In a move signaling his incoming administration's approach to media regulation, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair, Brendan Carr, has issued a stern warning to Disney CEO Bob Iger regarding ABC's ongoing negotiations with its local affiliate stations. In a letter dated this past Saturday, Carr expressed his intent to closely monitor these discussions to ensure they align with the interests of local communities.
The letter, which was made public on the social platform X by CNN's Brian Stelter, focuses on the critical aspect of "affiliate agreements" that govern the relationship between ABC and its numerous local broadcast partners across the United States. These agreements are pivotal as they dictate the financial and operational terms under which local stations can air ABC's flagship programs like "Good Morning America," "World News Tonight" with David Muir, NFL football broadcasts, and Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show.
Carr highlighted the potential repercussions for local viewers should these negotiations falter, noting, "My understanding is that ABC is attempting to extract onerous financial and operational concessions from local broadcast TV stations under the threat of terminating long-held affiliations, which could result in blackouts and other harms to local consumers of broadcast news and content." This statement underscores a concern over the fairness and accessibility of local broadcasting, suggesting that the terms demanded by ABC might lead to disruptions in service or content availability.
The essence of Carr's message to Disney's CEO was clear: "I want you to know that I will be monitoring the outcome of your ongoing discussions with local broadcast TV stations to ensure that those negotiations enable local broadcast TV stations to meet their federal obligations to serve the needs of their local communities. A fair agreement would do just that." This indicates that under the new administration, there might be a stronger push towards ensuring that media giants like Disney consider the public interest in their business dealings.
This letter comes at a time when tensions between Trump and the media have already been heightened. Recently, ABC News and its anchor George Stephanopoulos settled a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump, agreeing to a $15 million payment to fund his future presidential library and issuing a public apology. This settlement has been seen as a chilling effect on media freedom, especially as Trump prepares to reassume the presidency.
Carr, known for echoing Trump's criticisms of mainstream media, has previously taken issue with what he perceives as violations of FCC rules. For instance, he criticized Vice President Kamala Harris's appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" as an evasion of the FCC's Equal Time rule. Following his critique, NBC aired a message from Trump to balance the airtime.
Moreover, Trump has publicly suggested punitive actions against ABC News, accusing them of bias during his debate with Harris, which he claimed he lost unfairly due to the moderators' conduct. This recent letter from Carr to Iger can be seen as part of a broader narrative where the incoming administration aims to recalibrate the dynamics between national networks and local broadcasters, emphasizing local community service over corporate gain.
As Trump's FCC nominee, Brendan Carr's actions and warnings to Disney could herald a new era of media regulation, with a keen eye on how large media conglomerates interact with smaller, community-focused entities. This development is likely to spark further debate on media policy, freedom, and the role of the FCC in ensuring that broadcasting serves the public interest at all levels.