FCC to Disney-Owned TV Stations
Let’s See These Licenses, ABC …
Renewals Up Early After Jimmy’s Melania Joke
Revealed
It appears Brendan Carr was not amused by Jimmy Kimmel‘s “light roast joke” about Melania Trump final week … as a result of he is reportedly about to order Disney-owned TV stations to re-up their broadcasting licenses early.
A supply with data of the matter tells NBC Information the FCC chairman is about to problem the directive Tuesday … which can pressure Disney’s 8 stations to file their renewals two years forward of schedule — noting they weren’t due till 2028 on the earliest.
The insider says the “unprecedented” order is sparked by the Melania joke Jimmy made throughout his present final week.
4/23/26
ICYMI … Jimmy aired a mock White Home Correspondents’ Dinner roast on Thursday, 2 days earlier than the precise occasion — since this 12 months’s dinner didn’t have a comic host, as is custom — when he stated Melania “had the glow of an expectant widow.”
And, as you realize, a gunman fired photographs within the resort foyer of the Washington Hilton earlier than dashing towards the WHCD in an alleged assassination try Saturday evening.
Jimmy clarified Monday evening he wasn’t inciting violence throughout his faux roast bit … however was as a substitute poking enjoyable on the age hole between Donald Trump and his spouse.
Regardless, DT and Melania have known as for ABC — which is owned by Disney — to sack the comic from his late-night present.
So, if Brendan Carr does observe via with issuing this order … there’s an opportunity Disney’s stations in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno take that mounting strain into consideration.
Keep in mind, ABC suspended Jimmy final September over the feedback he made within the wake of Charlie Kirk‘s demise … however the community confronted such intense backlash that the comic was again on the air in a matter of days, with a new contract shortly afterward.
