Disney and ABC Accuse FCC of Coercive Pressure in License Renewal Probe

<p>Disney and ABC accused the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 13, 2026, of using the license renewal process to circumvent judicial review and exert coercive pressure against the network and company.</p><p>Disney originally filed a lawsuit against the FCC in August, claiming a retaliatory campaign against ABC regarding the agency's early broadcast license renewal proceedings for eight ABC-owned stations. The FCC stated that these stations must demonstrate they are operating in the public interest as the agency investigates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.</p><p>In Disney's latest court filing, the company asserted that the FCC could have utilized various tools to investigate Disney and ABC's DEI practices without forcing stations to renew their licenses ahead of schedule, suggesting this approach was intended to avoid legal scrutiny.</p><p>The filing stated, "These are not merely 'theoretical' tools ... they have been used by the agency for decades. Yet the agency tried none of those less intrusive tools here, instead taking the unprecedented step of calling for early license renewal of all eight ABC-owned stations at once. Defendants’ own admissions leave no doubt as to why — Defendants sought to inflict maximal coercive pressure on the media company whose speech the Administration sought to curb, while deliberately evading judicial review."</p><p>Disney referenced a court hearing the previous week in which the FCC was instructed to provide a supplemental filing on alternative methods the agency could have used. During this hearing, the FCC indicated that additional procedures would have required federal court enforcement.</p><p>The filing continued, "That Defendants openly describe judicial review as an obstacle demonstrates what Plaintiffs have been saying all along: shielding their unconstitutional campaign against ABC from judicial review is part of Defendants’ retaliatory strategy."</p><p>In a statement to Fox News Digital, FCC spokesperson Adam Jackman dismissed the latest filing as an attempt to obstruct the FCC's court procedures. He stated, "Disney’s latest filing only confirms that they’ve filed a meritless case in the wrong court at the wrong time. They want a district court to prevent the FCC from even considering whether Disney has complied with its longstanding obligations as a broadcaster. The law does not allow that. The FCC will continue to hold broadcasters accountable to their regulatory obligations."</p><p>Fox News Digital also reached out to ABC and Disney for comment but did not receive an immediate response.</p><p>Disney and ABC have criticized the FCC's investigations into the company as retaliation for programs and hosts that are critical of former President Donald Trump, including late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.</p><p>In addition to the license renewal proceedings, the FCC has launched a probe into the ABC daytime talk show "The View" based on the agency's demand that broadcast stations adhere to the equal opportunity requirement, which states that opposing political candidates receive equal time. Disney has maintained that "The View" is a bona fide news program exempt from this rule.</p>