The United States federal government has initiated a review of ABC’s broadcast licenses following public calls from Donald and Melania Trump for the network to take action against Jimmy Kimmel.

License Review Initiated

Currently, the review does not result in any immediate changes to Kimmel’s show or other ABC programming. However, the action is considered significant beyond its immediate impact.

Unlike a similar situation last fall, Kimmel’s show continues to air, and he addressed the Trumps on his program without mentioning the license review.

Legal Challenges Expected

Legal and media experts believe Disney, ABC’s parent company, has a strong legal defense against the Trump-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC is requesting Disney to renew licenses for its eight broadcast stations ahead of their scheduled 2028 review.

Revoking these licenses and withstanding legal challenges is considered highly improbable. Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed FCC commissioner, is aware of these legal obstacles.

A Broader Strategy

Carr’s intent appears to be to involve Disney and ABC in a lengthy regulatory and legal battle. Tom Wheeler, a former FCC chairman, explained to The Guardian that this action serves as a warning to all FCC licensees.

Carr has consistently argued that broadcast licenses are not inherent rights and can be revoked, a position reinforced by ongoing investigations into Disney and Comcast regarding their DEI policies.

Potential Repercussions

While losing broadcast licenses is theoretically possible, the impact on Disney and Comcast would likely be manageable, as broadcast stations are not central to their core businesses.

Media companies hold individual licenses for each broadcast station, not a single overarching license. Disney will incur expenses defending against the government’s actions.

The FCC could pressure other station owners to stop carrying Disney programming, a tactic Carr previously encouraged. The administration could also influence other business endeavors of media companies.

Disney's Response

As of now, Disney’s CEO, Josh D’Amaro, has not publicly taken steps to appease Trump and Carr. Kimmel remains on air, and Disney is asserting its right to retain its licenses.

The full impact of this pressure remains uncertain, but it adds another layer of consideration for D’Amaro and his team regarding potential government influence on media content.