The Walt Disney Company filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, alleging the agency “has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts.”
The lawsuit follows the FCC’s order that Disney’s eight owned-and-operated television stations file for license renewals ahead of schedule.
The lawsuit cites President Donald Trump’s social media posts criticizing late-night TV show hosts and asked whether broadcast licenses should “be terminated.”
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Carr targets Disney
The FCC and its chairman, Brendan Carr, have repeatedly targeted ABC for scrutiny.
Carr launched an investigation into the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs. He has claimed Disney might be committing “illegal DEI discrimination.”
In April, when Trump pressured ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a controversial joke, Carr called for the FCC license review, even though the licenses weren’t due for renewal for several years.
He said the timing was coincidental, adding that the review was part of a DEI probe the FCC was conducting.
According to CNN, the FCC hadn’t issued an early renewal order in decades before Carr’s action earlier this year.
More recently, the FCC launched an investigation into ABC’s “The View,” alleging an equal-time violation.
What the suit says
Disney argues those actions are part of a broader effort by the administration to punish ABC over its programming.
“That campaign began in this Administration’s earliest days and has only intensified since,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit also addresses the early request for renewal filings, saying the FCC made the request “years before any of their licenses would have come up for renewal” and gave Disney just 30 days to file paperwork that can take months to prepare.
Attorneys for Disney are now asking the D.C. District Court to “immediately” stop the FCC from taking action or threatening Disney and its ABC stations “in relation to the early license renewal applications.”
Disney also asked for a speedy hearing and a temporary restraining order.
Disney’s chief executive speaks out
Just days before Disney filed the lawsuit, CEO Josh D’Amaro told CNBC that the company would stand by its principles in its fight with the FCC.
“We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic integrity, and we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business,” D’Amaro said. “I like what we do. We tell incredible stories. I think we do it well, and we’re going to stay committed to that.”
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