Triangle TV station among 8 in US under review by the FCC. Here’s why
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The FCC ordered the early review of Disney-owned ABC stations’ licenses on April 28.
- The review cites possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC rules.
- ABC must file license renewal applications for the stations by May 28.
Federal regulators have launched a review of broadcasting licenses at television stations owned by The Walt Disney Co., including one in the Triangle.
The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates broadcasters including radio and television stations, is ordering the eight Disney-owned ABC stations across the country — among them ABC11 WTVD — to file early license renewals on Tuesday, April 28.
In a filing, the FCC said it has been investigating the stations for “possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and the FCC’s rules, including the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.”
ABC has to file license renewals for the stations by May 28.
The FCC can revoke a broadcaster’s license, but doing so is rare.
Responses to the FCC order
In a statement shared by ABC News, Disney said: “ABC and its stations have a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules and serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public‑interest programming. We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels. Our focus remains, as always, on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate.”
The News & Observer, which is ABC11’s newsgathering partner, reached out to station general manager and President Rob Elmore for comment on this story.
Free speech advocates have criticized the government’s recent move.
Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a post on Bluesky: “Trump is trying to consolidate his control over what we see and hear on the radio, television, and social media. If he wins, we’ll have only Trump-aligned media orgs that broadcast Trump-approved news and Trump-approved late-night shows with Trump-approved monologues. That’s what’s at stake here.”
ABC stations targeted
In addition to ABC11, the other Disney-owned ABC stations named in the FCC order are:
- KFSN in Fresno, California
- KABC in Los Angeles, California
- KGO in San Francisco, California
- WLS in Chicago, Illinois
- WABC in New York, New York
- WPVI in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- KTRK in Houston, Texas
FCC order comes days after Jimmy Kimmel joke
The early renewal order came shortly after the White House called for ABC to fire late night host Jimmy Kimmel, who made a joke about first lady Melania Trump during the Thursday, April 23 episode of his show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
In that episode, Kimmel parodied the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an annual event that this year occurred Saturday, April 25.
During the parody, Kimmel made a joke about first lady Melania Trump, saying: “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
The joke took new meaning after a California man armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives rushed a security checkpoint at the April 25 dinner. The suspect faces charges including attempting to assassinate the president. The president, first lady and other high-ranking government officials were not injured in the incident.
After the dinner, the first lady, President Donald Trump and White House communications director Steven Cheung all called on ABC to fire Kimmel.
Recent attacks against Kimmel
It is not the first time the late-night host has been criticized by the Trump administration.
In September, FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to take action against ABC after Kimmel commented on the killing of the late Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.
ABC pulled Kimmel’s show off the air after two of the country’s biggest media companies, Nexstar and Sinclair, said they would preempt the show because of the late-night host’s comments.
The show has since returned, with ABC, Nexstar and Sinclair stations broadcasting it.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 11:35 AM.
