Newsmax Files New Antitrust Lawsuit Against Fox News In Wisconsin

Newsmax has refiled its antitrust lawsuit against Fox News in Wisconsin shortly after voluntarily dismissing a similar case in Florida, where a federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump rejected the initial complaint as a "shotgun pleading." The lawsuit alleges that Fox News has engaged in longstanding anticompetitive practices by leveraging its market power to coerce distributors into excluding or marginalizing other right-leaning news channels like Newsmax, including using contractual barriers and "no-carry" provisions. Newsmax expanded the Wisconsin complaint to include a claim of "block-booking," accusing Fox of forcing distributors to carry less popular Fox channels alongside its top conservative content. Fox has denied the allegations, stating Newsmax is attempting to litigate its competitive failures. The ongoing legal battle highlights competition tensions in the right-leaning pay TV news market, with Newsmax positioning itself as an alternative to Fox's "establishment platform." The case remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.