ABC has asked the Federal Communications Commission to end early renewal proceedings affecting eight of its broadcast licences, calling the action “extraordinary and unprecedented”. The network argues that it is being singled out because the administration objects to content and viewpoints on ABC programmes, raising concerns about political pressure on media companies and the independence of broadcast regulation.

The FCC’s review reportedly focused on Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies, while a separate case questions whether The View qualifies for a news-programme exemption from equal-opportunity rules. ABC says the agency may reverse decades of precedent by requiring the programme to offer equal access to political candidates, and notes that more than 150,000 public comments were filed, mostly supporting ABC; it used AI tools alongside human checks to assess them.