The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filed a motion in federal court on Thursday seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit initiated by Disney and its subsidiary, ABC. The litigation stems from a recent regulatory action in which the FCC called for the early license renewal of several local ABC-affiliated stations.

In its court filing, the FCC argues that the lawsuit brought by Disney is premature. The agency maintains that the legal challenge does not meet the necessary criteria for judicial intervention at this stage of the administrative process. By requesting a dismissal, the FCC is signaling that it believes the network’s grievances should be addressed through internal agency procedures rather than through the federal court system.

Disney, conversely, has challenged the FCC’s move, suggesting that the agency’s decision to target these specific stations for early renewal is improper or exceeds its regulatory authority. The core of the disagreement lies in whether the FCC’s administrative actions are currently subject to judicial review. While the FCC asserts that the legal process is being bypassed or initiated too early, Disney’s legal team is attempting to have the court intervene to halt or alter the agency's renewal requirements. The court has not yet issued a ruling on the FCC's motion to dismiss.