ABC on Monday escalated its confrontation with the Federal Communications Commission by launching an on-air campaign urging viewers to oppose the agency’s early review of the network’s broadcast licenses and a separate investigation into its daytime talk show “The View.” The Disney-owned network began airing spots on its eight owned-and-operated stations in cities including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, directing viewers through QR codes to the FCC’s public comment website.
In the spot targeting the “The View” probe, a voice-over 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.” The ad features images of the show’s co-creator, the late Barbara Walters, as well as current hosts. That ad began airing during Monday’s episode of the show on ABC stations nationwide.
The FCC’s investigation into “The View” centers on whether the show qualifies for an exemption from equal-time rules, which require broadcasters to provide equivalent airtime to political candidates. ABC received an FCC ruling in 2002 declaring the show a “bona fide” news program, a designation that allows it to feature political candidates without offering equivalent time to their rivals. In January, the FCC issued guidance stating that a show “motivated by partisan purposes” would not qualify for the exemption. The agency launched the probe in February.
Separately, in April the FCC issued an early license renewal order for ABC’s eight stations, an unusual step that often signals the agency is preparing to challenge an owner’s fitness to hold a license. The stations’ current licenses had several years remaining. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has said the license review is aimed at determining whether Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives violate the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination, and that the probe is not related to ABC’s content.
ABC has said the agency is applying “new and undefined standards” to its stations and that the true purpose of the exercise is to “suppress speech.” The network has argued that the probes are aimed at silencing content unfavorable to the Trump administration. “The View” hosts and guests are often critical of President Trump, as is ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
The on-air spots concerning the license review feature an announcer saying: “The FCC is questioning our commitment to the community” and asking viewers to “tell the FCC to keep your trusted local station on the air.” Both spots include a QR code that takes viewers to the FCC website where they can leave public comments.
The campaign underscores how antagonistic the relationship between ABC and the FCC has become under Carr, who has taken a more combative approach to interactions with media companies than prior administrations. The FCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment about ABC’s campaign, the Wall Street Journal reported.