{
  "id": 12496807,
  "title": "Disney’s lawyer says US seeks to censor, control ABC broadcasts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/disneys-lawyer-says-us-seeks-to-censor-control-abc-broadcasts",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T23:02:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/10/07/disney-lawyer-says-us-seeks-to-censor-control-abc-broadcasts"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday, Walt Disney sought a US judge's intervention to halt the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) early review of licenses for eight of the company's ABC-owned TV stations. Disney's lawyer, Beth Wilkinson, contended that the current administration under President Donald Trump is attempting to censor and punish the corporation for broadcasting content it disapproves of. This legal challenge arises as part of a broader conflict over free speech rights for broadcasters under the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the administration's efforts to reshape the media landscape.\n\nThe lawsuit, filed in August, presents a crucial test for the delicate balance between protecting free speech and regulating media content. President Trump has repeatedly encouraged broadcasters to discontinue airing shows or news programs he finds distasteful, including those that make jokes or criticize him or his administration. Similarly, he has demanded the FCC strip stations of their licenses when he criticizes their news or other programming.\n\nWilkinson likened ABC's predicament to being under a guillotine during the French Revolution, emphasizing the chilling effect on editorial decisions made by the company in response to the looming threat of losing its licenses. She expressed concern over the administration's ability to retaliate against any decision, even if it involves not broadcasting a presidential speech. This sentiment was shared by ABC's parent company, Comcast, which also decided not to air Trump's July 16 speech live. Following the speech, Trump called for both NBC and Disney to lose their licenses.\n\nFCC Chair Brendan Carr initiated the early reviews of the ABC stations in April, despite the licenses not being due for renewal until 2028 to 2031. Carr stated that no decisions had been made on how to proceed with the matter. Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel, a lawyer representing the administration, dismissed the guillotine analogy as misplaced, pointing out that Disney would retain its ABC licenses through the administrative process and judicial review. However, AliKhan, the US district judge presiding over the case, declined to block the FCC from issuing an order to refer the licenses for a public hearing, citing that the judge was still considering whether to grant a preliminary injunction to block the FCC's action.\n\nThe FCC's investigation into Disney's diversity practices and its failure to promptly respond to document requests from Carr opened the door for this early review. Critics argue that the threat of losing a license can pressure broadcasters, raising concerns about potential government interference in programming decisions. Moreover, the FCC is currently investigating ABC's daytime talk show, The View, which has not invited any political candidates since February, citing the FCC's pressure campaign.",
  "summary": "Walt Disney's lawyer called on a US judge to block the Federal Communications Commission's early review of licences for its eight company-owned ABC TV stations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Disney’s lawyer says US seeks to censor, control ABC broadcasts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/disneys-lawyer-says-us-seeks-to-censor-control-abc-broadcasts-12497558",
        "published": "2026-10-06T23:02:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "#SHOWBIZ: Disney lawyer says US seeks to censor, control ABC broadcasts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/showbiz-disney-lawyer-says-us-seeks-to-censor-control-abc-broadcasts",
        "published": "2026-10-06T23:42:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}