ABC and Disney Urge FCC to Approve License Renewals Amid Claims of Retaliation
WHO:
ABC - The network claims the FCC is targeting it.
Disney - The company is supporting ABC in its claims against the FCC.
President Trump - The network's news coverage is allegedly disfavored by him.
WHAT:
Deadline - ABC's legal team filed a public statement asserting that comments received overwhelmingly favor the renewal of its broadcast licenses.
Variety - Disney and ABC reiterated that the FCC's actions are unprecedented, describing the review of the licenses as a "death penalty of license non-renewal."
Fox News - ABC accused the FCC of retaliation specifically over jokes made by Jimmy Kimmel about Trump.
Deadline - ABC stated that the FCC's demand for an early review of its broadcast station licenses is part of an "ongoing retaliation campaign" to punish the network over its news coverage.
Variety - Disney and ABC reiterated that the FCC is taking "punitive" action against broadcasters that Trump dislikes, referring to the potential non-renewal of licenses as the "death penalty of license non-renewal."
NY Post - Disney described the FCC's review of eight ABC station licenses as political retaliation tied to the company's news coverage and programming.
ABC - The network stated that the FCC's demand for an early review of its broadcast station licenses is part of an "ongoing retaliation campaign."
Disney and ABC - They urged the FCC to reject petitions that call for denying the renewal of broadcast licenses for ABC's eight owned-and-operated TV stations.
ABC - The network warned that the FCC's actions could create a chilling effect on free speech.
WHERE:
ABC's eight owned-and-operated TV stations - The locations of the licenses in question.
WHY:
NY Post - Disney claims the FCC's actions are politically motivated due to the company's news coverage and programming.
ABC - The network claims the FCC is punishing it over its news coverage related to President Trump.
Disney and ABC - They assert that the FCC is taking "punitive" action against broadcasters that Trump dislikes.
HOW:
ABC - The network's legal team filed a public statement regarding the FCC's actions.
Disney and ABC - They described the potential non-renewal of licenses as the "death penalty of license non-renewal."
(UPDATED July 30, 2026 23:21 UTC)
ABC's legal team has made a public statement asserting that the comments they've received overwhelmingly support the renewal of their broadcast licenses. In a joint statement, Disney and ABC described the FCC's actions as unprecedented, referring to the review of the licenses as a "death penalty of license non-renewal." Additionally, ABC has accused the FCC of retaliating against them specifically due to jokes made by Jimmy Kimmel about Trump.
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(UPDATED July 30, 2026 18:24 UTC)
ABC has accused the FCC of engaging in an "ongoing retaliation campaign" against the network, claiming that the demand for an early review of its broadcast station licenses is politically motivated. Disney and ABC have labeled the FCC's actions as "punitive," with the potential non-renewal of licenses being referred to as the "death penalty of license non-renewal." The review of eight ABC station licenses is seen by Disney as a direct response to the company's news coverage and programming, highlighting the tensions between the network and the Trump administration.
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(UPDATED July 30, 2026 16:32 UTC)
ABC has accused the FCC of targeting the network as part of an "ongoing retaliation campaign," claiming that the commission's demand for an early review of its broadcast station licenses is punitive due to its news coverage related to President Trump. In support of ABC, Disney has urged the FCC to reject petitions that seek to deny the renewal of licenses for ABC's eight owned-and-operated TV stations, warning that such actions could have a chilling effect on free speech. ABC's legal team has publicly stated that the potential non-renewal of these licenses would be akin to the "death penalty of license non-renewal."