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| FCC's Brendan Carr, President Trump |
President Donald Trump and FCC Chair Brendan Carr have suggested revoking broadcast TV licenses for networks they claim show bias against Trump. This isn’t the first time they’ve raised the idea, spotlighting the government’s authority over the media industry.
Networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox require FCC-issued spectrum licenses to broadcast over-the-air, providing free TV to viewers with antennas. Unlike pay-TV networks (e.g., CNN, MTV), which operate via subscription services and are distributed by companies like Comcast or DirecTV, broadcasters deliver local news, sports, sitcoms, dramas, and shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” While streaming has changed viewing habits, the licensing model remains unchanged. Companies like Nexstar and Sinclair license public airwaves from the FCC, which mandates stations operate in the “public interest, convenience, and necessity,” addressing local community needs.
The FCC’s “public interest” standard is central to Carr’s and Trump’s arguments. Carr criticized Jimmy Kimmel’s comments linking a suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to Trump’s MAGA movement, calling them misleading. Trump has repeatedly claimed networks like ABC and NBC are biased, citing a supposed 97% negative coverage rate, and suggested their licenses could be revoked. Carr has echoed this, suggesting at a February summit that broadcasters not serving the public interest could lose their licenses or switch to unregulated platforms like podcasting.
If the FCC finds a network violates the public interest, it can revoke the station’s license, causing it to go dark in its market. Local affiliates could preempt network programming to stay compliant, but the process is complex. Syracuse University’s Roy Gutterman, a communications law expert, told CNBC that revoking a license involves investigations, procedures, and likely legal challenges. Historically, violations involve issues like inadequate children’s programming or obscenity, not political content. Gutterman calls Trump’s approach “unprecedented,” arguing that responsible use of airwaves isn’t about political alignment.
Mounting pressure: The issue coincides with industry consolidation. Nexstar, which owns about 30 ABC-affiliated stations, and Sinclair recently preempted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” due to Kimmel’s statements. Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, while Sinclair eyes a similar deal. These moves challenge longstanding FCC ownership caps, which Carr supports eliminating to aid a struggling broadcast model. As streaming erodes pay-TV subscriptions, broadcasters rely heavily on retransmission fees from distributors like Charter. Declining subscribers threaten profits, pushing companies to consolidate. Trump’s and Carr’s threats thus amplify pressure on an industry already navigating significant disruption.