Disney, ABC Sue FCC Over Threats to Broadcast Licenses (reuters.com)
- Reference: 0185042624
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/08/18/2039239/disney-abc-sue-fcc-over-threats-to-broadcast-licenses
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/world/disney-abc-sue-us-regulator-over-threats-broadcast-licenses-2026-08-18/
> In [3]a lawsuit (PDF) filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, Disney said the FCC was seeking to coerce and retaliate against "a network that refuses to bow to the administration's demands," calling the agency's actions an "extraordinary assault on free speech."
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> Trump has waged an aggressive series of attacks on the news media and the latest move follows a two-year-long battle between Trump and Disney. Last month, Trump again called for ABC stations to lose their licenses because the network refused to air a prime-time speech on elections. The court case will pose a key test of the free speech rights of media outlets. Disney and ABC [4]asked the court (PDF) to quickly issue a temporary restraining order halting the license renewal proceedings and preventing the FCC from scheduling a hearing. The company said the public comment period ended earlier this month and the FCC could act at any time.
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> The lawsuit alleges that the administration is violating the company's First Amendment free speech rights, saying that the FCC "is using its regulatory power to retaliate against (Disney and ABC) for programming and editorial decisions the administration dislikes." The FCC said the move stemmed from a year-long investigation into whether Disney's diversity policies amounted to unlawful discrimination, an allegation the company denies. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued an order on Tuesday directing the company and the FCC to propose a schedule for considering the request for a temporary restraining order and told the agency to notify her if it moves to start the process of revoking the ABC licenses.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/disney-abc-sue-us-regulator-over-threats-broadcast-licenses-2026-08-18/
[2] https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/07/30/1933258/abc-accuses-fcc-of-attempted-censorship
[3] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.295648/gov.uscourts.dcd.295648.1.0_1.pdf
[4] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.295648/gov.uscourts.dcd.295648.2.1.pdf
Once you pay the Dane-geld (Score:2, Insightful)
You never get rid of the Dane. Would have been easier for everyone if they had done this from the jump instead of capitulating. We've known for centuries that appeasement doesn't work. We already knew when we tried it with Hitler that it didn't work. In 1939, there were already poems about how it doesn't work. But sure. This time was gonna be different. Did it pan out that way? No, it never does. I mean, these people somehow delude themselves into thinking it might, but... but it might work for us.
Re: Once you pay the Dane-geld (Score:2)
It's also another wakeup call for Disney which has given a lot of money to a lot of conservative campaigns in the past, though to be fair they seem to have already figured that out as in 2024 about 80% of their campaign donations were to Democrats.
Projection (Score:4, Insightful)
The same people who call everyone else snowflakes and like to shout fuck your feelings actually have the most fragile feelings of all.
socialist left view (Score:2)
> standard left view - if you don't agree with me, [you're] wrong.
socialist left view - if you don't agree with me, you're evil.
And you will be the first up against the wall.
Second against the wall will be the standard left.
Counter revolutionaries potentially coming from BOTH of these groups.
Re: (Score:2)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The Legal Mouse... (Score:2)
has a very good rep for sticking around for the long haul. This could easily go on long after 2028.
Beneficial use of the EM spectrum (Score:2)
The broadcast networks have a First Amendment right to blather as they will subject to the usual rules against incitement to violence and slander.
However they are using a public good (the spectrum) and as such they have to show a beneficial use. Spewing non-stop lies over the airwaves is not that use. They seem to have forgotten that. There is no right to the spectrum, they can all got back to print where the rules have always been looser (the Hearst newspapers being a traditional example.)
It's just as well
Re: (Score:2)
> Spewing non-stop lies over the airwaves is not that use.
Probably why they chose to *not* air Trump's speech. MSNOW often states this as a reason for not airing Trump speeches live and/or in their entirety -- too many lies, misrepresentations and bullshit from Trump and those in his administration.
ABC should sue for $15 million + 1 dollar (Score:2)
Thus getting back the money Trump extorted for his librabry.
Re: (Score:2)
> Thus getting back the money Trump extorted for his librabry.
Extortion? That's where you went? I realize a shareholder revolt and forced new management is unlikely since CALPERS and NEA are major stockholders; but what about actually stripping a broadcaster of its (government owned) spectrum? This would tank Disney shares, and hurt CALPERS and the NEA by extension. Don't forget, CALPERS and NEA are major donors to the Democrats.