ABC Show Won't Air Interview With Democrat Because of FCC Threats
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: ABC's Jimmy Kimmel said he will be interviewing a Democratic candidate for Senate tonight, but the interview will be on YouTube only and not broadcast on TV because of threats made by the Federal Communications Commission. Kimmel has been a prime target in the Trump FCC's attacks on ABC and its owner, Disney. In his monologue last night,…
In a story reported by Ars Technica, ABC host Jimmy Kimmel has announced that his planned interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not air on television but will instead be broadcast on YouTube. This decision stems from threats from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Kimmel, who has been interviewing political candidates for nearly two decades, stated that this is an unprecedented situation.
The FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had previously threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC stations if they continued airing Kimmel's show due to what they termed "news distortion." Kimmel expressed concern for local stations, particularly those in Texas that would have to face such FCC threats. He added that this is a reflection of the current political climate in the United States.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the commission, condemned the FCC's actions, stating that they have no lawful authority to threaten broadcast licenses over editorial decisions. She emphasized that no host, affiliate, or network should have to weigh federal retaliation before booking a guest for a newsworthy interview.
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