ABC Tells FCC to Stay Out of Its Newsrooms Over The View Investigation
ABC is pushing back against a Federal Communications Commission investigation into The View's classification as a "bona fide" news program.
In a letter to the FCC on Tuesday, ABC argued that the agency's actions pose a risk to editorial independence by targeting programs "perceived as unfriendly to the current administration." The network's response comes after FCC Chair Brendan Carr confirmed in February that the agency is reexamining The View's classification after the talk show interviewed Rep. James Talarico (D-TX), who is running for a spot in the Senate.
The View's current classification as a news program exempts it from certain FCC rules, including the Equal Time rule, which would otherwise require broadcasters to give equal airtime to political candidates who appear on the show. ABC contends that opening an investigation based on the content or perceived political leaning of a program sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom.
The FCC's inquiry has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates who argue that government review of news programming based on its editorial content could chill protected speech and undermine the independence of broadcasters.