'The View' faces trouble as FCC prepares crackdown on ABC, Disney show

Key Points:

• The FCC is poised to rule that ABC’s "The View" is not a bona fide news program, which would subject the show to federal equal-time rules for political candidates, potentially altering more than 20 years of precedent.
• This decision is part of a broader FCC investigation into Disney’s broadcast licenses, with possible administrative hearings that could threaten ABC-owned stations in major markets like New York and Los Angeles.
• If stripped of its news exemption, "The View" would need to provide equal airtime to rival political candidates when interviewing one, a move Disney argues would infringe on editorial discretion; Disney plans to challenge any adverse rulings.
• The inquiry began after "The View" interviewed a Texas Democratic Senate candidate, prompting questions about equal-time obligations, and has led to ABC scaling back bookings of candidates in competitive races during the FCC review.
• Conservative groups have urged the FCC to deny renewal of ABC’s broadcast licenses, accusing the network of political bias and failing to serve the public interest, intensifying the regulatory scrutiny.