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Disney and ABC sue FCC over licenses
Disney and ABC seek to block an early review of eight local broadcast licenses, calling it retaliation for their content.
What happened
Disney, ABC and eight Disney-owned local stations filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the FCC and Chairman Brendan Carr. They seek to stop an early license-renewal process begun in April. The companies say it targets ABC’s editorial content; the FCC says broadcasters must serve the public interest.
Numbers
- 8Disney-owned stations named in suit
- 1 dayBetween joke and FCC notice — Timing cited by Disney
- Over 1 yearFCC inquiry into DEI claims
Questions
- Which licenses are at issue?
- The licences cover Disney’s eight owned-and-operated television stations, local outlets named as plaintiffs alongside Disney and the ABC network.
- Why does the FCC defend review?
- It points to claims that Disney engaged in illegal DEI discrimination and says the agency has examined them for over a year.
- What does Disney seek from court?
- It asks the court to halt the early renewal proceedings, instead of requiring the stations to apply years before their normal schedule.
- What evidence does Disney cite?
- The lawsuit cites Trump’s posts questioning late-night hosts’ licenses and the timing of the renewal notice after Kimmel’s joke.
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Support and opposition
Who supports this, and why
Disney and ABC — Early renewal unlawfully uses licensing to punish editorial content and chills protected speech across media.
Who opposes this, and why
FCC — Broadcasters must serve the public interest, and the review follows claims Disney engaged in illegal DEI discrimination.
The catch
No court ruling or hearing date has been included in the available coverage.