ABC Launches On-Air Campaign Warning Viewers Of FCC Actions And Urging Public Comment

UPDATED, with Trump lawsuit threat: ABC is taking to the airwaves to warn viewers of the FCC‘s crackdown on The View and the agency’s unusual demand that the network’s stations seek early renewal of their broadcast licenses.

The spots, which will start airing on Monday, are the latest pushback from The Walt Disney Co. and the network, which says that the actions of the FCC under its Trump-appointed chairman, Brendan Carr, are chilling free speech.

The spots also urge viewers to file comments with the FCC, as deadlines near for public input as part of the agency’s proceedings.

The spot for The View starts with images of the show’s founder, Barbara Walters, talking about the idea was for a program featuring “different women, different points of view.”

A narrator then says, “The View has welcomed your favorite guests and covered the issues you care about for nearly 30 years now. The FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show. Viewers, use your voice.” The narrator then directs viewers to a QR code where they can comment on the FCC proceeding, with a deadline of July 6.

Carr launched an investigation into the show after it featured James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas. The probe is of ABC’s owned station in Houston, which held that the show is exempt from equal time requirements because it is a “bonafide” news program. The equal time regulation requires broadcasters who feature political candidates to offer comparable time to rivals, if requested.

ABC, however, said that the FCC’s action was “unprecedented,” diverging from years in which talk shows in general have been treated as “bona fide” news programs, and therefore not on the hook to provide equal time. In an FCC filing, ABC pointed to a 2002 FCC ruling that confirmed that The View was exempt. The show is produced under the network’s news division.

As of Monday morning, nearly 2,500 comments have been filed in the FCC’s View proceeding. By Monday mid-afternoon, after the campaign had been launched, more than 6,100 comments had been filed.

The equal time rule is about political candidates as guests, yet it is often mistaken for the Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to present a variety of viewpoints on issues of major public interest. That doctrine was abandoned by the agency nearly four decades ago, during the Reagan administration.

An FCC spokesperson said in a statement, “Disney wants the FCC to classify ‘The View’ as a ‘bona fide news program.’ And it has chosen to run a campaign of misinformation to make its case—misleading viewers about the law.  That is a choice.”

The network said that it was ordered by the FCC to petition for a ruling that The View was a “bona fide” news program and exempt. ABC also claimed that Carr was singling out The View, while not applying the same treatment to broadcast radio talk shows, which are dominated by voices on the right.

In another proceeding, the FCC is taking public comment on the renewal of licenses to eight stations that the network owns: WABC-TV in New York, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, WLS-TV in Chicago, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KTRK-TV in Houston, KGO-TV in San Francisco, WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham, NC, and KFSN-TV in Fresno, CA.

In one of the ABC spots tailored for WABC, a narrator says, “New Yorkers, use your voice. No one supports your community like ABC 7. Sharing your stories, bringing us together, Channel 7 has proudly served you for more than 75 years. Every day, we commit to inform, entertain and serve you. Now the FCC is questioning our commitment to the community.” The spot directs viewers to a QR code for filing comments. “You have until July 29 to tell the FCC to keep your trusted local station on the air.”

ABC stations were set to start renewal of its licenses in 2028, but Carr ordered an early process, citing the investigation of Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The order came after Trump called for the firing of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who has directed a lot of his humor at the administration.

In a filing with the FCC, the network called the early renewal “an extraordinary demonstration of power and coercion directed at disfavored editorial voices which sends a clear warning to every broadcaster in America.”

The FCC proceeding asks whether the stations have been serving the public interest. So far, about 30 comments have been filed in the station renewal proceedings.

Later on Monday, Trump issued a threat to ABC over its coverage of the problems with the administration’s renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Jonathan Karl, chief Washington correspondent, had reported from the pool last week, pointing out and holding a piece of peeled paint/liner that was floating amid the algae-soaked waters.

Trump, though, claims that the reflecting pool was vandalized, albeit he has yet to offer proof of his claim that someone cut a 300 foot gash in the liner.

He posted on Truth Social, “In describing the Vandalism that took place at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., ABC FAKE NEWS, one of the worst in the business, even paying me $16,000,000 for past bad and inaccurate reporting, failed to report that their close “friends,” Dumocrats Obama and Biden, spent over 100 Million Dollars on the Reflecting Pool, and it never worked. In fact, it was rarely open due to leaks and ‘stench.’ They wanted to spend 300 to 400 Million Dollars, but just let it ROT. I spent approximately 16 Million Dollars, and it came out great, except for the Vandalism, which we are now fixing. It was also a much bigger job than originally envisioned, including the outer areas and sidewalks. We are preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting. I like their money, which will be given to the U.S. Treasury! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT”