ABC restricts 'The View' bookings amid FCC equal time investigation
The FCC is investigating whether ABC's 'The View' has violated the 'equal time' rule, leading the network to restrict political candidate bookings. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is simultaneously attempting to extend the commission's regulatory oversight beyond traditional broadcast airwaves to include streaming platforms and MVPD services like YouTube TV.
Key Takeaways
- ABC has not featured a competitive midterm candidate on 'The View' since the FCC inquiry began in February 2026.
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is exploring expanding agency oversight to include virtual MVPDs like YouTube TV.
- Network staff indicated the show is proceeding with "extreme caution" on bookings to avoid regulatory triggers.
- Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez condemned the inquiry as a "censorship and control campaign" intended to alter editorial behavior.
Why It Matters
The investigation signals a potential shift in how regulatory standards for traditional broadcast are applied to modern talk formats and digital distribution. If 'The View' loses its news exemption, the logistical burden of providing equal time could effectively end political guest circuits on daytime and late-night TV. For the streaming industry, Carr’s attempt to reclassify vMVPDs under FCC jurisdiction poses a significant threat to the light-touch regulatory environment currently enjoyed by digital platforms. Industry leaders should watch for a formal FCC ruling on the show’s 'bona fide news' status, which would set a precedent for all hybrid entertainment-news programming.
Additional Context
The investigation into 'The View' is part of a broader regulatory push by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. In January 2026, the FCC issued a Public Notice warning that late-night and daytime talk shows might no longer be automatically granted 'bona fide news' exemptions, especially if they appear 'motivated by partisan purposes,' per Wiley Law (January 2026). This shift follows years of late-night programs operating under a blanket exemption established by a 2006 ruling involving 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.'
Simultaneously, the FCC is facing significant pushback regarding its authority over streaming platforms. While Carr has suggested that the agency can regulate YouTube TV and other vMVPDs because they are 'functionally similar' to cable, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) filed comments in May 2026 arguing the agency lacks clear legal authority to regulate online video services, per TV Technology (May 2026). The MPA and other trade groups maintain that reclassifying vMVPDs as traditional MVPDs would stifle innovation and disrupt existing retransmission consent negotiations.
Legal pressure on the agency is also mounting from external watchdogs. In May 2026, the Legal Accountability Center filed complaints with bar associations in Maryland and D.C., alleging that Carr has misused his regulatory authority to target media outlets for protected speech, per TheDesk (May 2026). Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2026 decision in Trump v. Slaughter, which expanded presidential control over independent agencies, has raised new questions about the extent of political influence over FCC enforcement actions, according to Newsweek (June 2026).
Read full article at semafor.com
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