Maximum Overdrive

Newsmax is speeding towards the ultimate prize – the top spot in cable news – thanks to resilient, innovative technology

Transforming a beloved niche news organization into a publicly traded powerhouse poised to eclipse some very serious competition is one hell of a trip. Newsmax has been on a 15-year journey to do exactly that, and in March of this year took its place on the NYSE (NYSE:NMX).

Millions of loyal viewers turn to Newsmax for insights and info, and their number is skyrocketing. In the first quarter of 2025, the org reported 33.6 million total viewers, a 50% increase from the same period in 2024. They’re also lighting up social media, with over 20 million followers across all platforms. Newsmax set records, ranking No. 1 among all U.S. news networks for per-follower social interaction on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Founded by award-winning journalist Christopher Ruddy in 1998, the one-time online-only news source is the fifth-most-watched cable network overall.

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Newsmax operates an integrated technological infrastructure that supports traditional cable television broadcasts, a high-traffic website (Newsmax.com), dedicated audio and video streaming services (Newsmax2, Newsmax+), and mobile apps.

Lokesh Tiwari

The architect of that infrastructure, Chief Information Officer Lokesh Tiwari, is a technology leader with extensive experience in building and executing transformative technology strategies in the media landscape. He recently gave Reboot a backstage pass to the company’s latest digital transformations.

“My core mandate as CIO involves architecting and executing a resilient, innovative, and forward-looking technology strategy that spans IT development, broadcast/streaming, infrastructure, security, and compliance,” he told us. Tiwari works closely with Ruddy to integrate technology into the fabric of the organization itself.

“We’re continuously evolving our core technology to create a seamless, unified experience across the Newsmax channel, our streaming services (Newsmax2, Newsmax+), Newsmax.com, and mobile apps,” he told us. “My vision is to connect our audience to vital news wherever they are. This involves scaling infrastructure for significant user growth, delivering superior streaming quality, and ensuring robust system performance.”

Keeping millions of eyes focused on the organization’s programming demands that their content is easily accessible and engaging across the viewers’ preferred platforms, and Tiwari and his team lead that critical mission. One of their many projects, the Newsmax+ premium subscription service, delivers the live Newsmax channel feed, access to an extensive library of popular shows, and original content in an ad-light environment.

“This initiative is a cornerstone of our strategy to deliver enhanced value and choice, catering to viewers seeking more in-depth analysis and uninterrupted access,” Tiwari said. “The successful launch and growth of Newsmax+ to over 300,000 active subscribers is a direct result of the robust technological framework I directed and implemented.” Tiwari is a driving force behind Newsmax’s expansion strategy, spearheading efforts to amplify platform’s global presence and impact. “The Newsmax+ platform not only provides exclusive value to our viewers but also showcases our ability to deliver and scale sophisticated subscription solutions.”

Artificial Intelligence is a foundational pillar for Newsmax’s competitive agility in the industry. “Our recent launch of a Spanish-dubbed live channel using real-time AI translation is a strategic move to break down language barriers, tap into new demographics, and make content accessible to a wider audience,” Tiwari noted. “Beyond translation, AI drives sophisticated content personalization and recommendation engines across our platforms, ensuring viewers connect more deeply with the news and analysis that matters most to them.”

Complexities of live television production, playout, and distribution via satellite and IP-based solutions demand high reliability and specific industry technologies. Robust content management systems capable of handling a high volume of news articles, video content, and real-time updates for Newsmax.com require a sophisticated, resilient, and interconnected technology stack.

“To achieve this, we integrate specialized front-end application development expertise, provided by 24i. This enables us to deliver consistent, high-quality user experiences across our diverse OTT and streaming platforms.”

Newsmax+ requires robust and agile subscriber management and payment solutions. “By integrating Cleeng as our subscription management platform, my team can efficiently manage the entire subscriber life cycle for our growing base. It also provides critical data and insights into subscriber behavior and churn dynamics, allowing us to refine our offerings and optimize this direct-to-consumer revenue stream effectively.”

The bedrock of their growth strategy is delivering content wherever and whenever audiences want to consume it. Global leaders in content delivery and cloud security such as Akamai guarantee that availability on a 24/7 basis. “This strategic reliance ensures that our content reaches millions of viewers worldwide with high quality and minimal interruption, while also fortifying our platforms against cyber threats,” he said.

To capitalize on new audience segments and revenue opportunities, particularly within the rapidly expanding free ad-supported streaming TV channel ecosystem, his team integrates specialized cloud-based broadcast and targeted ad-insertion technologies. As he put it, “Our collaboration with partners like Amagi and Zixi allows us to efficiently launch, deliver, and monetize these channels, significantly contributing to our digital growth strategy and diversifying our revenue streams.”

They also team up with providers in the Google, Microsoft, and Adobe ecosystems, leveraging their enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure, advanced analytics capabilities, content creation tools, and digital marketing platforms to power many core operations and audience engagement strategies.

Tiwari was pivotal in navigating the Newsmax IPO, preparing technological infrastructure, systems, and governance for the intense scrutiny the offering entailed. “We’re also primed to support an ambitious future trajectory,” he acknowledged. Being fourth in the lineup of top news broadcasters is fine and dandy, but Ruddy and company are gunning for the top spot. The IPO was a necessary leap towards the goal.

“While the technological readiness for an IPO spans myriad areas – from ensuring the scalability and reliability of our platforms to handle increased traffic and data, to the robustness of our financial reporting systems – I would underscore that our deepened commitment to enterprise-grade compliance and data protection was a particularly critical contribution I spearheaded, directly impacting the success and integrity of the offering,” he said.

“My team is currently leading the charge on key upcoming initiatives to further strengthen these areas, ensuring we continue to operate with the highest standards of governance and security as a public entity,” he revealed. “This includes investing in next-generation security technologies, enhancing their data life cycle management, and continuously refining their incident response capabilities. I am immensely proud of the culture we’ve built and what we achieve together.”