Disney, ABC sue FCC over early license review

The Walt Disney Company (DIS) and its ABC unit filed a First Amendment lawsuit on August 18, 2026 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The complaint asks the court to halt an unusual Federal Communications Commission process calling for early renewals of broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations. Disney (DIS) and ABC are seeking an immediate temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to stop the FCC from moving forward with the early-renewal proceedings. The suit marks a significant escalation in a dispute over federal oversight of broadcast content and licensing.

In their filing, Disney and ABC ask the court to enjoin the FCC from taking or threatening any action against ABC and its stations in relation to the early renewal applications. The complaint frames the agency’s actions as presenting a serious risk to the company’s broadcast operations. The case places the timing and basis of the FCC’s license reviews under direct judicial scrutiny.

The lawsuit targets an April FCC order that required eight ABC-owned-and-operated television stations to submit license renewal applications years before their scheduled expirations. Those licenses were originally due for renewal between 2028 and 2031, making the early-review directive a departure from the standard timetable. In the complaint, Disney and ABC describe the order as “unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional.”

The filing argues that the early-renewal process is not a routine regulatory step but a coercive measure directed specifically at ABC’s stations. Disney and ABC contend that the order exceeds the agency’s lawful authority and undermines protections for broadcast news and programming. They ask the court to halt the proceedings before the FCC can take further action tied to the early applications.

ABC alleges that the FCC’s actions are retaliatory and tied to criticism from the Trump administration of ABC programming. The complaint links the early-review process to public pressure after a Jimmy Kimmel monologue and notes that the agency has opened an inquiry into the daytime program The View. ABC lawyers argue that this regulatory pressure has already chilled editorial decision-making at the network.

The filing states that no political candidate has appeared on The View since February 2, reflecting concerns about potential regulatory consequences. It also says ABC chose to livestream a July 16 presidential address, outside its ordinary practice, in part due to fears of possible retaliation. These examples are cited as evidence that the FCC’s conduct is influencing how ABC covers political figures and events.

The FCC has defended the early-review directive as stemming from a roughly yearlong probe into Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices. The agency says its actions are intended to ensure that broadcasters operate in the public interest, a core requirement for holding broadcast licenses. From the FCC’s perspective, the scrutiny of ABC’s stations fits within its broader oversight responsibilities.

Within the commission, there has been visible dissent over the handling of the ABC matter. Anna Gomez, the sole Democratic commissioner on the FCC, issued a statement praising ABC’s decision to sue. She described the agency’s conduct toward Disney’s ABC stations as a campaign of censorship and control. Her comments underscore deep internal disagreement over both the process and purpose of the early license-review actions.