ABC encourages viewers to back network amid FCC investigations
The television network ABC is seeking the public’s backing as it faces simultaneous investigations from the Brendan Carr-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The media regulator has two pending inquiries into ABC – one focuses on the daytime talkshow The View, and the other is a broader challenge into whether the network should be able to renew licenses for the eight local television stations it owns.
The investigation into whether The View has violated a rule requiring equal time for political candidates is accepting public comments until 22 June, while the commission is accepting petitions to deny ABC’s licenses until 29 June.
Ads encouraging the public to voice support for the network to the FCC will begin airing on Monday during commercial breaks on The View, the network said. Targeted advertisements focused on the license renewal will also be shown in the eight local markets that have ABC-owned stations, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The ads, which will air on The View until 6 July, will also be published online.
The network decided to air the campaign as a way to ensure that the public is aware of the investigations, which are convoluted and have no clear time horizon. Some of ABC’s licenses were not scheduled to expire until 2031, and critics of Carr’s conduct suggest that it is “open season” on the network, which is regularly criticized by Donald Trump and has previously settled a lawsuit he filed against it for $16m.
The 20-second advertising spot begins with a clip from the late Barbara Walters, talking about why she founded the show in 1997. “I had this idea for a show: different women, different points of view,” she says.
Then, a narrator tells viewers: “The View has welcomed your favorite guests and covered the issues you care about for nearly 3o years. Now, the FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show. Viewers, use your voice.”
The ad targeting viewers of ABC’s local station in New York encourages the city’s residents to “use your voice” in supporting the license renewal. “No one supports your community like ABC7 - sharing your stories, bringing us together. Channel 7 has proudly served you for more than 75 years ... Now the FCC is questioning our commitment to the community.”
In a statement, an FCC spokesperson dismissed ABC’s advertising campaign: “Disney wants the FCC to classify ‘The View’ as a ‘bona fide news program.’ And it has chosen to run a campaign of misinformation to make its case – misleading viewers about the law. That is a choice.”
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗
ABC is conducting a public outreach campaign asking viewers to voice support to the FCC as the regulator pursues two separate inquiries. The first examines whether The View complied with equal-time rules for political candidates. The second reviews licensing renewal for ABC's eight owned television stations. Both comment periods close in late June. ABC has placed 20-second advertisements on The View and in eight local markets where it owns stations—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and others—running through early July. An FCC spokesperson responded by characterizing the campaign as misleading, stating that ABC is misrepresenting the legal framework governing broadcast content. Some of ABC's licenses are not due to expire until 2031.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗
The television network ABC is seeking the public’s backing as it faces simultaneous investigations from the Brendan Carr-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The media regulator has two pending inquiries into ABC – one focuses on the daytime talkshow The View, and the other is a broader challenge into whether the network should be able to renew licenses for the eight local television stations it owns.
The investigation into whether The View has violated a rule requiring equal time for political candidates is accepting public comments until 22 June, while the commission is accepting petitions to deny ABC’s licenses until 29 June.
Ads encouraging the public to voice support for the network to the FCC will begin airing on Monday during commercial breaks on The View, the network said. Targeted advertisements focused on the license renewal will also be shown in the eight local markets that have ABC-owned stations, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The ads, which will air on The View until 6 July, will also be published online.
The network decided to air the campaign as a way to ensure that the public is aware of the investigations, which are convoluted and have no clear time horizon. Some of ABC’s licenses were not scheduled to expire until 2031, and critics of Carr’s conduct suggest that it is “open season” on the network, which is regularly criticized by Donald Trump and has previously settled a lawsuit he filed against it for $16m.
The 20-second advertising spot begins with a clip from the late Barbara Walters, talking about why she founded the show in 1997. “I had this idea for a show: different women, different points of view,” she says.
Then, a narrator tells viewers: “The View has welcomed your favorite guests and covered the issues you care about for nearly 3o years. Now, the FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show. Viewers, use your voice.”
The ad targeting viewers of ABC’s local station in New York encourages the city’s residents to “use your voice” in supporting the license renewal. “No one supports your community like ABC7 - sharing your stories, bringing us together. Channel 7 has proudly served you for more than 75 years ... Now the FCC is questioning our commitment to the community.”
In a statement, an FCC spokesperson dismissed ABC’s advertising campaign: “Disney wants the FCC to classify ‘The View’ as a ‘bona fide news program.’ And it has chosen to run a campaign of misinformation to make its case – misleading viewers about the law. That is a choice.”
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗
The FCC, under chair Brendan Carr, is conducting two simultaneous investigations into ABC One investigation focuses on whether The View violated equal-time requirements for political candidates The other investigation examines whether ABC's eight owned broadcast stations should be permitted to renew their licenses Public comments on the equal-time inquiry are due by 22 June; petitions to deny license renewal are due by 29 June ABC is airing 20-second advertisements encouraging public support during The View and in eight local markets through 6 July ABC's licensing renewal ads will also appear online ABC decided to launch the campaign to raise public awareness of investigations described as complex and lacking a clear timeline Some of ABC's broadcast licenses do not expire until 2031 ABC settled a $16 million lawsuit filed by Donald Trump and faces ongoing criticism from him The FCC characterized ABC's advertising as a campaign of misinformation designed to mislead viewers about the law
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗
- ABC is running a public advertising campaign urging viewers to support the network during two simultaneous FCC investigations
- One investigation examines whether The View violated political candidate equal-time rules; the other reviews whether ABC's eight owned stations should renew their broadcast licenses
- Public comment periods for both inquiries end in late June, with ads airing on The View and in eight local markets including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago
- The FCC dismissed ABC's campaign as misinformation, stating the network is misleading viewers about the law
- ABC's licenses do not expire until 2031, and the network faces scrutiny amid criticism from Donald Trump and a previous $16 million settlement