A conservative media watchdog group is calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deny the renewal of ABC's broadcast licenses, citing alleged partisan bias and a failure to serve the public interest. The Media Research Center (MRC) submitted a petition arguing that the network has engaged in electioneering, avoided critical issues, excused political violence, and spread misinformation.
In its filing, the MRC asserted that ABC has predominantly offered positive coverage of Democratic figures, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris, while presenting largely negative coverage of former President Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign. The group also claimed that guests on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" largely aligned with the political left and that several hosts of "The View" declined to interview Republicans, including Trump, while hosting Democrats like former President Joe Biden.
The MRC further accused ABC of imposing "media blackouts" on certain stories, specifically mentioning The Post's reporting on Hunter Biden's laptop and a Heritage Foundation report concerning the use of an autopen. The watchdog group also criticized ABC's handling of political violence, referencing comments made by Kimmel after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which the MRC characterized as an attempt to downplay the perpetrator's political motivations.
Additionally, the petition pointed to what it described as inaccurate reporting by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos, who stated on air that Trump had been found liable of rape. The network later settled defamation claims from Trump for $16 million after Stephanopoulos's assertion, though Trump was ultimately found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, not rape. The MRC also highlighted ABC's extensive coverage of Jussie Smollett's hate crime hoax claims while providing minimal airtime to the debunking of his story.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr had previously initiated a review of eight of Disney's broadcast licenses, which include ABC channels in major markets like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. This review began a year earlier than usual, with Carr citing ABC's alleged lack of cooperation with an inquiry into its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
An FCC spokesperson stated that broadcast licenses are not guaranteed and that the commission is mandated by Congress to assess whether a broadcaster has served the public interest during the license renewal process. ABC has contested the early review, characterizing it as an effort to suppress speech through a bureaucratic process and stating it serves no legitimate purpose. The network has also launched a campaign to encourage viewers to support its license renewals.