FCC Orders ABC and Disney to Renew Broadcast Licenses
The FCC has mandated that ABC and Disney renew their broadcast licenses, citing concerns over “unlawful discrimination.” Chairman Brendan Kerr expressed his dissatisfaction with Disney’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The FCC’s notice indicates that Disney’s ABC is under investigation for possible breaches of the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC regulations, particularly relating to the commission’s ban on discrimination. Known as early license review, this process is critical since the FCC oversees ABC’s broadcast television operations that use public airwaves.
Reports suggest that Disney’s ABC is preparing to address the two FCC letters but has acknowledged that “additional action is appropriate at this time.”
The agency outlined the following:
The FCC has the authority to revoke a broadcaster’s license for early renewal if it finds the renewal application necessary for a proper investigation. This enables the FCC to continue its inquiries and ensures that broadcasters are meeting their public interest responsibilities.
Determining it necessary, the FCC has decided to seek early renewal of Disney’s ABC license under the public interest standard of the Communications Act. Consequently, Disney’s ABC is instructed to submit license renewals for all televised stations within 30 days, specifically by May 28, 2026.
Kerr mentioned in March 2025 that he has consistently been unhappy with ABC’s DEI strategies.
In a letter from March 2025, Kerr noted, “I expressed my concerns to Bob Iger, who was then CEO of Disney.” He emphasized the importance of addressing and ending discriminatory practices in substance, not just in rhetoric, and hinted at his desire to investigate Disney’s actions further.
Disney, once a quintessential American company founded a century ago, has faced scrutiny regarding its DEI policies, which have sparked a slew of controversies. Reports accuse Disney’s leadership of engaging in flagrant forms of DEI discrimination that impacted its operational decisions significantly.
Kerr stated that Disney made DEI a fundamental priority in its business approach.
The company introduced mandatory “inclusion criteria,” which stipulates that “50 percent of regular and recurring characters” must come from “underrepresented groups.” This could have led to racial and identity quotas at each production level, mandating that “no less than 50%” of writers, directors, and other personnel be chosen based on group identity. Additionally, executive bonuses may have been linked to DEI “performance,” and ABC supposedly used race-based hiring databases to confine fellowship opportunities to specific demographic groups.
Kerr also pointed out that ending contentious DEI practices has been a significant goal of the Trump administration, and he has been actively working to retract the FCC’s own DEI policy while scrutinizing similar initiatives in other companies.
He concluded his correspondence, stating, “As FCC Chairman, ensuring that regulated entities adhere to our rules is crucial. The Enforcement Division will collaborate with you to collect relevant data regarding Disney and ABC’s DEI initiatives.” More details will follow from the Enforcement Division.
