Fox(US:FOX) Business Insiderยท2025-09-03 16:50Core Viewpoint - Newsmax has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox Corp., alleging that it holds an illegal monopoly in the right-leaning pay TV news market, engaging in exclusionary practices to maintain its dominance [1][9]. Group 1: Allegations Against Fox Corp. - Newsmax claims that Fox's anticompetitive behavior has hindered its growth and distribution potential, asserting that it could have become a more valuable media company without such interference [2]. - The lawsuit alleges that Fox pressures distributors into unfair agreements that prevent them from carrying competitors like Newsmax, imposing financial penalties for doing so [3][10]. - Newsmax cites internal communications from Fox leaders, revealed during a separate defamation lawsuit, indicating that Fox views Newsmax as a significant competitive threat [4][5]. Group 2: Impact on Competition - The lawsuit argues that Fox's actions have harmed competition, restricted consumer choice, and led to higher prices for consumers in the right-leaning news market [9]. - Newsmax contends that most distributors comply with Fox's restrictions due to a lack of alternatives, effectively coercing them into excluding Newsmax from their offerings [10]. - The complaint states that Fox sometimes refuses to license its popular channels unless distributors agree to disadvantage rival networks like Newsmax [11]. Group 3: Legal Proceedings - Newsmax is seeking a jury trial and unspecified monetary damages, aiming for a court declaration that Fox has violated federal and state antitrust laws [11].