Disney and ABC sue Trump's media regulator to stop early licence renewal

Image source, Getty ImagesByBrandon DrenonPublished5 minutes agoDisney and ABC have filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from launching an early licence renewal process, arguing that the network is being unfairly targeted over its editorial content."Government censorship is deeply un-American," the lawsuit says. "This case concerns the Administration's sustained effort to do just that."The lawsuit says the Federal Communication Commission - the government's media regulator - is being pressured to renew broadcast licences years early. It alleges the push stems from complaints from, and under the direction of, President Donald Trump.FCC chairman Brendan Carr has said that the renewal requests were focused on "public interest", not retaliation."If broadcasters don't like that, that's okay," Carr told CNBC in July. "They can become a cable channel, they can become a podcast, they can stream online. But if you want to uniquely be on the public's airwaves, you have to comply with those obligations."The BBC has contacted the FCC for comment. Disney and its eight owned-and-operated TV stations are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed on Tuesday against FCC and its chairman.The FCC ordered licence renewals for the Disney-owned ABC stations in April.Disney previously had been under investigation for its alleged diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and for ABC's daytime talk show, The View.But the notice for early renewal of licence from the FCC came a day after ABC's late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about first lady Melania Trump.In the lawsuit, Disney calls the order by the FCC "unprecedented", saying that before then the commission had not called for early renewal in over 50 years."Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts," the lawsuit says. It cites Trump's own social media posts as evidence, including one in which Trump complained about ABC's coverage of him being "almost 100% negative". In the same social media post, Trump also questioned whether their broadcast licences should "be terminated", and answered his own question: "I say, Yes!".Under pressure from FCC chairman Carr, Disney pulled Kimmel off air in September 2025, after he made remarks about the murder of conservative activist and Trump ally, Charlie Kirk.But Kimmel was quickly returned to his role after widespread public backlash over alleged free speech violations, including from Republican Senator Ted Cruz.The FCC gave ABC and Disney 30 days to file applications, which, according to plaintiffs in the lawsuit, "ordinarily take months to prepare". The lawsuit also notes that the FCC has never demanded early renewal applications from a group of stations commonly owned by a single broadcast network. ABC and Disney have requested a "speedy hearing" from the court and a temporary restraining order.Related topicsDisneyMediaUnited StatesMore on this storyWhat does the FCC do - and can it revoke a TV network's licence?Published20 September 2025US regulator to review Disney broadcast licences after Jimmy Kimmel joke about Melania TrumpPublished28 AprilSenator Ted Cruz says US broadcast regulator acted like 'mafioso' on Jimmy Kimmel Published20 September 2025