Disney’s ABC Sues FCC Over Challenge to Its Broadcast Licenses
Disney says the FCC is using license reviews and DEI probes to pressure ABC over its programming, risking costly litigation and possible station revocations.
- On Tuesday, Disney filed a lawsuit in District Court against the FCC, alleging the administration launched a 'retaliatory campaign' violating the First Amendment and seeking to block the agency's license renewal challenge.
- Earlier this year, Chairman Brendan Carr initiated enforcement proceedings against The View over 'equal time' guidelines; the Commission also ordered an early renewal for eight Disney-owned stations, a departure from decades of regulatory practice.
- During the investigation, ABC produced more than 13,000 pages of documents across more than 600 requests. The lawsuit argues the agency used 'licenses as an instrument to the same end,' targeting programming content.
- In an interview, Chairman Carr stated, 'If you didn't take us seriously, now you should.' The lawsuit claims these actions threaten the free press, pressuring media companies to align with administration viewpoints.
- Regulatory scrutiny intensified following a joke by Jimmy Kimmel about Melania Trump. The suit warns that if the Administration succeeds, it sends an unmistakable message to every media company to avoid unfavorable stories.
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234 Articles
The American post ABC, owned by the Disney group, in the visor of Donald Trump, counterattacked Tuesday in court, accusing the Republican administration of violating freedom of expression by threatening its broadcasting licenses, reports AFP.
ABC sues U.S. broadcast regulator over early licence reviews, cites actions as 'existential threat'
Further escalating its battle with the Trump administration, ABC on Tuesday took the rare step of suing the Federal Communications Commission on First Amendment grounds, saying the agency's demand for early review of broadcast licences posed an "existential threat" to its operations.
Disney Sues FCC to Block Early Review of ABC Station Licenses
The Walt Disney Company has sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to block the early review of its licenses for eight ABC affiliate stations. The Aug. 18 lawsuit argues that the Trump administration is attempting to retaliate against ABC for its broadcast content. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr began an investigation in March 2025 into whether Disney’s diversity policies violated federal nondiscrimination law. In April 2026, the FCC’s medi…
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