the vast majority of all streaming on our platform is mainstream entertainment, voices on all sides of an issue or cause are free to operate a channel. We do not curate or censor based on viewpoint. We are not promoting or being paid to distribute NRA TV. We do not and have not ever had a commercial relationship with the NRA. Their channel is free to consumers with no ads. We welcome Moms Demand Action and other important groups to use our platform to share their messages too.
While open to many voices, we have policies that prohibit the publication of content that is unlawful, incites illegal activities or violates third-party rights, among other things. If we determine a channel violates these policies, it will be removed. To our knowledge, NRA TV is not currently in violation of these content policies.
Glad they’re standing up to the fascists. I respect any company that doesn’t want to get involved with anything political, even if it’s something I support like the NRA. That’s not even what’s happening here - they’re not partnering with the NRA for discounts. They’re just offering an open platform for content, and the communists want to shut that down because they can’t win the debate over ideas.
Roku users can learn what NRA actually is? Hear truths about it and guns?Wow, thats bad for proggies.
Lack of control over media outlets is really killing them.
Metaphorically speaking of course.
Liberals cannot win an open and honest debate.
Their push to censor NRATV is scarcely surprising.
Good for Roku.
Too bad the vast majority is ignoring the extreme negligence that lead to the massacre.
I read this morning that FEDEX is resisting, too. Yay!!! I will put my money where my mouth is regarding people and companies who do resist the communists and libtards.
The little sniveling punk and girly boy Hogg must be going apocalyptic that Roku and FedEx haven’t acquiesced to his demands of dropping the NRA. CNN writers must be scrambling to put together Girly boys statement of outrage and getting the camera crew hopped up on caffeine for the ten takes it will require to get Girly boy to get it down on tape fit for broadcast.
#ResistDavidHogg
#ResistSocialism
Remove a positive view of firearms from the tv and leave Hollywood’s gun antics. Yeah, that would work out great....
+1 Roku, never heard of it but going to check it out.
You have to actively add the vast majority of Roku channels to your menu and they are seemingly oblivious to political or religious positions under the thought that it is the user who chooses to add/delete any channel, much as any viewer can choose what programs to watch.
If someone wants a pro-abort channel or a pro-Muslim channel, Roku will carry this to and you - the consumer - have every right not to make it part of your viewing options nor to watch their content.
This is 100% freedom of speech, minus a few who violate a very high standard of advocating terrorism or insurrection where the carrier might be held liable.
“Too bad the vast majority is ignoring the extreme negligence that lead to the massacre.”
Not true.
Survey: Americans Blame School Shooting on Government, Not Guns
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3635968/posts
Another firm not dropping NRA: HotelPlanner.com. The CEO was just on Varney, and he’s standing firm continuing relationship with the NRA. Tim Hentschell is CEO.
I wouldn’t cheer too loudly about Fedex sticking with the NRA.
They still put out an official statement that it’s their belief that, “assault style weapons” should not be in the hands of civilians.
Thanks, Roku!
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