Disney, ABC sue US regulator over threat to broadcast licences

In a federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Walt Disney-owned ABC accused the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of launching a retaliatory campaign against the television network on behalf of the Trump administration. The suit, filed in a Washington, D.C. district court, alleges that the FCC pressured ABC to renew its broadcasting licenses prematurely, in an apparent attempt to coerce the network into silencing its speech.

According to the lawsuit, the FCC's actions against ABC began after President Donald Trump publicly criticized the network, particularly its late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, for its negative portrayal of him. The White House has previously threatened to revoke ABC's broadcasting licenses due to what they claim are negative portrayals of the administration.

The plaintiffs argue that the FCC's demands for an early review of ABC's broadcasting licenses are an attempt to intimidate the network into complying with the administration's wishes. The suit calls for a restraining order to prevent the FCC from taking any further action against ABC's broadcasting licenses, which are not due for renewal until 2028.

Anna Gomez, the sole commissioner appointed by a Democratic president, welcomed the lawsuit as a response to what she described as "government intimidation." She emphasized that the First Amendment protects ABC and other media outlets from political censorship, regardless of the administration's preferences.