{"id":2608064,"date":"2026-05-28T19:17:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T23:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abc-objects-to-unlawful-early-license-renewal-for-television-stations\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T19:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T23:21:08","slug":"abc-objects-to-unlawful-early-license-renewal-for-television-stations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abc-objects-to-unlawful-early-license-renewal-for-television-stations\/","title":{"rendered":"ABC objects to &#8216;unlawful&#8217; early license renewal for television stations"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fabc-objects-to-unlawful-early-license-renewal-for-television-stations%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608064&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Disney-owned ABC filed early renewal applications for all eight of its TV stations after the FCC required it within 30 days. ABC objected, arguing the FCC\u2019s April 28 order-initiating early renewals years before standard licence expiration and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >forcing multiple commonly owned stations<\/a> to file at once-was unlawful and unconstitutional, with potential First Amendment \u201cchilling\u201d effects.  <\/p>\n<p>ABC linked the timing of the FCC action to heightened political and public pressure involving Jimmy Kimmel,and criticized the FCC for targeting an entire network of stations rather than a single broadcaster. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr rejected any retaliatory motive, saying the early renewals followed a yearlong FCC investigation into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cbs-news-prez-will-get-free-speech-award-weeks-after-confiscating-fired-reporters-research-notes\/\" title=\"CBS News President to Receive Free Speech Award Despite Recent Controversy\">alleged discriminatory hiring practices<\/a> by Disney and that the agency would follow the facts and law.  <\/p>\n<p>The dispute also reflects broader FCC pressure on ABC, including a separate enforcement effort against *The View* related to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fcc-commish-kamalas-snl-appearance-specially-designed-to-evade-federal-regulations\/\" title=\"FCC Commish: Kamala&#039;s SNL Appearance Specially &#039;Designed to Evade&#039; Federal Regulations\">equal-time rule<\/a> for political coverage.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Disney-owned <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"622\">ABC<\/a> network filed early license renewal applications for its eight television stations on Thursday, fulfilling a demand set by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-communications-commission\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1637\">Federal Communications Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in doing so, the media company objected to the agency\u2019s \u201cunlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional\u201d April 28 order that started the early renewal process years before the scheduled license expiration date. The FCC gave ABC 30 days to comply with its demand.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4586093\/bruce-springsteen-pre-election-concert-columbia-maryland\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Springsteen announces pre-election concert near DC during rant against Trump administration<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4585806\/freedom-250-entertainer-lineup-national-mall-fair\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Freedom 250 unveils entertainer lineup for National Mall fair, with some dropping out<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4585418\/dana-white-joe-rogan-reservations-outdoor-ufc-white-house-fight\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Dana White and Joe Rogan express reservations about outdoor UFC White House fight<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Commission had not demanded early renewal in over five decades. And it has never before demanded simultaneous license renewal applications from a group of stations commonly owned with a network as it has here,\u201d ABC\u2019s flagship station in New York <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov\/dataentry\/public\/tv\/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&#038;appKey=25076f919df5a492019df87d8b5c00ce&#038;id=25076f919df5a492019df87d8b5c00ce&#038;goBack=N\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov\/dataentry\/public\/tv\/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&#038;appKey=25076f919df5a492019df87d8b5c00ce&#038;id=25076f919df5a492019df87d8b5c00ce&#038;goBack=N\">wrote in the filing<\/a>. \u201cThe Order has no legitimate purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ABC called on the FCC to rescind the order as it\u2019s \u201cplainly incompatible\u201d with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/first-amendment\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"881\">First Amendment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWorse, the Order opens the door to an assault on the Station\u2019s license, while the Commission searches for a legal pretext to achieve its desired goal,\u201d the company said. \u201cThis effort to suppress speech under the guise of bureaucratic process must not prevail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The commission\u2019s early license renewal order stemmed from its scrutiny of the broadcaster\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dei\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3088\">diversity, equity, and inclusion<\/a> policies, though the move came shortly after President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> and first lady Melania Trump demanded Disney and ABC fire late-night show host <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jimmy-kimmel\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"570\">Jimmy Kimmel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FCC Chairman Brendan Carr insisted the decision had nothing to do with Kimmel, but ABC noted the unusual timing in its filing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe timing of the Order makes the retaliatory purpose unmistakable,\u201d the document states. \u201cThe Order suddenly emerged the day after public calls for punitive action in response to comments made during ABC Network programming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last month, Kimmel joked on-air about first lady <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/melania-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"696\">Melania Trump<\/a> looking like an \u201cexpectant widow\u201d two nights before the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house-correspondents-association\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1617\">White House Correspondents\u2019 Association<\/a> dinner shooting. Defending his joke after facing intense backlash, the comedian claimed it was intended to be about the presidential couple\u2019s 24-year age gap.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In furtherance of its argument, ABC warned about the \u201cchilling effect\u201d that would be placed on all licensed broadcasters and how that would harm the public\u2019s access to independent journalism. It also criticized the FCC for targeting a whole network of stations, not just one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSimultaneously forcing every station in a media company\u2019s portfolio to file premature license renewal applications is not a regulatory tool,\u201d the network wrote. \u201cIt is an extraordinary demonstration of power and coercion directed at disfavored editorial voices, which sends a clear warning to every broadcaster in America. This is a threat to the First Amendment that this Commission and this proceeding must not be permitted to normalize.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Firing back at the claim that the early license renewal process started for no reason, Carr said the action was justified following a yearlong investigation into Disney\u2019s alleged discriminatory hiring practices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4546420\/fcc-challenge-abc-license-jimmy-kimmel\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4546420\/fcc-challenge-abc-license-jimmy-kimmel\/\">FCC CHALLENGES ABC LICENSING AFTER REFUSING TO FIRE JIMMY KIMMEL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDisney only filed these applications to renew their ABC broadcast licenses after the FCC informed the company that their responses to the agency\u2019s investigation had been disingenuous, deficient, and improper,\u201d Carr <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BrendanCarrFCC\/status\/2060112706762391556\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BrendanCarrFCC\/status\/2060112706762391556\">posted on X<\/a>. \u201cBroadcast licensees have a unique obligation to operate in the public interest. The FCC will follow the facts and law wherever they may lead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Separately, the FCC is targeting ABC\u2019s <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/the-view\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"569\">The View<\/a><\/em>  by enforcing the equal time rule that does not exempt daytime talk shows from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-is-the-fcc-equal-time-rule-at-center-of-talarico-interview\/\" title=\"What is the FCC equal time rule at center of Talarico interview?\">bona fide news coverage<\/a>. The program is facing a federal challenge after its hosts interviewed Texas Democrat <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17710\">James Talarico<\/a> but not his opposing candidates in the Senate race. ABC <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4560820\/abc-fcc-equal-airtime-talarico-the-view\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4560820\/abc-fcc-equal-airtime-talarico-the-view\/\">criticized<\/a> the FCC over the dispute as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ABC objects to FCC order demanding early renewal of stations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2608065,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26128715966345.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[16609,18295,52532,80430],"class_list":["post-2608064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-fcc","tag-licensing","tag-media-regulation","tag-television-stations"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26128715966345.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608064"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608064\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608068,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608064\/revisions\/2608068"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608065"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}