FCC Chair Says Probe Into The View Worthwhile After Kimmel Suspension
Carr says investigating whether ABC's talk show meets equal-time rules could be appropriate amid scrutiny of broadcast content and political balance
WASHINGTON — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Thursday said it would be worth investigating whether ABC’s daytime talk show The View is violating broadcast rules in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s suspension. The inquiry would hinge on whether The View still qualifies as a bona fide news program exempt from the FCC’s equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunity to political candidates.
Carr told The Scott Jennings Show that while a case could be made that The View is a bona fide news program, he was not sure. 'Potentially, I would assume you can make the argument that 'The View' is a bona fide news show, but I'm not so sure about that,' Carr said. 'And I think it's worthwhile to have the FCC look into whether 'The View' and some of these other programs that you have still qualify as bona fide news programs and therefore exempt from the equal opportunity regime that Congress has put in place.' Fox News Digital reached out to ABC and Disney for comment.
Media Research Center data show that from January through April 2025, The View did not book a single right-leaning political guest, while featuring 63 liberal guests, including nine Democratic politicians. The View has also hosted high-profile figures, including former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who appeared on May 29, 2024. The program has drawn criticism from the Trump administration, which warned in July that the show could be pulled off-air if the exchanges did not stop. An entertainment lawyer with ABC clients told Fox News Digital that The View could be the next program facing scrutiny. The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!' came one day before Carr criticized ABC and Disney over Kimmel’s conduct. Carr has warned that the public interest obligations of broadcasters are different from other media and must be upheld. 'Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or, you know, there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.'