MADISON, Wis. — Newsmax has re-filed its legal action against Fox News, presenting its claims that the Murdoch-owned media giant engaged in illegal tactics to restrict the younger network’s access to cable distribution. This latest move comes after a previous lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge last week.
In its amended complaint, Newsmax asserts that Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corp., participated in a scheme designed to enhance and sustain its market dominance in the U.S. right-leaning cable news sector. According to Newsmax, this alleged behavior suppressed competition and ultimately harmed consumers and the network itself.
The lawsuit was originally brought in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, labeling it a “shotgun complaint.” She noted that it failed to present new allegations beyond what was already stated in prior counts.
Following the dismissal, Newsmax decided to withdraw its case from Florida and pursue legal avenues in Wisconsin. A spokesperson for the network explained that this move allows it to file a complaint in any jurisdiction where it believes it experienced harm due to Fox’s conduct.
The fresh legal documents reiterate many of the original complaints while also introducing a new allegation that Fox’s practices may violate Wisconsin state laws. Specifically, Newsmax claims Fox engaged in “block-booking,” a tactic that allegedly required cable providers to carry less popular Fox channels as a condition to include Newsmax.
Fox News has not publicly commented on the re-filing yet, but in prior statements, a representative claimed that Newsmax’s legal efforts stem from its failure to attract viewers in a competitive market. This assertion has been disputed by Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy, who expressed dissatisfaction with Fox’s remarks.
In a media landscape where competition is fierce, this legal battle underlines the stakes involved for both networks as they vie for viewer attention and distribution rights. The outcome of this contentious dispute may have lasting implications for the approach of cable networks in how they negotiate access and distribution agreements.
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