NEWSMAX ~ An Independent News Agency ~ With A Conservative Perspective

50% increases in viewership is evidence that the stock value is doing well. The recent IPO raise of $300 million came after a growth of 60 million home viewers. Newsmax is now available in 100 countries, 5 continents. As the economy adjusts to Trump policies, Newsmax goes up! Ratings are waaaay up!

Chris Ruddy is an American journalist and media entrepreneur, best known as the founder and CEO of Newsmax Media. Born in 1965 in New York, he holds degrees from St. John’s University and the London School of Economics. Ruddy began his career in conservative journalism, writing for outlets like the New York Post and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. In 1998, he launched Newsmax as a digital news platform, later expanding it into a nationally recognized conservative television network. He is known for his close ties to political figures including Donald Trump. Under his leadership, Newsmax became a major player in the right-leaning media landscape.

NEWSMAX ~ An Independent News Agency ~ With A Conservative Perspective

on the GrassRoots TruthCast with Gene Valentino

ORIGINAL MEDIA SOURCE(S):
‣ Originally Recorded on April 30, 2025
‣ GrassRoots TruthCast: Season 2, Episode 282
‣ Image courtesy of: GeneValentino.com

➡️ Join the Conversation: https://GeneValentino.com
➡️ WMXI Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NewsRadio981
➡️ More WMXI Interviews: https://genevalentino.com/wmxi-interviews/
➡️ More GrassRoots TruthCast Episodes: https://genevalentino.com/grassroots-truthcast-with-gene-valentino/
➡️ More Broadcasts with Gene as the Guest: https://genevalentino.com/america-beyond-the-noise/
➡️ More About Gene Valentino: https://genevalentino.com/about-gene-valentino/

Transcript

NEWSMAX ~ An Independent News Agency ~ With A Conservative Perspective

Epic Voice Guy: [00:00:00] With breaking news and political commentary from a public servant, serial entrepreneur, community leader, philanthropist, and American patriot, and a darn nice guy, it's time for the GrassRoots TruthCast and your host, Gene Valentino.

Gene Valentino: Hi friends, Gene Valentino. Well with over five continents and over a hundred nations around the world. The gentleman I have with me today is my guest on GrassRoots TruthCast. Mr. Chris Ruddy. Chris , is the founder and CEO of Newsmax, which what a difference 12 months makes in that period of time, we've had the privilege of meeting with Chris and on several occasions and we've watched a story unfold that is now worldwide and global.

Folks welcome Chris Ruddy from Florida. Hi Chris. How are you? [00:01:00] 

Chris Ruddy: I always good being on with you, Gene. Thank you for having me. 

Gene Valentino: Well, thank you for finding time to squeeze us in on your busy schedule. Folks. It was less than a year ago, Chris announced a a public offering, a an initial public offering an IIPO to the public, and then a follow-up offering, which totaled over $200 million, which was subscribed into.

On time or ahead of schedule. And as a consequence, Mr. Ruddy is here today to discuss the excitement of where Newsmax is going. Over 40 million watchers and viewers nearly daily throughout the nation, but geometrically more in the five content continents around the world, which we're going to talk about right after this.

Mike Lindell: Hello everyone. I'm excited to announce the next Generation of energy drinks Rev seven. It has no sugar and no caffeine. [00:02:00] Instead, rev seven uses go BHB go. BHB is one of the body's primary ketones, and it provides the most efficient and clean fuel that your body needs. It also helps you stay energized all day with no crashes.

Not only that, it produces three times more brain energy than sugar, which helps boost your memory focus and mental sharpness. It also helps reduce stress and helps balance your mood. Rev seven does all that while being the best tasting energy drink ever. So go to mypillow.com or call the number on your screen.

Use your promo code to save 20% today. I'm so sure you're gonna love Rev seven. For a limited time, you get our introductory three pack absolutely free. I drink Rev seven every day and I absolutely love it and so will you.

Gene Valentino: Hi folks. Gene Valentino here with the GrassRoots TruthCast with my guest, my very special guest, Chris Ruddy. Chris, welcome aboard 

Chris Ruddy: Gene. Thank you for having me. [00:03:00] Always great to be on with you. 

Gene Valentino: You and I met over a year ago, and during that period of time it was such a, an exciting story to watch and listen to the to the incubation of a, a wonderful concept that has grown worldwide.

