FCC reviews ABC stations’ broadcast licenses after Kimmel’s ‘expectant widow’ comment

The Federal Communications Commission is currently reviewing the broadcast licenses of local stations directly owned by ABC.

Tuesday’s order came just days after President Trump called for the firing of network late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for saying that first lady Melania Trump had a good “widow-to-be” look.

The agency said the review focused on ABC’s diversity and inclusion policies, which it said could constitute unlawful discrimination.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has repeatedly threatened to revoke broadcasters’ station licenses for violating the public interest, a condition spelled out in law, and Tuesday’s filing was the first such direct action.

The immediate impact will likely be minimal, although it could lead to years of costly legal wrangling, according to a New York Times article.

To revoke a license, the FCC must convincingly demonstrate a pattern of violating broadcast rules and regulations — not just a single joke about assassinating the president, even if that took place two days before an actual assassination attempt at the event Mr. Kimmel was mocking.

The newspaper also notes that the ABC channels will then be able to appeal a possible revocation to the courts and will be able to broadcast while the legal disputes play out.

The eight stations that ABC owns directly don’t represent a huge share of its 200-affiliated local network, but they include such important markets as New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Walt Disney Co. said ABC, owned by the entertainment giant, has always complied with FCC rules.

“This record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and we are prepared to demonstrate it through the appropriate legal channels,” Disney said in a statement Tuesday.