Judge Denies Disney Request to Block FCC License Review

U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan denied a request by The Walt Disney Company for an urgent hearing and a temporary restraining order to block the Federal Communications Commission from conducting an early review of licenses for eight ABC stations. The judge noted that the government's position regarding the lack of urgency was acceptable and declined Disney's request for an immediate injunction.

As part of the ruling, the FCC agreed to provide 48 hours' notice before issuing any order to refer the licenses for a hearing. The legal battle stems from calls by President Donald Trump for ABC to lose its licenses after the network declined to air a prime-time speech on elections. Disney has characterized the FCC's actions as an extraordinary assault on free speech and an attempt at retaliation.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr has maintained that the lawsuit lacks merit. The court has ordered the parties to submit legal filings by September 24, with a hearing scheduled for early October.