Newsmax Files Federal Antitrust Suit Against Fox News Monopoly

Newsmax has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Fox Corporation and Fox News Network, accusing them of maintaining an illegal monopoly over the right-leaning pay TV news market through exclusionary practices. The lawsuit alleges that Fox uses its market power as a "must-have" channel to coerce distributors into agreements that prevent or limit the carriage of competing right-leaning news outlets like Newsmax, often imposing financial penalties and requiring distributors to carry less popular Fox channels to block competition. Newsmax claims these practices have stunted its growth, suppressed competition, harmed consumers, and driven up costs across the pay TV ecosystem. Additionally, Newsmax alleges that Fox has engaged in tactics such as pressuring guests not to appear on its network, running smear campaigns, and hiring private investigators to undermine Newsmax's credibility. The suit seeks monetary damages under federal and Florida antitrust laws, including treble damages, as well as injunctions to stop Fox's exclusionary conduct and restore competition. Fox has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.