The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a public comment period on whether Disney-owned The View should be classified as a “bona fide news interview program,” a status that would exempt it from equal-opportunity rules for political candidates under Section 315 of the Communications Act.

The FCC’s Media Bureau issued Public Notice DA 26-517 on May 22, opening the proceeding based on a petition filed by KTRK-TV Houston and its parent company ABC. The petition, submitted under MB Docket No. 26-124 on May 7, seeks a declaratory ruling that The View qualifies as bona fide news.

This classification would protect The View from Section 315’s requirements, which mandate that broadcast stations provide equal airtime to opposing political candidates when featuring one legally qualified candidate. The FCC has raised critical questions about whether the show’s guest selections and segments are driven by newsworthiness or partisan advantage, specifically asking if its format creates an unfair benefit for one political party over another and whether current laws and regulations withstand constitutional scrutiny.

Public comments on the matter are due June 22, 2026, with reply comments required by July 6, 2026. Interested parties may submit evidence regarding The View’s programming practices to the FCC. The show has long been criticized for its political orientation, including comparisons of Republican politicians to dictators and promotion of Russia collusion narratives on air. Disney’s request aims to preserve The View under a news interview classification without the editorial standards that typically accompany such status.

Chairman Brendan Carr directed the public to submit comments via the FCC’s electronic filing system. This proceeding is particularly sensitive because The View airs through ABC broadcast affiliates, where violations of equal-time rules could result in significant compliance penalties.