Judge to weigh Disney’s challenge against FCC’s ABC license review
A US judge will hold a hearing on Tuesday to consider Walt Disney's lawsuit aiming to block the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reviewing licenses for its eight ABC-owned stations. The lawsuit, filed in August 2026, challenges the FCC's decision to initiate early reviews, a move Disney argues is an attempt to retaliate against the company for refusing to comply with the Trump administration's demands.
Disney claims the FCC's actions violate First Amendment free speech rights, calling it an "extraordinary assault on free speech." The company alleges the agency is coercing broadcasters who do not align with the administration's preferences. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized ABC and other broadcasters, urging them to drop programs that criticize him or his administration.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered the early reviews in April 2026, even though the ABC stations' license renewals were not scheduled until October 2028. The FCC had not ordered such reviews in over 50 years before this case. Critics argue that threats of license revocation could pressure broadcasters into altering their programming to avoid government interference.
The FCC is also investigating ABC's daytime talk show "The View" for potential violations of federal rules requiring equal opportunities for political candidates. Disney has stated that "The View" has not invited any political candidates since February, citing the FCC’s "pressure campaign." Additionally, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel claimed FCC threats prevented the airing of an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, which was instead posted on YouTube and viewed over 13 million times.