Politics · United States · 4 hrs ago
ABC Says FCC Used Early License Reviews to Pressure Disney Over Its Speech
The FCC ordered early license reviews for all eight television stations owned by ABC, part of Disney.
The stations’ licenses were not due for renewal until 2028 through 2031.
The FCC says the reviews are tied to an investigation into possible anti-discrimination law violations involving Disney’s employment practices.
Disney and ABC say the agency used the reviews to pressure the company over programming and other speech criticized by President Donald Trump.
They argue the FCC could have used other enforcement tools, such as subpoenas or penalties, instead.
The FCC says early renewal was the best way to address what it called incomplete responses to its information requests, and it disputes the district court’s authority to hear the case.
Disney complied with the review order under protest and is seeking a court order to pause the reviews while its lawsuit proceeds; the judge has not said when she will rule.
ABC and Disney told a federal judge that the FCC used early reviews of ABC’s broadcast licenses to pressure the company over its speech and editorial decisions.
They argue the agency could have used less intrusive enforcement options and say the reviews were retaliatory.
The FCC says the reviews arose from an investigation into possible anti-discrimination law violations involving Disney’s employment practices.
The FCC ordered early reviews for all eight ABC-owned television stations, whose licenses were otherwise due for renewal from 2028 through 2031.
Disney and ABC are seeking a preliminary injunction to block the reviews while their lawsuit proceeds.
- Who
- Disney and ABC are challenging the FCC. The FCC says the reviews concern Disney’s employment practices.
- What
- Disney and ABC say the FCC used early broadcast-license reviews to pressure the company over its speech. They seek a preliminary injunction blocking the reviews.
- When
- The FCC ordered the reviews on April 28. Disney and ABC made the arguments in a filing on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- In federal court; the articles do not specify the court’s location for the case.
- Why
- Disney and ABC say the reviews were retaliatory and that less intrusive enforcement options were available. The FCC says it is investigating possible violations of federal anti-discrimination laws involving Disney’s employment practices.
Disney and ABC
FCC
Purpose of reviews
Disney and ABC
They say the FCC used early license reviews to pressure the company over its speech and editorial decisions.
FCC
The FCC says the reviews stem from an investigation into possible anti-discrimination law violations involving Disney’s employment practices.
Available measures
Disney and ABC
They say the agency could have used options such as subpoenas, monetary penalties or cease-and-desist orders instead of early reviews.
FCC
The FCC called early renewal the best tool for the task and said some alternatives would require Department of Justice enforcement.
Court proceedings
Disney and ABC
They seek a preliminary injunction and argue the reviews were designed to evade judicial review.
FCC
The FCC argues that the district court lacks jurisdiction and that Disney has not shown irreparable harm.
The FCC ordered early license reviews for ABC’s eight owned television stations.
ABC was required to submit applications for the early reviews.
Disney sued the FCC after complying with the order under protest.
Government attorneys acknowledged at a hearing that other enforcement tools were available.
Disney and ABC filed arguments saying the early reviews were retaliatory and that less intrusive options existed.
- Stations
- 8 ABC-owned television stations
- Order date
- April 28
- Application deadline
- May 28
- Scheduled license renewals
- 2028 through 2031
- Requested relief
- Preliminary injunction blocking the early reviews
What people are saying
Defendants sought to inflict maximal coercive pressure on the media company whose speech the Administration sought to curb, while deliberately evading judicial review.
best tool for the task before the agency
Asking whether the Commission might have chosen a different tool to combat Plaintiffs’ failure to provide complete responses in the anti-discrimination investigation does not address the operative question in this case: whether the agency lawfully elected to call for early renewal
Sources
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