US FCC asks court to reject Disney lawsuit over ABC TV station licenses

The Federal Communications Commission asked a federal judge on Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Walt Disney Co. seeking to block early reviews of broadcast licenses for eight company-owned ABC television stations. The FCC argued in court filings that halting its inquiry would impede ongoing investigations into alleged unlawful discrimination and civil rights compliance. FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered the early license reviews in April, marking an administrative step unprecedented in over 50 years, as the renewals were not scheduled until October 2028. The legal battle highlights escalating tensions over broadcast regulation and First Amendment protections, coming after repeated calls from President Donald Trump for ABC to lose its licenses over network programming. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan scheduled an October 6 hearing in Washington, D.C. Disney contends the review constitutes unlawful governmental retaliation, while the agency argues the case belongs in a federal appeals court.