The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a review of agreements between national television networks and local broadcast stations, following criticism from former President Donald Trump of ABC News. The move comes amid ongoing debates over network control, affiliate rights, and media accountability in the United States.
Trump recently suggested that the FCC should consider revoking broadcast licenses of Disney-owned ABC stations after the network’s correspondents asked Saudi Arabia’s crown prince about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a topic the former president described as “insubordinate.”
FCC Chair Brendan Carr Initiates Review
FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Republican, confirmed that the review will focus on situations where local stations opt not to air network programming for public interest reasons. The FCC issues eight-year licenses to individual broadcast stations—not the national networks—and is assessing whether networks have unfairly limited the ability of affiliates to exercise editorial discretion.
In a statement, Carr noted that the review addresses reports of national programmers preventing local broadcasters from serving their communities, including threats or penalties for preempting programming. The FCC’s notice also asks whether regulations should be introduced to curb anticompetitive leverage and behavior by major networks.
Political Context and Recent Controversies
The White House has described ABC News as a “Democratic spin operation masquerading as a broadcast network” and accused it of waging “war” on Trump and his supporters. ABC News, owned by Disney, declined to comment on the FCC review.
In September, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group temporarily chose not to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! across roughly 70 ABC-affiliated stations, affecting nearly a quarter of U.S. households. This decision coincided with ABC suspending Kimmel’s show following controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Prior to the suspension, Carr warned that local affiliates airing the program could face fines or license threats—a move that drew bipartisan criticism.
Carr is set to appear before the Senate Commerce Committee on December 17 to address these and other related issues.
Network-Affiliate Contracts and Preemption Rights
Contracts between networks and affiliates typically include penalties for extended non-broadcast of programming, raising questions about the balance of power between networks and local stations. The FCC’s review seeks to clarify whether national networks can lawfully penalize local affiliates for exercising their right to preempt programming for public interest purposes.
Carr has previously investigated media company practices, including probes into Comcast/NBC affiliate relationships and oversight of the CBS parent Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger, highlighting the FCC’s broader interest in ensuring fair competition and unbiased programming.
Conclusion
The FCC’s review of network-affiliate agreements underscores ongoing tensions between national broadcast control, local station autonomy, and political influence in U.S. media. As the agency examines preemption rights, licensing rules, and anticompetitive practices, the outcome could reshape how networks and local stations interact, ensuring that local broadcasters can serve their communities without undue pressure from national programmers.
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