FCC Orders Disney’s 8 ABC Stations to Reapply for Licenses as Democrat Alleges Censorship Campaign
Updated
Updated · Variety · May 11
FCC Orders Disney’s 8 ABC Stations to Reapply for Licenses as Democrat Alleges Censorship Campaign
1 articles · Updated · Variety · May 11
Eight ABC-owned stations were ordered onto an accelerated license-renewal track, a step FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez said is an unprecedented bid to pressure Disney and ABC.
Gomez, the FCC’s lone Democrat, told Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro that the agency under Brendan Carr has turned probes over Jimmy Kimmel, “The View” and Disney’s DEI policies into a coordinated effort to punish critical speech.
ABC has already argued the FCC is threatening decades of settled law by questioning whether “The View” qualifies for a news-program exemption under equal-time rules after a Texas Senate candidate appeared on the show.
Gomez said any adverse renewal outcome could be challenged in federal court and take years, while Disney’s stations would keep their licenses during the process.
How will the FCC's clash with Disney redefine free speech for all American broadcasters?
Is investigating corporate diversity a valid use of a media regulator's power or a dangerous overreach?
FCC Orders Early License Renewal for 8 Disney/ABC Stations: Unprecedented Political Scrutiny Raises First Amendment Alarms
Overview
In April 2026, the FCC took the unusual step of ordering Disney’s eight ABC stations to file for early license renewals, signaling increased scrutiny of a major broadcaster. This move followed a yearlong investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, which was reportedly sped up after a controversial joke by ABC host Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump. The FCC’s decision was influenced by both ongoing internal policy reviews and this specific on-air incident, and came amid repeated calls from President Donald Trump for the FCC to revoke licenses of networks like ABC, raising concerns about political pressure on media regulation.