ABC sues FCC over broadcast license threat

Disney-owned ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission in federal court in Washington on Tuesday over a potential threat to its broadcast licenses.

The lawsuit accuses the Trump administration, acting through the FCC, of waging what ABC calls a retaliatory campaign because it disapproves of what the network broadcasts. ABC says the alleged attacks have escalated into demands that it be stripped of broadcast licenses because of its speech.

The case follows an FCC request earlier this year for Disney-owned TV stations to renew their broadcast licenses earlier than scheduled. ABC's suit says the current threat concerns the licenses of eight ABC Owned Stations.

ABC alleges that the timing of the review shows the FCC's purpose is to coerce and retaliate against a network that refuses to follow the administration's demands.

President Donald Trump has criticised ABC on several occasions, particularly late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, and has suggested removing broadcast licenses.