Disney argues 'The View' qualifies for news exemption in FCC filing

Disney tells the FCC that 'The View' qualifies for a news exemption amid an ongoing regulatory dispute

Disney has defended The View as a legitimate news interview programme in a new filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that the long-running ABC daytime talk show qualifies for the same news exemption protections as the network's traditional news broadcasts.

The filing comes as Disney continues its dispute with the FCC over the renewal of licences for eight ABC-owned television stations. The company has previously described the agency's decision to require early licence renewals as "unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional."

In its latest submission, Disney argued that government regulators should not influence editorial decisions, stating that the First Amendment protects broadcasters from political interference. The company maintained that The View should receive the same legal protections afforded to programmes such as World News Tonight and Good Morning America.

The FCC has also examined whether The View complied with equal-time election rules after Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appeared on the programme earlier this year. The agency issued updated guidance in January stating that certain daytime and late-night shows could be subject to equal-time requirements when featuring political candidates.

According to Disney, more than 76,000 public comments have been submitted to the FCC regarding the dispute, with many viewers expressing concern that the government is overstepping its role in regulating broadcast content.

The company also received support from approximately 50 organisations and advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), FIRE, TechFreedom and Young Voices. In the filing, Disney argued that longstanding FCC precedent supports classifying The View as a bona fide news interview programme.

The regulatory dispute remains ongoing, with the FCC yet to issue a final decision on Disney's licence renewals and the status of The View under existing broadcast rules.