Newsmax Sues Fox News Over Market Competition

The right-wing cable network Newsmax has taken legal action against Fox News, asserting that the latter has unlawfully manipulated the market for conservative audiences.

In a lawsuit filed in Florida on Wednesday, lawyers representing Newsmax contend that Fox has long engaged in exclusive practices to solidify its dominance in the U.S. conservative pay-TV news sector. They argue this has stifled competition, adversely affecting consumers and harming Newsmax’s interests.

The lawsuit claims, “Fox will leverage the power of this market to ensure that it does not carry distributors or alienate other right-wing news channels, including Newsmax.”

In response, a spokesperson for Fox News dismissed the lawsuit, suggesting that Newsmax is struggling in a competitive landscape simply because it has failed to attract viewers.

Fox has consistently ranked as a leading cable news channel, known for its roster of conservative hosts and experts who broadly support pro-Trump viewpoints.

Former President Trump has enlisted many past Fox News personalities for roles in his administration during his second term, often using the network to promote his agenda and critique opponents.

Following the 2020 election, Trump briefly endorsed Newsmax, which is a smaller right-wing channel, while making baseless claims about widespread voter fraud.

Recently, Fox Corp. secured a long-term deal with YouTube TV to include its various channels like Fox News and Fox Sports, among others.

Additionally, Fox recently launched a consumer streaming service called Fox One, in response to the trend of viewers increasingly cutting the cord on cable subscriptions.

Newsmax’s lawsuit further alleges that Fox has “deliberately blocked Newsmax’s growth in key distribution platforms such as Hulu, Sling, Fubo, and other major services.”

Newsmax CEO Christopher Rudy remarked, “Fox may have benefited from exclusive contracts and threatening tactics for years, but that era is over.”