Disney has sparked mockery and disbelief after making a highly unusual argument to federal regulators.
The company insists [1] that The View, its long-running daytime talk show, qualifies as a legitimate news program.
According to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Disney’s Houston station KTRK-TV and ABC submitted a Petition for Declaratory Ruling on May 7, 2026.
The petition requests official recognition of The View as a “bona fide news interview program,” comparable to traditional shows like Meet the Press or Face the Nation.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly confirmed the filing, which quickly triggered sharp reactions across the media and political landscape.
Disney has filed a petition with the FCC asking the agency to declare that The View is exempt from the statutory equal opportunities requirements that would otherwise apply to broadcast shows.
Disney argues that The View qualifies as “bona fide news” under the law, comparing… pic.twitter.com/xyxhvNk3rb [2]
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) May 22, 2026 [3]
Critics called the claim outlandish, questioning how a panel show with hosts such as Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, and Sonny Hostin could be categorized alongside respected news outlets.
The reasoning behind the petition centers on an old broadcast law.
Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 requires television stations to grant equal airtime opportunities to legally qualified political candidates.
This means that if one candidate appears on a station’s program, opposing candidates must be offered the same chance.
Disney appears to be seeking a legal exemption from this rule.
If The View is declared “bona fide news,” it would be allowed to host certain political figures without providing equal time to their rivals.
The exemption has historically applied to shows judged to conduct legitimate interviews rather than partisan promotion.
Critics argue that The View cannot meet that standard.
The name “The View” implies it is an opinion show. Not to mention it identifies as a “Talk Show” and even Wokepedia has said as much. They are just looking for ways to work around defamation laws because the cast is so unhinged. pic.twitter.com/YdtOwQh7H2 [4]
— WebLuke (@webluke) May 22, 2026 [5]
They point to the hosts’ open political leanings and what they describe as an openly partisan atmosphere.
The article notes that editorial decisions on The View often reflect clear sympathies, which would normally disqualify the show under established FCC precedent.
The author also emphasizes that the equal opportunity law was designed to encourage more political voices, not fewer.
Its intent was to prevent broadcasters from favoring or suppressing candidates based on party affiliation.
Yet, analysts suggest that Disney’s filing attempts to solidify the show’s ability to feature preferred guests without the obligation of balance.
The comparison to serious Sunday morning programs has fueled additional skepticism.
The author remarks that no viewer could reasonably consider The View in the same category as shows traditionally dedicated to policy discussions and journalistic inquiry.
Despite the criticism, Disney’s filing opened a formal review process.
The FCC is now accepting public comments, giving citizens an opportunity to express whether The View deserves to be recognized as a bona fide news program.
If you don’t agree that The View is “bona fide news,” you can comment here [just enter 26-124 in the proceeding field]
If you agree with Disney that The View is “bona fide news,” you can also submit a comment there. https://t.co/9Zr2tAOth4 [6]
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) May 22, 2026 [7]
This step means that responses from the public could influence how the commission interprets broadcast news criteria going forward.
For many observers, the most striking element of the petition is its boldness.
Even among those critical of U.S. media bias, few expected a corporation to argue, in writing, that The View qualifies as an authentic news source deserving of legal protection.
The opinion piece concludes by noting that this official filing offers Americans an unusual chance to publicly confirm what, the author insists, “everyone already knows.”
The FCC’s eventual ruling could either grant Disney its sought-after exemption or reinforce the long-standing distinction between commentary programming and genuine news.
As public debate grows, the filing has cemented Disney and ABC at the center of a wider conversation about fairness, politics, and what qualifies as real journalism in modern television.