History of Newsmax in Timeline

Newsmax is an American media company founded in 1998 by Christopher Ruddy, encompassing cable news (Newsmax TV), a website (Newsmax.com), and a magazine. Known for its conservative to far-right perspective, Newsmax offers political commentary, news, and content related to health and finance. Newsmax went public in March 2025.

1969: Company Operations Begin

In 1969, the company started its operations and published their first titles which responded to the need for higher quality classroom materials to support learning.

September 16, 1998: Newsmax.com Launched

Christopher Ruddy started Newsmax.com on September 16, 1998, with support from investors including the family of William J. Casey and Richard Mellon Scaife.

1998: Anti-Clinton Content

From its founding in 1998, Newsmax became known for its anti-Clinton content.

1998: Newsmax Founded

In 1998, Christopher Ruddy founded Newsmax, Inc., also known as Newsmax.com, which encompasses cable news, political commentary, and digital media.

2007: Favorable Review of Bill Clinton's Book

In the fall of 2007, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy published a favorable review of former president Bill Clinton's book "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World" by Bill Clinton and interviewed him positively at Newsmax.com, followed by a positive cover story in Newsmax magazine.

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World

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March 2009: MarketWatch's Media Critic Comments on Newsmax

In March 2009, MarketWatch's media critic Jon Friedman stated that "Newsmax has flourished because Ruddy has exhibited a stronger commitment to the bottom line than to presenting himself as an ideologue."

2009: Newsmax Revenues

Newsmax closed 2009 with $36 million in revenues, up from $25 million the year before.

January 2010: Financial Times Profile on Newsmax

In a January 2010 profile, the Financial Times reported on the "rise of Newsmax," noting its strong conservative voice online and a decade of 40 percent annual growth.

April 2010: Newsmax Featured as Model of Future Media Company

In April 2010, Talkers Magazine featured Newsmax as a model of future media companies called "Media Stations" that offer audio, video, digital, and print content.

2010: Bill Clinton Visits Newsmax Headquarters

In 2010, Bill Clinton visited the Newsmax headquarters in West Palm Beach.

2012: Newsmax as a Major Player in GOP Politics

According to U.S. News & World Report, Newsmax is a major player in GOP politics, which was seen during the 2012 primaries, due to visits by politicians like Rep. Michele Bachmann and Sen. Mitt Romney.

2012: Newsmax a Stop for Republican Candidates

In 2012, The New York Times described Newsmax as a "potent force in conservative politics," noting its headquarters became a frequent stop for Republican candidates seeking the party's nomination.

2012: Acquisition by Newsmax Media

In 2012, the company was acquired by Newsmax Media, and shortly after, Anthony Ziccardi was named the publisher of Humanix Books. That same year, the company released The ObamaCare Survival Guide by Nick J. Tate.

April 2013: Newsmax.com Leads in Online Viewership

Starting in April 2013, Newsmax.com and its affiliated sites drew 14.4 million unique visitors, leading comScore's News/Politics category for two consecutive months.

June 2014: Newsmax TV Launched

In June 2014, Newsmax Media launched Newsmax TV, a new television news channel intended to compete with Fox News Channel, with 8 hours of live programming daily, available through Dish Network and DirecTV, as well as on the Newsmax website.

2014: Bloomberg Businessweek Details Newsmax's Business Model

In 2014, Bloomberg Businessweek described Newsmax's business model of targeting higher-income baby boomers and plans to launch a linear and OTT cable channel. The article noted the average age of a Newsmax online reader was 54.7 years and distinguished itself from its competitors by offering "a smorgasbord of political, health, and financial information, self-help books, and even vitamin supplements".

2014: Newsmax Donates to Clinton Foundation

In 2014, Newsmax donated $1 million to the Clinton Foundation, and Ruddy accompanied Clinton on foundation trips to Africa.

2015: Mary Glenn Replaces Anthony Ziccardi as Publisher

In 2015, Mary Glenn replaced Anthony Ziccardi as the publisher of the company.

November 2017: Ruddy Criticizes Fox News' Alignment with Trump

In November 2017, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy criticized Fox News' hosts unwillingness to criticize President Donald Trump, telling Politico that "Newsmax is very supportive of the president, but we also will publish things that are critical of him time to time".

2017: Washington Post Describes Ruddy's Relationship with President Trump

In 2017, The Washington Post described the relationship Ruddy, though not a registered Republican, had with President Donald Trump as a significant influence "with his dual role as a newsman and a close friend".

2019: Adam Keith Pfeffer Named Deputy Publisher

In 2019, Adam Keith Pfeffer was named the deputy publisher of the company.

2019: Columbia Journalism Review Reports on Conservative Websites

In 2019, the Columbia Journalism Review reported that there are currently about 15 to 20 conservative websites which attract at least one million unique visitors per month, mentioning Newsmax as one of them.

June 2020: Newsmax Adria Partnership Begins

In June 2020, Newsmax Adria, a partnership between Newsmax Media and United Media, began operating in most of the former Yugoslav countries.

