Newsmax, a prominent right-wing media network in the US, has initiated legal action against Fox News, alleging anticompetitive practices aimed at suppressing market rivals. The lawsuit sets the stage for a significant legal showdown within the conservative news landscape.
Filed in a Florida federal court, the complaint accuses Fox News of leveraging its dominant market position to pressure television providers into limiting the distribution of competing right-leaning channels.
In response, a Fox News spokesperson stated, “Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they can’t attract viewers.”
Fox News, owned by Rupert Murdoch, consistently ranks as the leading conservative news outlet in the US, boasting a market value of nearly $26 billion (£19 billion).
Lawyers for Newsmax assert in the antitrust complaint that Fox News “has long engaged in an exclusionary scheme to increase and maintain its dominance in the market for US right-leaning pay TV news.”
The lawsuit alleges that Fox News employs exclusive content deals to block rival right-wing channels and imposes financial penalties on providers that carry other conservative networks, among other exclusionary tactics.
Furthermore, the suit accuses Fox News of employing intimidation tactics, including pressuring guests to avoid appearing on competitor networks and hiring private investigators to target Newsmax executives.
“Fox may have profited from exclusionary contracts and intimidation tactics for years, but those days are over,” stated Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy.
Newsmax is seeking a court declaration that Fox News’ conduct is unlawful, an injunction to prevent Fox News from entering into exclusionary contracts, and monetary damages.
Founded in 1998 and valued at $1.8 billion, Newsmax has gained increasing traction in recent years, bolstered by support from former President Donald Trump.
Notably, Newsmax has also faced its own legal challenges following the 2020 election.
Newsmax reached a $67 million (£50 million) settlement in a defamation lawsuit filed by a voting machine company over false claims of election rigging.
Dominion, the plaintiff in the 2021 case, alleged that Newsmax broadcasted “verifiably false lies.”
Fox News was also involved in litigation with Dominion, ultimately settling for $787.5 million (£634 million) following the election.
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