ABC has accused the Federal Communications Commission of retaliating against the network by threatening to revoke the broadcasting licenses of eight Disney-owned stations, according to a filing submitted Wednesday. The network argued that the action is politically motivated, tied to the Trump administration's longstanding disputes with ABC programs and personalities such as late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and the daytime show «The View».
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called for early renewal of the licenses in April, moving the process forward from their scheduled dates between 2028 and 2031. The eight stations — KFSN in Fresno, KABC in Los Angeles, KGO in San Francisco, WLS in Chicago, WABC in New York, WTVD in Durham, WPVI in Philadelphia, and KTRK in Houston — must now demonstrate that they have been operating in the public interest. The review is part of a broader examination of Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
ABC's legal team wrote that the commission has spent the past 18 months searching for a pretext to revoke the licenses but has found none. The network emphasized that the stations easily meet the legal standard for renewal and that the commission cannot revoke them or order a hearing without cause. The filing noted that over 140,000 comments have been received from local communities, with more than 95 percent supporting the stations. Supporters include police, firefighters, charities, businesses, schools, and individual viewers spanning the ideological spectrum.
The network's filing explicitly connected the FCC's actions to the administration's open calls for revocation of ABC's licenses due to content and viewpoints expressed on its programs. Kimmel has frequently lampooned President Trump, and a controversial joke about first lady Melania Trump earlier this year led her to call for his firing. The FCC has also launched a probe into «The View» and took exception to the network's decision not to air a Trump primetime address on its linear television channel.
An FCC spokesperson defended the commission's actions, stating that broadcasters receive valuable public airwaves and in exchange are required to operate in the public interest. The spokesperson said the FCC will hold broadcasters accountable for compliance with laws regarding discrimination, political equal opportunity, and news distortion. The statement dismissed ABC's accusations as part of a disinformation campaign.
The conservative watchdog Media Research Center, which filed a petition supporting the early review, doubled down on its stance. MRC President David Bozell stated that ABC's defense amounts to «Trust us» and that Americans do not trust the media. He said the MRC's filing is based on documented conduct, not political disagreement.
ABC warned that the retaliation against its stations sends a signal to all media companies that they must accommodate the administration's view of news coverage or face consequences. The network argued that the commission has no basis for such severe action and noted that even if any violation were found, there are graduated remedies short of license non-renewal. The filing described the FCC's approach as a «corporate death penalty» that is unnecessary and punitive.