November 15, 2020: Hicks Equity Partners Considers Newsmax Buyout

On November 15, 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that Hicks Equity Partners was exploring a buyout of Newsmax, but CEO Christopher Ruddy stated "we are not actively selling" the company.

December 14, 2020: Newsmax Acknowledges Biden as President-elect

Following the certification of the electoral college of Joe Biden as the winner on December 14, 2020, Newsmax began referring to Biden as "President-elect".

December 2020: Newsmax TV Ratings Grow

Adweek reported that Newsmax's TV ratings grew tenfold in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the previous quarter.

December 2020: Newsmax Named in Defamation Lawsuit by Dominion Executive

In December 2020, Newsmax was included as a defendant in a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion executive Eric Coomer, who claimed Newsmax characterized him as a "traitor", leading to credible death threats.

December 2020: Smartmatic Threatens Legal Action

In December 2020, Smartmatic sent a letter to Newsmax threatening legal action and demanding "a full and complete retraction of all false and defamatory statements and reports" regarding baseless allegations against Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems.

2020: Trump Promotes Newsmax Over Fox News

During the 2020 United States presidential election, President Trump began to promote Newsmax over its rival, Fox News, especially after Fox News called Arizona for Joe Biden.

2020: Newsmax Promotes Baseless Allegations

During the 2020 elections Newsmax promoted baseless allegations that voting machine company Smartmatic and its competitor Dominion Voting Systems had conspired to rig the election against Trump.

2020: Newsmax Broadcasts Election Conspiracy Theories

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Newsmax broadcast numerous conspiracy theories made by President Donald Trump, the Trump campaign, and a Newsmax host, which alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election.

March 2021: Newsmax TV Reach Trails Fox News

A Pew Research Center study found that Newsmax's reach (10% of American adults) continued to trail Fox News's reach (43% of American adults) in March 2021.

April 2021: Newsmax Issues Retraction and Apology

In April 2021, Newsmax published a retraction and apology on its website regarding allegations made against Dominion executive Eric Coomer, stating they had found no evidence to support the claims.

July 2021: Newsmax Viewership Declines

In July 2021, Vox noted that Newsmax's viewership is down more than 50 percent from January, and Fox News has reestablished itself as the most-watched cable news network.

August 2021: Dominion Sues Newsmax for Promoting Election Fraud Narratives

In August 2021, Dominion Voting Systems sued Newsmax for allegedly "knowingly and continuously" promoting false narratives about election fraud. Newsmax responded by stating it had simply reported on allegations made by public figures.

November 2021: Emerald Robinson Spreads COVID-19 Misinformation

In November 2021, Newsmax White House correspondent Emerald Robinson falsely tweeted that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine contained luciferase. Twitter suspended Robinson's account, and Newsmax removed her from the air pending an inquiry.

November 2021: Smartmatic Sues Newsmax for Defamation

In November 2021, Smartmatic sued Newsmax for defamation related to coverage of the 2020 election.

November 2021: Newsmax Among "Fringe Publishers"

In November 2021, a study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate described Newsmax as being among "ten fringe publishers" that together were responsible for nearly 70 percent of Facebook user interactions with content that denies climate change.

2021: Newsmax Sued for Promoting False Election Claims

In 2021, Newsmax faced lawsuits from Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic for promoting false claims of election fraud during the 2020 presidential election.

2021: Newsmax Retracts Voter Fraud Allegations

In 2021, Newsmax issued an apology and retracted its voter fraud conspiracy allegations related to the 2020 election.

2021: Newsmax Stock Price Described as Meme Stock Trajectory

In 2021, following a rapid rise and fall, financial commentators described the Newsmax stock price trajectory as that of a meme stock, with some traders comparing Newsmax to GameStop in online discussions, referencing the 2021 GameStop short squeeze.

January 2022: Newsmax Not to Renew Emerald Robinson's Contract

Newsmax announced the next month that it would not renew Emerald Robinson's contract when it ended in January 2022, due to her spreading COVID-19 misinformation.

October 2022: Newsmax Adria Ceases Production

Newsmax Adria ceased production in October 2022.

January 2023: DirecTV Drops Newsmax

DirecTV dropped Newsmax from its lineup in January 2023, after the companies failed to agree on contract terms, leading to criticism from House Republicans.

March 2023: DirecTV Resumes Broadcasting Newsmax

DirecTV resumed broadcasting Newsmax in March 2023, after the companies resolved their contract dispute.

May 2023: Ratings Surge After Tucker Carlson's Firing

In May 2023, Newsmax experienced a surge in ratings following Fox News' decision to fire Tucker Carlson. Newsmax's viewership more than doubled during the prime-time spot Carlson had vacated, surpassing even the surge seen after the 2020 election. They also challenged CNN on a night-by-night basis to be the third-most-watched cable news channel.

