Disney sues FCC over ‘retaliatory campaign’ against ABC

(CNN, KYMA) - Disney filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over First Amendment rights.

The complaint alleges the agency has waged a retaliatory campaign against the Disney-owned ABC Television Network because the Trump Administration doesn't like what it airs.

Much of this goes back to April when Jimmy Kimmel made a joke on his late night show that President Donald Trump took issue with.

President Trump pressured ABC to fire Kimmel, but the network stood behind its star.

Shortly after, the FCC ordered Disney-owned ABC affiliates to file for their broadcast renewals years early.

The FCC said the timing was coincidental, but it targeted the eight ABC affiliates, owned by parent company Disney, and left the nearly 200 affiliates mainly owned by other companies alone. That made many view the action as retaliatory.

The FCC has wide authority to govern broadcast television stations.

A federal court challenge is one of the only avenues Disney has to challenge it.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr was contacted for comment.