Disney Files Early ABC License Renewals Under Protest, Calls FCC Order Unlawful and Politically Motivated
Walt Disney Company on Thursday submitted renewal applications for broadcast licenses covering eight of its ABC-owned stations, doing so “under protest in response to an unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional order” from the Federal Communications Commission, according to filings made public the same day.
FCC Early Review Triggered by DEI Investigation and Political Backlash
In late April, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it was launching an early review of Disney’s ABC stations years ahead of their scheduled renewal deadlines. The eight licenses were originally set to expire between 2028 and 2031. The FCC said the accelerated review followed concerns about Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
The agency began investigating Disney and other media companies last year over potential violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC rules prohibiting unlawful discrimination. In March, the FCC opened the probe, and by April it determined that further action was warranted. Disney had until Thursday to file the renewal applications.
The timing of the early review drew scrutiny after ABC faced renewed political criticism from President Donald Trump, following comments made by comedian Jimmy Kimmel during his late-night show on the network. Critics of the Trump administration and a sitting FCC commissioner argued the scrutiny appeared politically motivated.
Disney Objects to Process, Cites First Amendment Concerns
In Thursday’s filing, Disney stated that it objected to the entire renewal process, noting that the FCC had not called for an early license renewal in more than five decades. “The order has no legitimate purpose,” Disney said in the filing. “There is no information that the application will reveal that the Commission could not obtain through other means. The order is inconsistent with a legitimate exercise of investigative authority and is plainly incompatible with the First Amendment.”
The company submitted the applications under protest, arguing the FCC’s order was unlawful and unconstitutional. Disney emphasized that the FCC could have obtained any needed information through existing investigative channels rather than forcing early renewals.
FCC Chairman Defends Agency Actions
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the agency’s actions in a statement Thursday, saying the early review stemmed from the FCC’s probe into Disney’s DEI practices that began last year. Carr said Disney “only filed these applications to renew their ABC broadcast licenses after the FCC informed the company that their responses to the agency’s investigation had been disingenuous, deficient, and improper.” He added that the FCC will “follow the facts and law wherever they may lead.”
Brendan Carr made the remarks during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee oversight hearing in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, according to a Bloomberg and Getty Images report.
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