Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr on Friday highlighted a petition from Disney asking the agency to declare ABC’s “The View” exempt from equal opportunities requirements as a “bona fide news interview program.”
The request has prompted the FCC to open a public comment period on whether the long-running daytime talk show meets the legal standard for news programming.
Under federal law, broadcast stations must provide equal opportunities to opposing political candidates. However, “bona fide news interview programs” are generally exempt. Disney argues “The View” qualifies, comparing it to established programs such as “Meet the Press” and “Face the Nation,” per a May 22 social media post by Carr.
Disney has filed a petition with the FCC asking the agency to declare that The View is exempt from the statutory equal opportunities requirements that would otherwise apply to broadcast shows.
Disney argues that The View qualifies as “bona fide news” under the law, comparing… pic.twitter.com/xyxhvNk3rb
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) May 22, 2026
Background on the Equal Opportunities Rule
The equal opportunities provision stems from the Communications Act of 1934. Congress enacted it to prevent broadcasters from using their public airwaves to favor one political candidate over another. The rule does not require stations to air any particular candidate but mandates that if one candidate appears, opponents must have comparable opportunities.
FCC case law has long held that a program does not qualify as “bona fide news” if its decisions on guests are driven by partisan purposes intended to advance or harm a candidate’s prospects.
Disney’s Petition
In its filing, Disney contends that “The View” operates as a legitimate news discussion program. The company points to its format of interviewing newsmakers and discussing current events. The current petition stems from an earlier FCC enforcement action involving Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
Talarico appeared on “The View” on February 2, 2026. The FCC later opened an investigation into whether ABC violated the equal opportunities rule by featuring Talarico without offering comparable time to his then-Democratic primary opponent, then-U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who had also previously appeared on the program.
Disney’s May 7, 2026, filing seeks formal confirmation that “The View” qualifies as a “bona fide news interview program,” aiming to resolve ongoing uncertainty created by that investigation.
Look here for the FCC Public Notice, dated May 22, 2026.
Responses and Reactions
As of Friday afternoon, public reaction on social media was largely skeptical of classifying “The View” as news. Many users described the show as opinion-driven entertainment rather than straight news reporting.
No formal statements from Disney or ABC had been released in response to Carr’s post at the time of this article.
The FCC has not taken a position on the merits of Disney’s request.
History of Similar FCC Determinations
The FCC has previously evaluated various programs for the news exemption. Traditional Sunday morning political shows have generally qualified. Talk shows and entertainment programs with political guests have faced closer scrutiny when complaints arise about unequal treatment of candidates.
This proceeding fits into a broader pattern under Carr of reviewing broadcast practices and public interest obligations. In recent months, the agency has also examined content ratings for children’s programming involving “gender identity” themes, as Politico reported.
What Happens Next
The FCC’s Media Bureau will collect public comments submitted through the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). After the comment period closes, staff will review submissions and may issue a recommendation to the full Commission.
Any final decision could affect how ABC and other broadcasters schedule political content on daytime programming. A determination that The View does not qualify as “bona fide news” would mean the station must offer equal opportunities to candidates who request time after appearances by opposing candidates.
The proceeding remains open, and no timeline for a decision has been announced.
