Newsmax Suing Fox News for Antitrust

Lawsuit Overview

Christopher Ruddy’s pro-Trump channel, Newsmax, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox News. The suit accuses Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox News of illegally blocking competition in the right-wing pay-TV market.

Alleged Anticompetitive Behaviors

Newsmax claims that Fox engaged in various anticompetitive behaviors such as:

• Granting access to Fox’s content only if distributors don’t carry other right-wing channels.
• Imposing fees if distributors carry other channels.
• Building barriers into carriage deals that bar other channels from competing.

Impact on Newsmax

Newsmax alleges that these measures have hindered its success. In a statement, Ruddy, the company’s founder and CEO, said, “Fox may have profited from exclusionary contracts and intimidation tactics for years, but those days are over.”

Seeking Damages and Restriction

Newsmax is seeking monetary damages and wants the court to restrict Fox from maintaining its allegedly “exclusionary contracts and monopolistic practices.”

Implications for MAGA Media

This lawsuit marks a significant fracture in the once-cohesive world of MAGA Media, with both networks vying for President Trump’s attention.