Introduction
Newsmax (or Newsmax.com, previously styled NewsMax) is a conservative [8] American news and opinion website founded by Christopher Ruddy on September 16, 1998, and operated by Newsmax Media. The website is divided into four main sections: Newsmax, Newsmax Health, Newsmax Finance, and Newsmax World, each divided into various subsections. Newsmax Media also operates a print magazine called Newsmax as well as the cable news channel Newsmax TV. Here, we’ll know who owns Newsmax?
Answer Paragraph:
•Type of site: News and opinion
•Available in: English
•Owner: Newsmax Media
•Created by: Christopher Ruddy
•Editor: Christopher Ruddy
•Key people: Christopher Ruddy (CEO)
David J. Perel (Director)
Kenneth Chandler (Editor)
•URL: www.newsmax.com
•Commercial: Yes
•Registration: Optional, but is required
to comment
•Launched: September 16, 1998; 22 years
ago
•Current status: Active
Streaming Is Not A Trend
¶One thing I do feel fairly certain about is that the end of the cable news era is near. Not that the actual cable news networks themselves are going anywhere–if anything, a shift to streaming will likely leave them in a better position as viewers will find it tougher to flit from one to the other–but rather the domination of cable overall as viewers quickly realize that streaming offers them both more and better programming for less money than cable, along with plenty of linear options via the FASTs.
¶Sports, one of the two types of programming that keep viewers tied to a cable, is still a ways off from being easily accessible on streaming (all those rights deals, especially around the regional sports networks (RSNs).
¶News, OTOH, is much more widely available, both via the various cable and network news services and via new start-ups like Cheddar and Newsy, and smaller, more partisan services like Newsmax.
10 Things You Need to Know About Newsmax
Newsmax might not have been on your radar until its recent rating uptick, so here are 10 things you need to know about the surging conservative news network.
- It’s been around for 22 years:
Newsmax Media has actually been in existence for more than two decades. “We were the Fox News of the online world,” Ruddy, Newsmax’s CEO, told Adweek. In the ensuing years, the company moved more deeply into video, launching an OTT channel called Newsmax TV in 2014. Today, Newsmax says it is in 70 million households.
- It’s more ‘future’-focused than its rivals:
As opposed to its competitors, “Newsmax tends to be more focused on hard news,” Ruddy said. “If you go to Fox News, a lot of its news is sort of ‘off-political news.’” I think news viewers in this environment really like consuming politics. I think lifestyle issues are not as important.” Newsmax also takes a different approach to talent, Ruddy said. “He’s thinking about the future of the United States, and that’s what we want our hosts to be doing. We want to be about the future.”
- Ratings have increased nearly tenfold since Q3:
To highlight how extreme the rating growth has been: Newsmax averaged 37,000 total prime-time viewers and 30,000 total day viewers in Q3, according to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen. But in October, the network averaged 96,000 prime-time viewers—almost triple its Q3 average—and 57,000 total day viewers. Fast forward to November: From Election Day (Nov. 3) through Nov. 18, the network averaged 364,000 total prime-time viewers, nearly 10 times its Q3 average. And more notably, from the day other news networks called the 2020 election for Biden, Nov. 7, through Nov. 18, Newsmax averaged 400,000 total prime-time viewers.
From Oct. 26 to Nov. 17, Fox averaged 4.7 million prime-time viewers, CNN drew 3.4 million, and MSNBC averaged 3.1 million. The two hours before prime time is when Newsmax is doing its most damage. Its top two shows, Spicer & Co. (at 6 p.m., featuring former White House press secretary Sean Spicer and Lindsay Keith) and Greg Kelly Reports (at 7 p.m.), averaged 816,000 total viewers during that same Nov. 7-18 interval. To cap it off, the Nov. 19 broadcast of Greg Kelly Reports (below) earned 1.1 million viewers, the network’s largest audience ever.
