Newsmax Sues Fox Over Alleged Anti-Competitive Practices in Right-Leaning Pay TV News Market

Newsmax has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Fox Corporation, alleging anti-competition activities in the right-leaning pay TV news market. Newsmax claims Fox has abused its dominance to block competition and stifle growth in the market. Fox has not commented on the allegations.

Newsmax Inc. (NYSE:NMAX) has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:FOX) and Fox News Network, LLC, alleging anti-competition activities in the right-leaning pay TV news market. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accuses Fox of engaging in an extensive and unlawful campaign to block competition, including Newsmax [1].

Newsmax claims that Fox has abused its dominance in the market by coercing distributors into unfair carriage agreements that exclude or marginalize competitors. The complaint alleges that Fox has imposed restrictions that harm consumers, stifle competition, and drive up costs across the pay TV ecosystem. Fox News, described as a "must-have" channel for distributors, leverages its market power to impose these restrictions [2].

The lawsuit seeks damages under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, the Florida Antitrust Act, and the Florida Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practices Act. Newsmax is represented by prominent antitrust litigators and is asking the federal court to declare Fox's conduct unlawful, award monetary damages, enjoin Fox from continuing exclusionary contracts, and order equitable relief to restore competition [1].

Fox has not commented on the allegations. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy stated that the lawsuit is about restoring fairness to the market and ensuring that Americans have real choice in the news they watch. If Newsmax prevails, Fox's damages could be tripled under federal law, sending a powerful message to any company that thinks it can monopolize public discourse [2].

The lawsuit underscores that Fox's conduct harms not just Newsmax, but the competitive process itself. By keeping rivals off affordable distribution packages, Fox has denied millions of Americans the diversity of viewpoints that a healthy marketplace of ideas requires [2].

References:

[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4491735-newsmax-sues-fox-for-alleged-anti-competition-activities-in-right-leaning-pay-tv-news-market

[2] https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/newsmax-files-lawsuit-against-fox-2025-09-03