WASHINGTON, D.C. — Disney and ABC told a federal judge Thursday that President Donald Trump’s continuing threats against broadcasters and journalists strengthen their request to block the Federal Communications Commission from conducting early license reviews of eight ABC-owned television stations.
Disney alleges that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is using the licensing process to curb speech critical of the administration. That is the company’s legal argument—not a court finding.
Carr ordered the reviews in April even though the stations’ renewals were not scheduled for consideration before October 2028. According to court reporting, the FCC had not invoked an early review of this kind in more than 50 years. The order followed Trump’s demand that ABC fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
The FCC previously asked the court to dismiss Disney’s lawsuit. The agency says its review concerns allegations of unlawful employment discrimination and argues that the dispute belongs in a federal appeals court. Disney denies that stated justification and characterizes the review as retaliation for protected programming and editorial decisions.
FCC license revocations are rare, but the case could determine how far the government may use broadcast-licensing authority when elected officials object to news coverage or entertainment programming.
U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan has scheduled an October 6 hearing. The FCC has agreed to provide at least 48 hours’ notice before referring the licenses for an administrative hearing. Neither the White House nor Carr immediately commented on Disney’s latest filing.
The Radio News Now question
What objective safeguard prevents an accelerated license review from becoming pressure over a station’s journalism or programming?