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Fox Urges Court to Reject Newsmax Antitrust Claims

By  |  August 2, 2026
JPMorgan Chase, Frank, lawsuits, legal

Fox has accused Newsmax of using procedural maneuvering to keep alive its antitrust lawsuit, arguing that the broadcaster is attempting to avoid unfavorable court rulings as the dispute over competition in the conservative television news market continues.

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    According to Law360, Fox told a Florida federal court that Newsmax has engaged in litigation tactics designed to prolong the case rather than address the merits of its claims. The filing is part of an ongoing legal battle in which Newsmax alleges Fox unlawfully used its market position to limit the rival network’s distribution and suppress competition.

    Law360 reported that Newsmax contends Fox pressured cable and streaming distributors not to carry the smaller network, or to reduce its visibility, in violation of federal antitrust laws. Fox has denied those allegations and has argued that Newsmax’s claims are legally deficient.

    The dispute has shifted between federal courts in Florida and Wisconsin. According to Law360, Newsmax refiled its lawsuit in Wisconsin after an earlier version filed in Florida was dismissed with permission to amend. A Wisconsin federal judge later concluded that the case belonged in Florida and transferred it back, citing concerns that Newsmax appeared to be seeking a more favorable forum.

    Read more: Democratic Lawmakers Urge DOJ to Closely Examine Fox-Roku Merger

    In its latest filing, Fox argued that Newsmax’s litigation strategy demonstrates “forum shopping” and other procedural gamesmanship, according to Law360. Fox is asking the Florida court to dismiss the complaint, while Newsmax maintains that its allegations describe unlawful conduct that harmed competition in the market for right-leaning television news programming.

    The underlying lawsuit stems from Newsmax’s allegations that Fox leveraged its position with pay-TV and streaming distributors to restrict the availability of competing conservative news networks. Fox has consistently rejected those claims, asserting that Newsmax is attempting to use litigation to compensate for its competitive challenges rather than any anticompetitive conduct, according to prior reporting by The Associated Press.

    Source: Law360