Newsmax Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Fox News Alleging Anti-Competitive Practices

Newsmax has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox News, alleging that the network engaged in exclusionary practices to maintain its dominance in the right-leaning pay TV news market. The lawsuit, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, claims that Fox coerced television distributors into limiting or excluding Newsmax from their offerings.

According to the complaint, Fox imposed financial penalties on distributors that carried Newsmax by requiring them to also carry less popular Fox channels, resulting in higher fees. Additionally, Fox allegedly pressured guests not to appear on Newsmax and hired private investigators to scrutinize Newsmax executives.

Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy stated that the lawsuit aims to restore fairness in the market and ensure that Americans have real choices in the news they watch.

In response, a Fox News spokesperson commented, "Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they can't attract viewers."

Newsmax is seeking monetary damages and a court order to prevent Fox from continuing its alleged anti-competitive practices.