Disney (NYSE:DIS) and its ABC unit filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, seeking to prevent the regulator from conducting an early review of licenses covering eight ABC television stations.
The company alleges that the unusual review amounts to retaliation by the Trump administration against the network and represents an attempt to exert pressure over its programming and editorial decisions.
Disney Accuses FCC of Political Retaliation
The dispute comes amid repeated criticism of broadcasters by President Donald Trump, who has publicly called for television networks to cancel comedy and news programs that he dislikes or that have been critical of him.
Trump has also repeatedly urged the FCC to revoke ABC’s broadcasting licenses, intensifying concerns at Disney over what it views as government interference with the network.
Disney and ABC are now seeking judicial intervention to prevent the early licensing process from moving forward.
Lawsuit Challenges Pressure on ABC
The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, with Disney arguing that the FCC’s actions are politically motivated rather than part of the normal regulatory process.
According to the lawsuit, the FCC is attempting to coerce and retaliate “against a network that refuses to bow to the administration’s demands.”
The legal challenge places the dispute between Disney, ABC and federal regulators before the courts, potentially raising broader questions about regulatory independence and government authority over broadcasters.
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