The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to rule that ABC’s “The View” is not a bona fide news program, a decision that would upend more than two decades of precedent and subject the Disney-owned daytime talk show to federal equal-time rules for political candidates, according to a report.
Bloomberg reported Wednesday that the FCC is also expected to escalate a separate investigation into Disney’s broadcast television licenses, moving the matter toward an administrative hearing that could ultimately threaten ABC-owned stations in New York, Los Angeles and other major markets.
The anticipated rulings, which people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg could come before Labor Day, would represent the most aggressive regulatory action against a major US broadcaster in decades and mark a significant victory for FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s effort to overhaul how the agency polices political programming.
If the FCC strips “The View” of its longstanding news exemption, the program generally would have to offer rival candidates comparable airtime when it interviews someone running for office — a requirement ABC argues would fundamentally alter its editorial discretion.
Disney is expected to challenge any adverse rulings, according to Bloomberg.
The FCC Media Bureau’s ruling on “The View” could be appealed to the full FCC and then to federal court, while the separate license proceeding could eventually be heard by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr or the full commission before any judicial appeal.
The Post has sought comment from ABC and its parent company, Disney, as well as from the FCC.
The dispute began after “The View” interviewed Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico in February, prompting questions from the FCC about whether rival candidates were entitled to equal airtime under federal broadcast law.
Carr subsequently opened an inquiry into whether “The View” qualifies for the equal-time exemption afforded to bona fide news interview programs.
In May, ABC and its Houston affiliate asked the FCC to reaffirm a 2002 agency ruling that designated “The View” a bona fide news interview program exempt from the equal-time requirement.
ABC escalated the fight earlier this month, arguing in reply comments that the FCC was attempting to insert itself into the network’s editorial decisions.
“The First Amendment does not permit the government to sit in an editor’s chair,” the ABC filing states.
Semafor reported earlier this month that “The View” has quietly scaled back bookings of candidates running in competitive races while the FCC’s review remains pending.
The outlet also reported that producers declined a request from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s team to host the mayor alongside Democratic congressional nominees Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez while proceeding cautiously amid the FCC inquiry.
Meanwhile, conservative organizations including the Media Research Center, America First Legal, the Center for American Rights and the Article III Project have urged the FCC to deny renewal of ABC’s broadcast licenses, accusing the network of political bias and failing to serve the public interest.