ABC encourages viewers to weigh in FCC proceedings against ‘The View,’ owned stations’ licenses

ABC has launched on-air campaigns encouraging viewers to weigh in on two proceedings before the FCC involving the network and its owned television stations.

The campaign, launched June 22, 2026, focuses on ABC’s petition asking the FCC to declare that “The View” qualifies as a bona fide news interview program, as well as early broadcast license renewals for eight ABC-owned stations.

Spots tied to “The View” will air during a commercial break within the program.

Local station spots will run across dayparts in the affected markets: WABC in New York, New York; KABC in Los Angeles, California; WLS in Chicago, Illinois; WPVI in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; KTRK in Houston, Texas; KGO in San Francisco, California; WTVD in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and KFSN in Fresno, California.

The campaign will also include images across ABC-owned television station websites, theview.tv, ABC.com and social media.

In addition, ABC-owned stations will air localized campaigns highlighting their public service and the FCC proceedings.

Both efforts are intended to inform viewers about the proceedings, what is at stake and how members of the public can participate by submitting comments directly to the FCC.

The FCC proceeding involving “The View” centers on whether the ABC daytime program qualifies as a bona fide news interview program exempt from political equal time opportunities requirements under federal broadcast law, while the license issues stem from an April 28, 2026, order directing Disney’s ABC to file early renewal applications for eight owned stations, even though the licenses were not due for review until 2028. 

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The campaign follows FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s announcements seeking public comment in both proceedings. To file a comment, members of the public must use the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System and enter the corresponding docket number with their submission.

Although the two proceedings are separate, they involve related free speech issues and have overlapping comment and reply periods.

The FCC’s actions concerning ABC have been criticized as being a targeted attack on the network. Many of “The View” hosts are known for their vocal opposition to recent actions by the federal government. There are also accusations that the FCC is targeting ABC due to its parent company Disney’s corporate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Opponents of the network, however, argue that “The View” is taking advantage of its status as a news program to avoid equal time requirements.

‘The View,’ MB Docket No. 26-124

The FCC proceeding involving “The View” centers on whether the ABC daytime program qualifies as a bona fide news interview program under federal broadcast rules.

The issue is tied to the equal opportunities requirement, which generally requires broadcast stations that provide airtime to one legally qualified political candidate to provide comparable access to opposing candidates for the same office. Federal law includes exemptions for certain news programming, including bona fide news interview programs.

ABC and KTRK filed a petition May 7, 2026, asking the FCC to affirm that “The View” falls under that exemption. The filing followed FCC scrutiny of the program after an appearance by Texas Senate candidate James Talarico.

In a May 22, 2026, public notice, the FCC’s Media Bureau sought comment on whether “The View” qualifies for the exemption, whether the equal opportunities statute would withstand constitutional review and whether the program’s decisions about format, guests and content are based on newsworthiness or an effort to support or oppose particular candidates.

• June 22, 2026: Public comment deadline
• July 6, 2026: Reply deadline
• Public notice

License renewals, MB Docket No. 26-131

On April 28, the FCC issued an order directing Disney’s ABC to file early renewal applications for its eight owned television stations. ABC filed the applications under protest, arguing the order was unlawful, arbitrary and unconstitutional. The move is considered extraordinary because broadcast license renewals typically follow a regular eight-year cycle, and early renewals for a major television broadcaster have not been ordered in more than 50 years. ABC has said the action threatens First Amendment protections by using the license renewal process to scrutinize editorial decisions and programming.

• June 29, 2026: Petitions to deny deadline
• July 29, 2026: Opposition deadline
• Aug. 5, 2026: Reply deadline
• Public notice