You know, we see that over 86% of Americans are now moving to streaming digital iPhone, iPads for their daily news appetite. And the old days of broadcast journalism and the platforms as you and I remember them to be, are not disappearing, but would you say falling by the wayside? 

Chris Ruddy: Well, look, I think the rise of Newsmax is a sign.

The old media is dying. I mean, with relatively small amount of capital. Newsmax is now Reuters Institute study. We're one of the top 12 news brands in the United States. We reach, as you say, 40 million Americans. Regularly you and I remember the days when Time and [00:04:00] Newsweek did a million magazine copies a week, and they were considered powerhouses and we can reach 40 million people in hours, if not days.

I. I think it's a pretty big testament to the value of Newsmax and, and you know, you mentioned the public offering. We had huge success. We raised over, well, approximately $300 million with the pre IPO and the IPO. We went public on March 31st. Huge amount of interest. The stock has done really well on the New York Stock Exchange.

I think it's up over a hundred percent from our IPO price of $10 a share. And I think it's a sign. Not only are Americans supporting us 'cause they want us to grow, but they see us as a good business. Fox has long dominated this market now. Newsmax has taken a big chunk. I. 

Gene Valentino: Yeah. And you were one of the dozens of media outlets, I'd guessed just a decade ago.

I wouldn't say floundering. You were on a, a great growth plan, [00:05:00] but it, it, it moved up to the cusp of a, of major observation and view by, by all, all consumers out there. And I think the reason is, is what you alluded to, a fair and balanced. Delivery of journalism to the world. Would you say Newsmax finds itself more conservative, more liberal?

Do you find yourself down the middle? How do you stay out of siding with one side or the other? I. 

Chris Ruddy: Gene, good question. And it's a fair question. Every media should be asked that, you know, they'll always say they're neutral and they're fair. 80% of the press coverage, major press coverage, and this was from a study of the 24 election to Kamala Harris was very positive.

90% of the press coverage of Donald Trump was very negative. That's not fair, that's not balanced. Newsmax. We describe ourselves as an independent news agency. With a conservative perspective, that means [00:06:00] that we are open to all perspectives and views, and we have always done that on Newsmax. I think we're more traditional of the American media, the most and more honest about who we are, and it's one of the reasons we're growing.

You know, the Nielsen ratings for the first quarter of this year showed that 34 million Americans tuned into our cable channel alone. Up 50% from the previous year. 12 million increase. That doesn't happen by nature. That is a movement that's a force. And I think it's one of the reasons the I, our stock is doing so well on the New York Stock Exchange.

Why almost every vector of the company is growing. 'cause we are providing that media, that balance. 

Gene Valentino: Well, it's interesting because the offering it's a chicken and egg almost, with the offering obviously created excitement unto itself. But, but you were growing, I mean, you were growing regardless of the status of the offering.

And now [00:07:00] that the offering is here and you're sitting on close to $300 million or more, that money, you people do IPOs and raise money? I've been involved in a few of them in my life and, and we do it to take the entity, the going concern up to a new platform or a new level of play. Would you say that the $300 million is needed for these five continents around the world, or is it now just coincidental that as you engage with five continents around the world and some hundreds of nations, that you are now in the position of using that $300 million to further capitalize those market, those marketplaces?

Chris Ruddy: I'd like to buy the Gene Valentino show, but I think with the 300 million we won't be able to afford it. So that's only in my dreams. Yeah, but you, you are a great, you know, I don't know if most of your listeners know, but you are a great business guy. You have the minus touch. You were there at the founding of the cable industry with Cellular One.

You were the. Founding [00:08:00] CEO as I recall. That's right. So you've had a tremendous path, and I'm always appreciative of your business acumen and advice for newsmax. So we, we've made clear that we have a lot of room for growth. We have the traditional cable channel, which is still growing, and 60 million, about 60 million homes.

We have our NEWSMAX streaming channel, NEWSMAX two, which is on Roku and Samsung and Vizient. All the platforms you can get, the free streaming channels, fast channels, they call them. We are on, we have an app called newsmax App and you can download it free on your iPhone or Android or smartphone start.

You can start with us for free and free trial. Amazing amount of content that we now hope. We even have family friendly shows like Bonanza and Dragnet and things like this. We have great programs so. Check it out and, and that's the area for growth. In addition, we have a whole world, Newsmax is now available in about a hundred countries, five [00:09:00] continents.

