Conservative Watchdog Urges FCC to Deny ABC License Renewals Over Alleged Political Bias

A conservative media watchdog is asking the Federal Communications Commission to deny the renewal of ABC’s broadcast licenses, arguing the Disney-owned network has abandoned its obligation to serve the public interest by operating as a partisan outlet.

The Media Research Center (MRC) submitted a filing Monday accusing ABC of electioneering, suppressing stories unfavorable to Democrats, excusing political violence, and spreading misinformation.

“We finally have an FCC willing to hold Disney and ABC accountable,” MRC President David Bozell told The New York Post.

“Broadcast licenses are a privilege, not an entitlement. In exchange for free use of the public airwaves, broadcasters agree to serve the public interest.”

“If ABC wants to operate like a partisan cable network, it should give up the benefits reserved for broadcast licensees. No one is above the law, and ABC should not have its broadcast licenses renewed.”

The filing comes as the FCC reviews eight Disney-owned broadcast licenses — including ABC stations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago — after Chairman Brendan Carr moved the renewal process up by a year while investigating whether the company cooperated with an inquiry into its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

“Broadcast licenses are not sacred cows,” an FCC spokesperson told The Post.

“When a broadcaster files an application to renew their FCC licenses, Congress has tasked the FCC with determining whether the broadcaster has served the public interest. That is exactly what the FCC will do here.”

ABC has sharply criticized the accelerated review, arguing it serves “no legitimate purpose” and amounts to “an effort to suppress speech under the guise of bureaucratic process.”

The network has also launched a public campaign encouraging viewers to support its license renewals and sign a petition asserting that The View qualifies as a bona fide news interview program amid a separate FCC investigation into the daytime talk show.

In its latest filing, the MRC argued ABC overwhelmingly favored Democrats during the 2024 presidential campaign, alleging the network devoted significantly more positive coverage to then-Vice President Kamala Harris while portraying President Trump negatively.

More over at MRC:

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: ABC News is rewarding partisan shills like Jimmy Kimmel and The View with airtime, and conservatives are sick of it.

The FCC shouldn’t renew a license to an outlet that platforms blatant propaganda.https://t.co/GFTD3Opxd8

— Media Research Center (@theMRC) June 30, 2026