Newsmax sues Fox News in battle of right-wing TV networks

September 3, 2025

Newsmax, a right-wing media network, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox News in federal court, accusing the Murdoch-owned company of using its market dominance to suppress competition in conservative news. The lawsuit alleges Fox News employs exclusionary tactics including coercing TV providers to restrict competing right-leaning channels, imposing financial penalties on providers that carry other conservative networks, and intimidating guests not to appear on rival networks. Fox News, valued at nearly $26 billion and consistently ranked as the most popular conservative news outlet in the US, dismissed the lawsuit, stating Newsmax "cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures.

Who is affected

Newsmax (market value of $1.8 billion)
Fox News (market value of nearly $26 billion)
TV providers who carry right-leaning news channels
Consumers of right-wing media
Guests who appear on conservative news networks
Newsmax executives (allegedly targeted by private investigators)

What action is being taken

Newsmax is suing Fox News in a Florida federal court over alleged anticompetitive practices
Newsmax is asking a judge to declare Fox News' conduct unlawful, block exclusionary contracts, and award monetary damages
Fox News is contesting the claims, stating Newsmax is attempting to "chase headlines" due to inability to attract viewers

Why it matters

The lawsuit represents a significant legal battle in the American conservative news space
It challenges the competitive structure of right-leaning media, where Fox News has long dominated with $26 billion market value compared to Newsmax's $1.8 billion
The case could potentially affect how TV providers negotiate with news networks
Both networks have recently dealt with expensive defamation settlements related to the 2020 election ($67 million for Newsmax and $787.5 million for Fox News)

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC