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yesterday

FCC Opens Public Comment on Whether ABC’s The View Qualifies as News

A decision will determine whether talk shows must offer rival candidates comparable airtime.

Image
The Disney logo is displayed outside the Disney Store in Times Square, December 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
"The View" set.
FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2010 TV publicity file image released by ABC, from left, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd pose on the set of their daytime talk show, "The View," as they launch their 14th season, in New York. Behar is leaving the ABC daytime talk show at the end of the current season in August 2013. The network said in a statement Thursday, March 7, 2013, that it wishes Behar “all the best in this next chapter, and are thrilled that we have her for the remainder of the season.” (AP Photo/ABC, Heidi Gutman) NO TABLOIDS. NO ARCHIVES.

Overview

  • The FCC’s Media Bureau opened a public comment docket on Friday, May 22, asking whether The View meets the long‑standing “bona fide news interview” exemption to the equal‑time rule.
  • Disney and ABC filed a May 7 petition asking the agency to affirm The View’s exemption and argued the enforcement threatens editorial freedom and raises First Amendment concerns.
  • The review began after The View booked candidate James Talarico for a Feb. 2 appearance and the ABC Houston station KTRK was sent an FCC letter asking why equal‑time paperwork was not filed.
  • Commissioners are split over the move with Chair Brendan Carr pressing the inquiry and Commissioner Anna Gomez calling the proceedings politically motivated as the FCC has opened other probes into ABC/Disney.
  • Initial public comments are due June 22 with reply comments by July 6, the docket already has dozens of filings, and a final ruling could prompt litigation and change how broadcasters book candidates before the 2026 midterms.