Disney sues FCC over ‘retaliatory campaign against ABC,’ seeks to block early renewal proceedings

Disney sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday, seeking to block the agency’s early broadcast license renewal proceedings for ABC stations in a lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called for early renewal of eight ABC-owned stations' licenses in April.

The Disney-owned ABC stations' licenses were originally scheduled to be renewed between 2028 and 2031, but the FCC expedited the process amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel .

The eight stations must demonstrate they have been operating in the public interest as part of an ongoing look at Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.

In the lawsuit, ABC said the Trump administration "has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts." ABC ACCUSES FCC OF 'RETALIATION' AS FEDERAL AGENCY THREATENS TO REVOKE DISNEY'S BROADCASTING LICENSES "That campaign began in this Administration’s earliest days and has only intensified since.

Again and again, the Administration has attacked ABC’s speech—the stories its journalists report and the viewpoints its network programs air.

Over time, those attacks have escalated into express demands that ABC be stripped of its broadcast licenses because of its speech," Disney’s legal team wrote in the complaint.

"In prosecuting the Administration’s campaign against free speech on network television, the Commission fights on several fronts using its expansive regulatory powers," the complaint continued.

"Facing this existential threat, Plaintiffs have no choice but to seek redress from the judicial branch for the Administration’s blatant retaliation for their First Amendment speech." ABC is also expected to file a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.

"This case boils down to a simple question: can the Administration use its control over the federal regulatory apparatus to punish a media organization for editorial decisions and news coverage it dislikes? Because the First Amendment provides a clear answer—of course not—this Court’s intervention is necessary to stop the Federal Communications Commission’s extraordinary assault on free speech," an excerpt from the motion for TRO and Preliminary Injunction stated.

The FCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Trump administration has had a beef with Kimmel, who lampoons the president on a regular basis and whose controversial "expectant widow" joke earlier this year resulted in first lady Melania Trump calling for him to be fired.

Despite ABC arguing the action is retaliatory, the FCC filing did not specifically mention Kimmel.