August 18, 2026 · preliminary-injunction hearing updated October 6 · Media / FCC / First Amendment litigation
Disney/ABC challenge to early FCC license reviews reaches preliminary-injunction hearing; judge has not ruled
Disney and ABC’s First Amendment challenge to the FCC’s accelerated review of licenses for eight ABC-owned stations remains pending. At an October 6 hearing, Disney argued that the unusual early reviews are retaliatory and are chilling editorial decisions; the administration argued that the district court lacks jurisdiction and that ABC has not shown irreparable harm. Reuters reported that Judge Loren AliKhan questioned why a document-production dispute justified an early license review that the FCC had not used in more than 50 years. AP reported that AliKhan did not immediately rule and requested additional argument. No license has been revoked, no merits judgment has been entered, and the legal dispute remains unresolved.
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