ABC License Renewal Call Surprised FCC Staff and Shattered Norms

The Federal Communications Commission’s decision to accelerate a license review of Walt Disney Co.’s ABC TV stations caught many people in the agency by surprise, laying the foundation for a likely protracted legal battle over a norm-shattering strategy shift.

Calling for an early license review is a rare step, one that many industry watchers didn’t think FCC Chairman Brendan Carr would take. Although the license review order cites potential workplace discrimination as the reason for scrutiny, people familiar with the matter said it was precipitated by President Donald Trump’s plea for ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Monday. The comedian became a focus of Trump again this week after Kimmel made jokes at the president and first lady’s expense on his April 23 show.