ABC Defends 'The View' as News Program in FCC Filing

ABC filed new comments with the Federal Communications Commission on Monday defending "The View" against an ongoing investigation. The Disney-owned network argued that the probe violates the show's First Amendment rights and asked the agency to declare the program a bona fide news show.

The filing follows a May petition that has drawn more than 77,000 public comments. ABC stated that the FCC's actions amount to government interference in editorial decisions about which guests appear on air.

The FCC announced in January that it would examine partisan talk shows to ensure equal time for political candidates. Since the announcement, "The View" has not hosted a politician in a competitive midterm race after Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appeared in February.

ABC noted that the FCC had previously recognized "The View" as a bona fide news program in 2002. The network said the current focus on daytime and late-night programs, while leaving talk radio untouched, raises concerns about uneven enforcement.

ABC also opposed the FCC's equal opportunities rule, writing that giving the agency authority to decide what counts as news programming could punish disfavored viewpoints. An FCC spokesperson told Fox News Digital that ABC should focus on complying with its public interest obligations rather than misleading the public about them.

The network said the investigation has created a chilling effect on its booking decisions and that the principle at stake extends beyond any single program.