August 2023: Judge Rejects Newsmax's Bid to Narrow Defamatory Statements

In August 2023, a Delaware judge rejected Newsmax's attempt to narrow the alleged defamatory statements cited by Smartmatic in its defamation lawsuit.

October 2023: Newsmax Broadcasts in the UK

In October 2023, Newsmax began broadcasting in the United Kingdom via Freeview Connect.

November 1, 2023: Newsmax Places Live Content Behind Paywall on YouTube

On November 1, 2023, Newsmax placed its live content behind a paywall on YouTube under the name "Newsmax+", while continuing to offer a free streaming channel called "Newsmax 2".

March 2024: Report on Qatari Investment

In March 2024, The Washington Post reported that between 2019 and 2020, a member of the Qatari Royal Family had invested $50 million in Newsmax. Following this investment, network leaders allegedly instructed staffers to soften their coverage of Qatar, a claim Newsmax later denied.

April 2024: Newsmax Included in Defamation Lawsuit

In April 2024, Newsmax was named as a defendant in a defamation lawsuit filed by an individual who was falsely identified as the perpetrator of the 2023 Allen, Texas mall shooting. The lawsuit alleges that Newsmax and other defendants recklessly disregarded journalistic standards by publishing the photo of an innocent man and branding him as a neo-Nazi murderer.

June 10, 2024: Newsmax Announces Plans for IPO

On June 10, 2024, during its coverage of a rally organized in Las Vegas by former and current president Donald Trump, Newsmax announced its plans to file for an initial public stock offering (IPO) in late 2024 or early 2025.

September 5, 2024: Newsmax IPO Plans Confirmed

On September 5, 2024, Newsmax confirmed its plans for an IPO and expected to be listed under the ticker symbol "NMAX" on the New York Stock Exchange in the first quarter of 2025.

September 2024: Newsmax Announces Resumption of Operations in Serbia

In September 2024, Newsmax announced that it would resume operation in Serbia in October as Newsmax Balkans, marketed in the region as "real news for real people".

September 2024: Newsmax Settles Smartmatic Lawsuit

In September 2024, Newsmax settled Smartmatic's lawsuit by agreeing to pay Smartmatic $40 million.

September 30, 2024: Smartmatic Defamation Trial Set to Begin

The trial for Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit against Newsmax was scheduled to begin on September 30, 2024, but was settled before.

November 2024: Newsmax Offers Preferred Stock to Raise Capital

In November 2024, Newsmax offered preferred stock to accredited investors in an effort to raise $100 million.

January 25, 2025: Newsmax Extends Stock Offering to $200 Million

On January 25, 2025, Newsmax extended its preferred stock offering to $200 million, eventually surpassing $220 million by March 2025.

March 2025: Newsmax Goes Public

In March 2025, Newsmax, the cable news and digital media company, became a publicly traded company.

March 2025: Newsmax's Market Capitalization Surpasses Fox Corporation

In March 2025, during their second day of trading, the shares closed at $234—with a market capitalization of almost $30 billion, surpassing that of Fox Corporation.

March 2025: Newsmax Settled Smartmatic Defamation Lawsuit for $40 Million

In March 2025, it was revealed that Newsmax had agreed to pay $40 million to settle the defamation lawsuit brought by Smartmatic.

March 31, 2025: Newsmax Makes Stock Market Debut

Newsmax made its stock market debut on March 31, 2025. The shares, priced at $10 in the IPO, closed their first trading day at $83.51, an increase of over 700%.

April 9, 2025: Judge Determines Newsmax Coverage of Dominion Was Defamatory

On April 9, 2025, a Delaware judge ruled that Newsmax's coverage of Dominion was defamatory and based on false claims of vote manipulation. The case was scheduled for a jury trial to determine damages, but it was later postponed.

April 2025: Newsmax TV Weekly Audience Size

As of April 2025, the average weekly audience for Newsmax TV is about 319,000 people.

April 2025: Judge Rules Against Newsmax in Dominion Case

In April 2025, a judge ruled that Newsmax broadcast false and defamatory statements against Dominion about the election.

May 2025: Newsmax Announces Expansion to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro

In May 2025, Newsmax announced an expansion to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

September 3, 2025: Newsmax Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Fox

On September 3, 2025, Newsmax filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox, accusing Fox News of anti-competitive tactics designed to stifle competition, alleging coercion of TV providers to restrict right-leaning channels.

September 5, 2025: Newsmax Antitrust Lawsuit Dismissed

On September 5, 2025, a federal judge in Miami dismissed the antitrust lawsuit filed by Newsmax against Fox, though Newsmax was given permission to refile the complaint.

October 2025: Newsmax Refiles Antitrust Lawsuit Against Fox

In October 2025, Newsmax refiled its lawsuit against Fox in the Western District of Wisconsin, requesting the judge reject Fox's attempt to transfer the lawsuit back to Florida, asserting its "absolute right" to pursue the case in Wisconsin and denying any "forum shopping".