Newsmax is a television distribution business at national scale
In its own May 2025 investor filing tied to a Verizon carriage renewal, Newsmax said it was the nation's fourth highest-rated cable news network according to Nielsen and that it reached more than 40 million Americans regularly through Newsmax TV, Newsmax+, Newsmax.com, and related products.
The misinformation problem here is not a fringe-blog problem. It is a distribution problem running through cable, streaming, and web publishing at national scale.
The election-lie settlements were not background legal noise
AP reported in August 2025 that Newsmax agreed to pay $67 million to settle Dominion Voting Systems' defamation lawsuit over bogus 2020 election claims. AP also reported that court papers described Newsmax as having already paid $40 million to settle Smartmatic's case over similar allegations.
These were not symbolic settlements for pocket change. Together they pushed the known payout figure above $100 million.
The factual-falsity finding makes the story stronger than a branding dispute
AP reported in 2024 that a Delaware judge ruled key statements aired on Newsmax about Smartmatic were factually false, including claims that its software or machines had altered the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. AP's Smartmatic coverage also said hosts and guests on Newsmax had aired accusations implying the company helped rig the election.
In one of the central cases, a judge had already concluded the core factual claims were false.
Growth after the settlements is part of the institutional story
One important part of the record is what did not happen. The known settlements did not obviously knock the company out of national relevance or push it into retreat.
The media environment allowed a network to absorb nine-figure legal damage and keep scaling anyway.
The television lineup is still the engine of authority
Newsmax's February 2026 announcement about renewing Greg Kelly and Carl Higbie described Greg Kelly Reports and FRONTLINE as central pillars of its prime-time lineup. The announcement placed the company's identity and growth in personality-driven TV blocks, not web headlines alone.
The announcement places the company's identity and growth in personality-driven TV blocks, not web headlines alone.
Sources & records
Reviewed by Standards Review. Updated April 13, 2026.
- AP On Newsmax's $67 Million Dominion Settlement
Used for the $67 million Dominion settlement, the disclosure that Newsmax had paid $40 million to settle the Smartmatic case, and the broader framing that both cases arose from false 2020 election claims aired by the network.
- AP On The Smartmatic Settlement
Used for the September 2024 settlement announcement in the Smartmatic case and AP's summary that hosts and guests on Newsmax had aired accusations implying Smartmatic rigged the election.
- AP On Judge Saying Key Newsmax Claims Were Factually False
Used for the Delaware judge's ruling that statements about Smartmatic software or machines altering the 2020 election results were factually false.
- Newsmax Investor Relations Filing On Verizon Renewal
Used for Newsmax's own statement that it was the fourth highest-rated cable news network according to Nielsen and that it reached more than 40 million Americans regularly across TV, app, and website.
- Newsmax On Renewing Greg Kelly And Carl Higbie
Used for Newsmax's own description of Greg Kelly Reports and FRONTLINE as central pillars of its prime-time lineup, showing the TV side remains the main vehicle of audience growth.
