ABC/Disney battles FCC.
ABC/Disney mobilizes viewers nationwide regarding FCC probes into 'The View' and station licenses.
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Key Points
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The eight ABC-owned stations under the early license-renewal review are WABC-TV (New York), KABC-TV (Los Angeles), WLS-TV (Chicago), WPVI-TV (Philadelphia), KTRK-TV (Houston), KGO-TV (San Francisco), WTVD-TV (Raleigh–Durham), and KFSN-TV (Fresno).
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The View’s equal-time proceeding centers on a James Talarico appearance, with ABC arguing the show has long operated under a bona fide news-interview exemption, a status the network says dates back to a 2002 FCC determination.
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The on-air ads Direct viewers to the FCC public-comment page via QR codes, with spots featuring lines such as 'Channel 7 has proudly served you for more than 75 years' and urging viewers to comment before July 29 to 'keep your trusted local station on the air.'
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Public-comment submissions show a contrast: thousands of comments have been filed for the The View proceeding, while far fewer have been received for the station-license renewal inquiry.
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Disney-related lobbying activity connected to FCC matters totals about $7.2 million since early 2025, including roughly $1.43 million in the most recent quarter, with references to Disney (DIS) and related networks such as Fox Corp (FOXA) and Paramount Global (PARA).
Disney-owned ABC launched a coordinated on-air and online campaign on June 22, urging viewers across eight major markets to file public comments with the FCC before two fast-approaching deadlines. The push comes as the network fights two separate regulatory threats: a challenge to The View's long-standing political-exemption status and an unprecedented early license-renewal order targeting all eight ABC-owned stations.
The campaign uses QR codes in broadcast ads to direct viewers to the FCC's public comment page. One spot tells viewers: 'Channel 7 has proudly served you for more than 75 years' and urges them to act before July 29 to 'keep your trusted local station on the air,' Cord Cutters News reported.
Two FCC Deadlines Threaten ABC's Programming and Licenses
The first threat involves The View. In February, Texas State Representative James Talarico appeared on the show while running for U.S. Senate. The FCC then questioned whether the show still qualifies as a 'bona fide news interview' — a legal status that exempts it from having to give equal airtime to opposing candidates. ABC says the show has held that exemption since a 2002 FCC ruling. Comments on this matter are due July 6, Yahoo News reported.
The second threat arrived on April 28, when FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered ABC to file early license renewals for all eight of its owned stations — something the FCC has not done in over 50 years, according to The Wrap. The affected stations serve New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, San Francisco, Raleigh-Durham, and Fresno. Their licenses were not due to expire until 2028–2031. Comments on the renewals close July 29.
Kimmel Joke and DEI Probe Seen as True Triggers
On April 23, ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made a joke calling First Lady Melania Trump an 'expectant widow.' Within 24 hours, President Trump and the First Lady publicly demanded ABC fire Kimmel. One day after that, the FCC issued its license-renewal order, citing an investigation into Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, the Los Angeles Times reported.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the license order 'the most egregious action this FCC has taken in violation of the First Amendment.' Disney filed its renewal applications on May 28 'under protest,' calling the order 'unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional,' WTTW News reported. Chair Carr says the probe is about public-interest obligations and Disney's failure to hand over DEI documents.
Comment Gap Shows Campaign Has Work to Do
As of June 22, the public-comment divide is stark. More than 2,500 comments had been filed in the The View equal-time proceeding. For the station license renewals — the fight with higher stakes — only about 30 comments had been submitted, according to Quartz. That gap is exactly what ABC's QR-code campaign aims to close before the July 29 deadline.
Disney has also been spending heavily in Washington. The company has spent roughly $7.2 million lobbying on FCC matters since early 2025, including $1.43 million in the most recent quarter alone, Detroit News reported. One ad for the campaign features footage of the late Barbara Walters, framing the fight as a defense of journalism's legacy.
Legal Experts Warn of Chilling Effect Across All Broadcasters
Analysts say the FCC likely knows it has a weak legal hand. The Supreme Court has historically protected broadcasters from retaliatory license revocations. But legal experts at Techdirt argue the real goal is not to pull licenses — it is 'intimidation,' making networks 'think twice' before airing content critical of the administration. If successful, the tactic could reshape what gets said on American television.
The stakes extend beyond ABC. If The View loses its news-interview exemption, every daytime and late-night talk show would have to offer equal airtime to any political candidate who appeared — effectively ending political guest bookings industrywide, Head Topics reported. The National Association of Broadcasters has called the license call-in 'unprecedented,' warning that the FCC's 'public interest' standard has never been clearly defined.
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