The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to rule that ABC’s “The View” is not a bona fide news interview program, a decision that would end more than 20 years of precedent and force the Disney-owned daytime talk show to offer rival political candidates equal airtime.
Bloomberg is reporting that the FCC is also expected to advance a separate probe into Disney’s broadcast television licenses, potentially moving toward an administrative hearing that could jeopardize ABC stations in major markets including New York and Los Angeles. Both actions could be finalized before Labor Day, according to people familiar with the matter. The moves would mark the most aggressive FCC regulatory action against a major U.S. broadcaster in decades and a significant win for Chairman Brendan Carr’s push to tighten oversight of political programming on airwaves.
If implemented, the ruling would require “The View” to provide comparable airtime to opposing candidates whenever it features one running for office — a change ABC says would severely limit its editorial freedom.
The Media Bureau’s determination on “The View” could be appealed to the full commission and then federal court, while the license investigation may proceed to a hearing before Carr or the full FCC.
The dispute originated in February after “The View” interviewed Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. That appearance prompted FCC questions about whether rival candidates received equal opportunities under federal broadcast rules. Carr later opened a formal inquiry into whether the program still qualifies for the long-standing equal-time exemption.
In May, ABC and its Houston affiliate asked the FCC to uphold its 2002 ruling that classified “The View” as a bona fide news interview program exempt from the requirement. Earlier this month, ABC escalated its defense, filing comments stating: “The First Amendment does not permit the government to sit in an editor’s chair.”
Semafor reported that “The View” has quietly reduced bookings of candidates in competitive races while the FCC review is pending.