- The network is seeing advertiser growth—though many brands are still keeping their distance:
As its profile increases post-election, Newsmax has been seeing noticeable advertiser growth across almost every category, according to Ruddy: pharma, health and beauty products, personal care, financial, insurance, food, CPG, lawn and garden, as well as travel and leisure. However, despite the recent rating surge and revenue growth, most major brands are continuing to keep their distance from Newsmax, as the network is too much of a lightning rod, several ad buyers told Adweek, speaking anonymously.
- Newsmax still hasn’t called the 2020 presidential election:
“I believe as the states certify, we will project those states for the winner, and the Electoral College will confirm that,” Ruddy said. “We will make an appropriate call based on those certifications.” Ruddy also feels that “I think he should already be preparing and working with Biden in case that happens,” Ruddy said.
- “We won’t become Trump TV”:
Ruddy said that while Newsmax has a conservative slant, and he’s friends with Trump, Newsmax won’t become Trump TV come January. “Even though I have known the president for 20 years, when I first got to know him, he was a Democrat. We want to remain a news organization, and that’s why we won’t become ‘Trump TV.’ We’re not going to be a personality-driven channel,” he said, later adding, I’m very pro-immigration; I want a very aggressive, more open immigration policy for the United States. I think it’s really good for the country, and it helps all our futures if we do that. It’s not as monolithic as people make it out to be.”
- Despite its conservative audience, “liberal” viewpoints are welcome:
Ruddy said that while Newsmax is a conservative network, “we’re also fair,” explaining, “we reach out to liberals, we’ve always reached out to have liberal commentators in the mix.
- Newsmax is making plans for the Biden administration:
While Newsmax hasn’t called the election, Ruddy—who said, “I actually have a fairly high opinion of Joe Biden”—is already planning for what the network will look like under a Biden administration. “I think Newsmax’s job is to be the loyal opposition, to question the policies, the programs, and the people that are coming into the Biden administration. We’re going to take a very careful look at that. I think we were pretty fair with Barack Obama. We were tough on him, but we never called for his impeachment. I think we want to take the same approach with Joe Biden,” he said.
- The company isn’t for sale, but its CEO is getting offers:
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Newsmax is in discussions with Hicks Equity Partners about a sale. However, Ruddy told Adweek that he has not looked to sell the company. “Through the years, I’ve been approached by various people that either wants to invest or buy Newsmax, and I always find that very flattering. But we have focused on growing the company. I think we’re going to become a very powerful news property in the television world and online than maybe we already are.”
- The biggest goal: catch up to Fox News:
However, data from social video measurement service Tubular Labs shows that Fox News had 36.9 million unique global viewers in October across Facebook and YouTube, watching a total of 1.5 billion minutes on those platforms, while Newsmax had 7.5 million unique viewers in the same month, viewing 75.9 million minutes in total.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Kagan, Fox News will generate an estimated $1.19 billion in net advertising revenue this year, and an additional $1.62 billion in affiliate revenue. Newsmax TV, meanwhile, is on track to generate an estimated $25 million in net ad revenue, according to Kagan (which does not track digital revenue). Ruddy remains that Newsmax will one day catch up with a rival.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does newsmax have a free app?
Newsmax TV is a “news powerhouse” – says Forbes. It is America’s new cable news channel in 70 million homes – now FREE via your Android app. No fees, and no paywall – get breaking news in politics, world events, finance, and health.
- How can I get newsmax on my phone?
Downloading. You can download the APK of the news app straight onto your Android device. After installing, you’ll get instant access to local news and all other content Newsmax has to offer. You’ll be able to watch and play videos directly from your mobile device at any time and from anywhere.
Key Points
∆Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy on Tuesday sought to quell speculation that it would become a Trump-branded network after President Donald Trump leaves the White House.
∆ “Through the years, we’ve had a lot of people approach us to buy Newsmax, invest in Newsmax. These are often very informal discussions. They’re not formal,” Ruddy said.
LOGO