We're continuing to grow that, so it's been a great ride. And you know, people ask, well, what are we doing with the money and this and that? We have a webpage. It's called newsmax invest.com. Yeah, newsmax invest.com. You go there, you can read what we're doing with our New York Stock Exchange stock, how we're growing the company, how you can participate if you're interested.

All our SEC filings, which we urge you to read. All of that good stuff is there, and it's a powerful story and I think it's one of the reasons we're going up as the economy's going sideways. 

Gene Valentino: Yeah. You know, there's an old saying I've used in business is you compete by differentiating. So when you look out, and I say this more to the folks, less to you the, the, when you look for something to invest in what I'm looking at is how does a a a newsmax, for example, distinguish itself from another two dozen outlets out there?

And the answer is. They have competed by differentiating while other people are doing some of [00:10:00] what NEWSMAX is doing. I've never seen any one entity do do it on all these parallel paths as well as NEWSMAX does. You have the social media side, you have the streaming side with NEWSMAX two and news. TV itself.

Ha has ha is where Chris is referring to. This culmination of viewership is just phenomenal. Chris in the limited time we have, where's Newsmax going in the next year? Two or three as you see it? 

Chris Ruddy: Well, I hope up. But I can't, you know, now we're a public company. You always have to be careful.

Anything you say about the future, I just see a positive future for the company. Maybe because I'm CEO, but I do think the numbers should. Certainly the prologue revenues are up over 300% the past several years. Ratings are way up. And the, the continued growth of the company we believe will continue. But you know, people ask me how, what's the difference between newsmax and Fox Gene [00:11:00] and or other media?

I'll say, just tune in some data News banks we're on all the cable channels, streaming channels. Look at Fox, look at us. And I think what's happened is people are looking at us and we're growing. Fox is not what it used to be. It's very anti-Trump these days. They're attacking him on tariffs and this and that.

And our approach has been to not attack, but to give both sides and then our website. Go to newsmax.com. Look at the headlines there. The compare them to fox news.com. I think you're gonna all like what you see. Yeah, the, 

Gene Valentino: the, you mentioned the tariffs, and I think that's absolutely true. What is, in your opinion, the Donald Trump tariffs, how does that impact the way you look at the growth of newsmax and Newsmax stock in the future?

Can you get into that? I. 

Chris Ruddy: Well, I would, I, you know, the tariffs don't directly impact Newsmax, right? But I, I can tell you that they'll impact the economy, but I think in the long run, [00:12:00] it's a good plan. The president's trying to do fair and free trade deals. He's unwinding 40 years of bad deals, so give him a little time.

He's using the tariff as a weapon to get the other countries to drop their tariffs. That's what this is about. But his tax cuts, his lower oil price program, which is working his deregulation, lower interest rates, all of that's gonna kick in over the next 12 months. So be patient. The economy's gonna be good.

Gene Valentino: Well over 56, 50 8% of the folks out there prefer Newsmax, and we're looking at ourselves in the middle of a news revolution, as you would say. And in the limited time we have, Chris, would you like to close on something in particular with Newsmax? 

Chris Ruddy: Just keep watching. We're gonna be covering, I'm gonna be over in Rome for the conclave of the next Pope.

We have a lot of coverage going on there. Please download our free app on your iPhone or Android. And also check out we'd love to have you join the [00:13:00] News Revolution. You can become a shareholder. Get more information@newsmaxinvest.com. Read all our filings. Join with us. Be with us. And thank you for standing up for America.

Gene Valentino: And thank you Chris Ruddy for joining us here today on another episode of GrassRoots TruthCast. Stay tuned for more episodes of GrassRoots TruthCast folks, and feel free to subscribe. Come to Gene valentino.com or GrassRoots TruthCast.com. Here you'll see our little library I've created of all of the wonderful NEWSMAX episodes that compliment.

The expansion of the reach that NEWSMAX is putting out there to the rest of the world, www.Genevalentino.com. Please subscribe. Again, our thanks to Chris Ruddy for joining us here, founder and CEO of Newsmax. 

Epic Voice Guy: Thanks for joining us for Gene Valentino's GrassRoots TruthCast. Be sure to like and subscribe and [00:14:00] God bless America.