TRUMP TV GOES LIVE AS MAJOR US NETWORKS HALT COVERAGE

The White House has launched a 24-hour streaming channel known as “Trump TV: The Essentials Station,” giving viewers direct access to videos, presidential remarks, announcements and other content from President Donald Trump’s administration.

The White House announced the launch on Monday, saying the stream would operate continuously, be updated in real time and feature major moments from the administration.

The channel is available through the White House website and its YouTube platform. The White House described it as a place where viewers can watch top videos, major remarks and highlights from the administration.

The first broadcast featured previously recorded footage, including Trump’s July 3 address at Mount Rushmore. The channel is designed to give the administration a direct platform for distributing presidential video without depending entirely on traditional television networks.

The launch came amid an escalating dispute between the Trump administration and several major US media organisations over access to the White House.

Trump recently barred CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House. The three organisations subsequently challenged the decision in court, arguing that the restrictions violated their constitutional rights.

The dispute also affected the traditional White House television pool, a system in which one broadcaster records presidential events and makes the footage available to other participating networks.

Five major television networks, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC suspended the shared pool coverage after CNN was prevented from carrying out its scheduled pool duties.

The networks said the public had an interest in receiving accurate and independent information about the government and objected to restrictions on news organisations based on their reporting.

The suspension meant that some of Trump’s activities on Monday, including events at the White House and his trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, did not receive the usual live television pool coverage.

The White House instead had its own video operation available to distribute footage of the President’s activities, including a ceremony marking the opening of a new helipad at the White House.

The administration has defended its restrictions on the affected media organisations, while Trump has criticised coverage he considers unfair and has referred to some reports as “fake news.”

The three affected organisations have maintained that the restrictions improperly limit press access and have taken the dispute to federal court.

The launch of Trump TV therefore gives the White House a dedicated channel through which it can distribute footage and announcements directly to the public as the dispute with major US news organisations continues.