The Walt Disney Company's ABC filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission on August 18, 2026, calling the agency's investigation a "retaliatory campaign," but a federal judge rejected Disney's request for an urgent hearing on August 20, setting a filing deadline of September 24 and a hearing in early October. The FCC has agreed to give Disney at least 48 hours' notice before referring ABC's licenses for a hearing, and Commissioner Anna Gomez has publicly sided with ABC. The lawsuit relies on a unanimous 2024 Supreme Court precedent limiting government pressure on private speech. Disney enters this fight with strong fundamentals: companywide revenue grew 7% to $25.2 billion in fiscal Q3, segment operating income rose 21% to $5.6 billion, Disney Experiences hit a record $9.97 billion, and streaming reached a 13% SVOD margin. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has called the lawsuit meritless, and the license review remains active, casting a cloud over all eight ABC stations.
Walt Disney CompanyFCC investigation and lawsuit delay cast regulatory cloud over ABC licenses.
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