FCC Launches Review of ABC Licenses Following Controversial Kimmel Joke
FCC orders review of ABC licenses after Kimmel joke offends Trump and first lady
Ars Technica
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated a review of ABC's broadcast licenses after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump criticized a joke made by Jimmy Kimmel. The FCC's order requires ABC's parent company, Disney, to submit early license renewal applications by May 28, citing ongoing investigations into potential violations of the Communications Act of 1934.
- 01The FCC has opened a review of ABC's broadcast licenses after a controversial joke by Jimmy Kimmel.
- 02President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called for Kimmel's firing over the joke.
- 03Disney must submit early license renewal applications by May 28 as part of the review process.
- 04The FCC's investigation includes scrutiny of Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
- 05The legal process for revoking broadcast licenses is extremely challenging.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched an unusual review of ABC's broadcast licenses, prompted by a joke made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump. In response to the joke, President Trump and Melania Trump called for Kimmel's dismissal. The FCC's order requires ABC's parent company, The Walt Disney Company, to submit early license renewal applications for all its licensed TV stations by May 28. Although there are no licenses up for renewal until 2028, the FCC stated that it has the authority to expedite the renewal process if it deems it essential for an ongoing investigation. This investigation is focused on potential violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and includes scrutiny of Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, which FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has criticized as discriminatory. The review has been fast-tracked following Kimmel's joke, indicating a connection between the two events.
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The FCC's review may affect ABC's broadcasting operations, potentially leading to changes in programming or management decisions.
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