Disney and ABC File Lawsuit to Stop FCC’s Early Licence Renewal
Disney’s corporate arm and its owned‑and‑operated ABC stations have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and chairman Brendan Carr, requesting a court order to prevent the agency from proceeding with an early renewal of broadcast licences.
The plaintiffs argue that the FCC’s request—issued in early May for licences that normally expire at the end of an eight‑year term—is driven by political pressure from President Donald Trump, who publicly criticised ABC’s coverage of him as “almost 100% negative.”
What the lawsuit claims
The suit labels the FCC’s action as “unprecedented”, noting that no commission had in more than five decades compelled a large network group to file renewal applications within 30 days. It cites Trump’s social media post that essentially asked whether the licences should be terminated, concluding with a direct statement: “I say, Yes!”.
Disney further alleges that the FCC is “waging a retaliatory campaign” against ABC because it “disapproves of what ABC broadcasts,” and that the administration’s broader media crackdown has infracted on free speech rights.
Federal Communications Commission’s stance
FCC chairman Brendan Carr distances the agency from accusations of political bias. He said that the renewal requests were intended to serve the “public interest” rather than retaliation:
“If broadcasters don’t like that, that’s okay,” Carr told CNBC in July. “They can become a cable channel, they can become a podcast, they can stream online. But if you want to uniquely be on the public’s airwaves, you have to comply with those obligations.”
Broader context
The lawsuit comes amid a series of disputes between Disney and regulators, including investigations into the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and a high‑profile defamation suit involving ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos. The FCC’s recent decision to seek early renewal of ABC licences followed Jimmy Kimmel’s joke about First Lady Melania Trump, a move that heightened scrutiny over the agency’s application of its own standards.
Disney and ABC have requested a speedy court hearing and a temporary restraining order to stop the FCC from forcing the renewal process. The outcome of the case could set a new precedent for how broadcast licences are managed when political tensions rise.
