NEW YORK - Two of the three major US television networks and CNN did not broadcast a prime-time address on July 16 by President Donald Trump on their primary platforms, drawing a rebuke from a president who has placed unprecedented pressure on American media.

The speech focused on election security, four months before the critical midterm elections.

During his speech, Trump said that networks that did not air his speech were engaged in a “plot” and should have their licences revoked.

“In a rare move, NBC and ABC fake news have both said they would not cover this speech,” he said, adding, “Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licences.”

Networks have broad First Amendment rights to decide what they choose to broadcast, experts say. But historically, broadcasters have carried most such speeches on the grounds that they provide information of public importance.

Late on the afternoon of July 16, a spokesperson for ABC News said the network would run Trump’s speech on its ABC News Live streaming platform and ABC News Radio – not its broadcast channel.

NBC News carried the president’s remarks on its free streaming service, NBC News NOW, but not on its main broadcast channel, according to a person familiar with the matter. The company declined to comment.

In a statement, CNN said it would monitor the speech for news, with a live feed appearing on its website and CNN All Access, its subscription streaming channel.

The ABC and NBC streaming channels generally draw a fraction of the viewers that their traditional broadcast signals reach.

CNN’s digital network is a paid-for service with a smaller audience than its regular cable channel.