FCC Starts Early Renewal Review of Disney/ABC Licenses

Federal regulators on Tuesday ordered a sweeping review of all station licenses owned by ABC, an extraordinary step widely seen as an effort by the Trump administration to pressure the network over its programming.

The FCC announced the review in a filing tied to an investigation of ABC’s diversity and inclusion policies. The move comes amid a public feud this week between President Trump and ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, after Trump demanded the network fire Kimmel.

The action marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to punish major media outlets for coverage it dislikes. Trump has previously sued news organizations, including The New York Times, and his FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, has repeatedly threatened to revoke broadcasters’ licenses.

The FCC has never before ordered such a broad review of a major network’s licenses. ABC owns eight stations in major markets, including New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, out of more than 200 local stations that carry its programming nationwide.

Revoking broadcast licenses is extremely difficult and requires proving a pattern of rule violations. Even if the FCC ultimately moves to block renewals, ABC could continue broadcasting during what would likely be years of court challenges. The review guarantees months or years of expensive legal battles between the network and the federal government.

Media lawyers and free-speech advocates condemned the action and pledged to fight it in court.

“This is about as extreme an action as I’ve ever seen the FCC take against a broadcaster for frivolous reasons,” said Gigi Sohn, a senior staff member at the agency during the Obama administration. “It’s a message to every other network, ‘Watch yourself, you might be next.’”

Under normal procedures, ABC’s station licenses — which run on eight-year terms — would not need renewal until 2028. However, a rarely used provision of communications law allows the FCC to force an early renewal application at any time.

The FCC review was ordered one day after President Trump demanded that ABC fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.  Trump’s call came Monday following a joke Kimmel made last week targeting first lady Melania Trump on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Kimmel’s remarks occurred days before an alleged gunman, Cole Allen, opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, forcing the event’s cancellation.  Allen faces charges including attempted assassination of Trump.

Late Monday, Kimmel brushed off the president’s demand, describing his earlier comments as “a very light roast.”