The Walt Disney Company has filed a 109-page document accusing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of conducting a politically motivated investigation aimed at revoking broadcast licenses for several ABC-owned television stations. Disney argues that the FCC's actions are retaliation for the company's programming, including critical commentary on President Donald Trump and scrutiny of Disney's diversity initiatives.
The dispute centers on the FCC's decision earlier this year to launch an early review of the licenses for eight ABC stations, including major outlets in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Fresno, Houston, and Philadelphia. Disney contends that if these licenses were revoked, it would significantly impact ABC's national broadcasting operations.
Disney's filing asserts that the FCC has spent 18 months seeking a pretext to revoke the licenses, arguing that the stations fully meet renewal standards. The company highlighted that this is the first time in over 50 years the FCC has ordered a group-wide license review for television stations so far in advance of their expiration dates. Disney's attorneys stated that the FCC's review is without modern precedent.
The entertainment company linked the timing of the FCC's review to President Trump's public criticism of ABC. Specifically, the FCC announced its review one day after Trump publicly criticized the network following a monologue by host Jimmy Kimmel that included jokes about Trump's health and First Lady Melania Trump.
"The retaliation against ABC is a signal to every media company in the country: accommodate the Administration’s view of what news coverage should look like or pay the price," Disney's lawyers wrote in the filing.
The FCC has stated that the inquiry stems from its examination of Disney's internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, part of the Trump administration's wider efforts to scrutinize such initiatives across corporations. The commission has also questioned whether ABC's daytime talk show "The View" should continue to receive an exemption from equal-time rules applicable to political programming.
The FCC's review has generated substantial public feedback, with over 152,000 comments submitted by the filing deadline. Disney reported that approximately 96% of these comments supported the ABC stations retaining their licenses. Supporters included law enforcement officials such as Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, who stated that KABC-TV has provided vital information to Southern California residents for over 75 years. Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also urged the FCC to abandon the review, characterizing it as an improper use of regulatory authority to target media content.
Disney has assembled a legal team led by chief legal officer Horacio Gutierrez, alongside attorneys Beth Wilkinson, Jennifer Tatel, and former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement. The case could potentially reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
However, not all parties have supported Disney's position. The Center for American Rights filed a petition urging the FCC to deny the station renewals, arguing that ABC engages in racial and gender discrimination and does not provide viewers with diverse viewpoints. FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, the commission's sole Democrat, criticized the investigation as "naked political retribution and an unlawful assault on free speech."