Newsmax sues fox, accuses rival of blocking competition in right-leaning tv news market
Fox News

Newsmax sues Fox, accuses rival of blocking competition in right-leaning TV news market

Posted by
1 min read
September 13, 2025

MADISON, WI – Newsmax Broadcasting, LLC has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Fox Corporation and Fox News Network, alleging the media giant used its market dominance to stifle competition in right-leaning television news.

The complaint, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, accuses Fox of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Wisconsin Antitrust Act through a years-long campaign to marginalize competitors such as Newsmax.

According to the 39-page filing, Newsmax claims Fox leveraged the popularity of Fox News Channel—the nation’s highest-rated cable news network—to pressure distributors into limiting or avoiding carriage of rival conservative outlets.

The lawsuit outlines three alleged tactics:

  • Conditioning access to Fox News Channel on agreements that discourage distributors from carrying competitors like Newsmax.
  • Forcing distributors to pay for lesser-watched Fox channels, such as Fox Business, as a financial penalty for also carrying rivals.
  • Embedding contractual restrictions in carriage deals designed to prevent new entrants from gaining ground.

Newsmax argues that these practices delayed its growth in pay TV and online streaming markets, costing it critical advertising revenue and broader audience reach. The filing says that without Fox’s alleged conduct, Newsmax would have achieved wider distribution and reached “critical mass” with advertisers much sooner.

The lawsuit claims Fox’s actions not only harmed Newsmax but also deprived consumers of choice and raised costs in the “Right-leaning Pay TV News Market.”

Fox has not yet filed a response to the complaint.


Key Points

  • Newsmax filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox Corporation in Wisconsin federal court.
  • The complaint accuses Fox of using its market power to block rival conservative networks from distributors.
  • Newsmax claims lost revenue, slower growth, and suppressed competition in right-leaning news media.

Two conservative media rivals are now locked in a courtroom fight over the future of pay TV news.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version