In recent weeks, Fox News has been reminded of its most significant concerns following a $67 million settlement between Newsmax and Dominion Voting Systems over false claims related to the 2020 presidential election. This settlement echoes Fox's own staggering $787.5 million agreement with Dominion that occurred over two years ago. Additionally, new legal developments, including recent filings by Smartmatic against Fox, have resurfaced troubling memories for the network regarding its actions during and after the election. Many analysts have speculated whether these legal challenges would impact Fox News negatively or push the network towards change.
Despite these legal hurdles, Fox News Channel has continued to thrive, with viewership ratings displaying resilience. Notably, the network has surpassed traditional channels such as ABC, CBS, and NBC in popularity during the summer months. Fox's prominent figures—including staunch Trump supporters—continue to shape the narrative, ensuring the network remains a favored platform for the former president's communications.
Fox News declined to comment when approached by the Associated Press regarding this situation. Many in the network maintain a philosophy similar to Trump's, marked by an absence of expressed regrets or apologies following the contentious election. Newsmax has demonstrated a newfound confidence after settling with Dominion, suggesting that Fox's missteps did not deter its core audience. During the second quarter of 2025, Fox averaged an impressive 2.63 million viewers during prime-time weekdays, a staggering 56% increase from the same period in 2023.
The surge in viewership is worth noting, especially given that many networks are experiencing declines. For instance, MSNBC's prime-time audience fell by 21%, while CNN faced a 6% drop. Fox’s share of viewership significantly increased from 45% two years ago to 62% this year. This suggests that Fox’s audience shows a marked preference for following a Trump administration over a Biden one, indicating that the Dominion case had limited impact on Fox's overall viewership.
Experts have pointed out that Fox’s audience likely perceives the Dominion verdict as a politically motivated attack rather than a reason to turn away from the network. Consequently, Fox has shown resilience in maintaining its profitability, with its earnings bolstered by revenue from non-television ventures, including books, podcasts, and streaming services. The network has ably adapted to changes in viewership patterns by consistently producing new prominent personalities and programming, despite the controversial firing of previous star Tucker Carlson.
Internally, Fox faced fears of audience loss following the 2020 election, particularly after it declared Joe Biden the winner in Arizona, a decision that angered Trump and his supporters. Internal communications revealed that management expressed concerns regarding newsroom decisions that fact-checked Trump's claims, leading to tensions between network executives and on-air talent.
Smartmatic has criticized Fox for failing to retract or apologize for programs that falsely implicated the company in vote manipulation during the 2020 election. Instead, Fox has defended its right to report on claims made by Trump and his representatives under the guise of free speech. Comparatively, Newsmax has previously expressed regret about its coverage but has since adopted a more assertive stance, especially after its expansion and public offering.
Smartmatic's case against Fox exemplifies the legal challenges the network continues to face. Newsmax’s CEO, Chris Ruddy, has publicly criticized legal outcomes that he claims are politically motivated, reaffirming the network’s position regarding providing coverage of the election disputes. The evolution in strategy and audience perception has allowed Newsmax to position itself as a competitor in a landscape dominated by Fox.
The sentiment at Fox reflects a broader dynamic in conservative media, where fear-based narratives are used to captivate audiences, as noted by former Fox politics editor Chris Stirewalt. This approach can foster audience loyalty and a reluctance to shift to competing channels, thereby maintaining Fox's position in the cable news hierarchy.
