The FCC begins review of Disney’s broadcast licenses

The FCC is seeking an early review of the matter Disney broadcast station licenses following concerns about the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to a letter from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Tuesday.

The letter orders the company to apply for early renewal of ABC-owned television stations and notes that the action is related to the investigation into Disney’s DEI efforts, which began last year.

The ABC-owned stations’ licenses were originally scheduled to be renewed between 2028 and 2031.

Disney confirmed on Tuesday that it has received an order from the FCC to begin an accelerated review of its licenses. Disney now has 30 days — or until May 28 — to apply for renewal, the FCC said in the letter.

“ABC and its stations have a long track record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules and serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public interest programming,” Disney said in a statement. “We are confident that the record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under communications law and the First Amendment and are prepared to demonstrate that through the appropriate legal channels. Our focus, as always, remains on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate.”

The FCC’s move to seek an early renewal from Disney comes as ABC faces renewed backlash from President Donald Trump this week following comments made by comedian Jimmy Kimmel in the opening monologue of his ABC late-night television show.

Trump revived his bid to stop ABC from airing Kimmel’s show after introducing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” First Lady Melania Trump was referred to as a “pregnant widow” during the show last week, days before an alleged assassination attempt during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

However, the FCC, the federal entity that regulates the media and communications industry, began investigating the Disney stations last March for possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC rules regarding its prohibition of unlawful discrimination.

Since it began its investigation, the FCC said, “Disney’s ABC channel has purported to respond” to two inquiries. However, the agency said it decided that further action was “appropriate.”

The order lists eight stations subject to early renewal — three in California, plus others in Illinois, New York, Texas, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — all of which are owned and operated by Disney. The call for early renewal does not affect Disney affiliates, which are run by broadcast station owners such as Nexstar Media Group.

Disney isn’t the only media company under investigation surrounding its DEI efforts.

Under Carr, a Trump appointee, the FCC also began investigations last year comcast, Owner NBCUniversal, as well ParamountBefore its merger with Skydance.

Following reports earlier Tuesday that the FCC intends to review ABC’s licenses early, FCC Commissioner Ana Gomez called the move “unprecedented, illegal, and going nowhere,” in a post on X, adding, “This political ploy will not stand. Companies must challenge it head-on. The First Amendment is on their side.”

First Amendment experts began commenting on the FCC’s latest move on Tuesday, raising similar points regarding when “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” It was temporarily suspended in September following comments the host made following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

At the time, Carr suggested that broadcasters’ licenses could be revoked in response.

“The FCC does not have the authority to revoke broadcasters’ licenses because of their perceived political views. But this is not just about the rights of Disney and ABC,” Jamil Jaafar, executive director of Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, said in an email statement.

“President Trump is trying to consolidate his control over what Americans see and hear on radio, television, and social media,” Jaafar said. “If he gets his way, we will only have government-aligned media organizations broadcasting only government-approved news and commentary. It would be difficult to imagine an outcome more corrosive to democracy or more offensive to the First Amendment.”