ABC, Disney Accuse FCC of Coercing 8 Station Renewals to Evade Court Review
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 13
ABC, Disney Accuse FCC of Coercing 8 Station Renewals to Evade Court Review
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 13
Summary
Monday’s filing says the FCC forced all eight ABC-owned stations into early license renewals to pressure Disney and ABC while sidestepping judicial review.
Disney argued the agency had long-used, less intrusive tools to examine DEI practices but chose an unprecedented renewal process instead, calling that choice retaliatory and unconstitutional.
A hearing last week sharpened that claim after the FCC said other procedures could have required federal court enforcement; Disney said that showed review was treated as an obstacle.
The FCC rejected the suit as meritless and premature, saying Disney is trying to stop the agency from determining whether the broadcaster met longstanding public-interest obligations.
The dispute extends beyond license renewals: the FCC is also probing "The View" under equal-time rules, while Disney says the show qualifies for the bona fide news exemption.