Disney Sues FCC Over Alleged Retaliation Against ABC Network
The Walt Disney Company has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) led by President Donald Trump, alleging that his administration has waged a campaign against the ABC Network.
The suit claims that the FCC has violated First Amendment rights and is targeting ABC because it broadcasts content that the administration disapproves of. The FCC was threatening to strip several ABC stations of their broadcast licenses, with Disney claiming this is retaliatory action.
Legal expert Danny Karon predicts that 'Disney will win' in the lawsuit, citing that government agencies cannot use regulatory authority to punish a media company for not liking its content.
Karon also noted that Disney needs to connect the FCC's actions to Chairman Brendan Carr's warning about addressing the Jimmy Kimmel controversy and President Trump's repeated criticism of ABS's licenses. The worst consequences the FCC could face are declaratory and injunctive relief, declaring the FCC's behavior as unconstitutional retaliation and permanently preventing it from using its licensing authority.
The lawsuit is scheduled for a court hearing in early October 2026 with both sides required to submit their legal papers by September 24. Disney requested an immediate emergency hearing but was rejected by a federal judge.