Summary: ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company, argues the Federal Communications Commission's move to open early reviews of eight ABC broadcast licenses is part of a deliberate attempt to intimidate the network and other media companies into altering news coverage. The network says the April-ordered reviews, initiated by FCC Chair Brendan Carr, were prompted by a year-long probe into Disney's diversity policies and followed public pressure from the White House about programming the administration dislikes.
In formal filings, ABC said the agency's action - to review the licenses of eight Disney-owned ABC stations ahead of their scheduled renewals - represents a near-unique escalation. The network described the government action as "a signal to every media company in the country: accommodate the administration’s view of what news coverage should look like or pay the price," adding the agency's goal is "a media industry too fearful of official reprisal to report the news freely."
The reviews were ordered in April even though the affected stations' license renewal dates were not due to be considered until October 2028. The FCC had not initiated an early review in more than 50 years prior to the April orders, making the step highly unusual.
According to materials filed by the FCC, the action follows a year-long investigation into whether Disney's diversity practices amounted to unlawful discrimination - an allegation Disney disputes. The probe was opened in March 2025, and FCC officials said they had received documents from Disney that they considered insufficient.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr could take further steps after a final comment deadline, currently set for August 5. Carr ordered the reviews in April; he did not immediately comment when the network's filing was made public. The reviews were ordered one day after former President Trump publicly urged ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, according to the filings.
ABC said the public response to the review has been overwhelmingly supportive. The network reported that more than 150,000 comments have been filed in the proceeding and that over 95% of those comments back the stations. In addition, numerous local officials and community groups from the eight states where the stations operate have filed in support of the broadcasters.
In its filings the network characterized the review as punitive, saying "From its earliest days, this administration has made clear its intent to punish ABC for its news coverage and to create a chilling effect on ABC and others." The filing frames the FCC action as retaliation tied to dissatisfaction with news reporting.
Legal experts and critics note that while broadcast licenses - needed to operate on public airwaves - can be revoked, such revocations are exceptionally rare. They say the mere threat of license loss can exert pressure on broadcasters and raise concerns about potential government interference in editorial and programming choices. Networks generally have broad First Amendment protections for programming decisions.
The filing also notes that the FCC is examining "The View," a daytime talk show that regularly covers U.S. politics, to determine whether it may be subject to federal rules that require broadcasters to provide equal opportunities to political candidates.
The record presented to the commission includes an earlier public demand from former President Trump that the FCC revoke ABC's licenses after he criticized an ABC News correspondent's question to Saudi Arabia's crown prince about the 2018 killing of a Washington Post columnist, calling the question "insubordinate."
ABC and The Walt Disney Company deny that their diversity policies constitute unlawful discrimination. Both the company and Chair Carr did not immediately provide further comment on the filings that raised these issues.
Contextual note: The record assembled in filings shows a mix of regulatory procedure, public comment, and political pressure converging on a small set of broadcast stations owned by Disney's ABC. The FCC characterizes its action as the outcome of an investigation; ABC characterizes it as retaliation that threatens editorial independence.