Brendan Carr a Trump-appointed commissioner set to become the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission sent Disney CEO Bob Iger a strong letter about negotiations by ABC with affiliated stations. Carr wrote this letter during this period just after the ABC settlement with President-elect Donald Trump focusing on how this settlement relates to wider media concerns. Carr's communications strategy to Iger marks a clear shift toward a stricter FCC stance differing from those of his predecessors. Brendan Carr intends to use the power given him with this chairmanship.
Brendan Carr's Letter to Bob Iger Reflects Media Trust Deficit and Focus on Local Stations
Carr’s letter to Bob Iger began by stating that "Americans no longer trust national news media to report fully accurately and fairly". The letter explicitly mentions ABC's recent agreement of a $15 million settlement with Donald Trump and the additional $1 million in legal fees which Carr argues has contributed to an erosion of public trust in national media sources. Carr makes distinctions between local media outlets and national programming indicating Americans feel favorably about the content of their local channels however the same cannot be said about national news.
Emphasis on Local Programming by Incoming FCC Chair As Contrasted with Big Tech Censorship Views
Brendan Carr who was appointed by Donald Trump wants more local programming a sentiment widely shared however, he contrasts this with his focus on a general trust deficit in national media as shown in his letter sent to Bob Iger showing Carr’s approach will be dissimilar to past Republican and Democratic chairs. Carr often stresses big tech censorship something very common in Republican talking points in this era rather than other focuses like digital divides. Carr often used his FCC position as well as his X account as bully pulpit which may create some contention when working with both sides. The letter from the future FCC chair will likely be met with mild pushback from Disney despite regulatory oversight of their practices.
FCC Oversight on Disney Including TV Licensing and Retransmission Consent Issues With DirecTV
While television license renewals usually become pro forma in nature and rarely are contested during approval Donald Trump had said that he would want broadcast licenses removed from ABC. Carr’s FCC role also allows control over retransmission consent between cable services plus television stations which also became an area of major dispute in September where Disney channels were removed from DirecTV for several weeks. These retransmission disputes further underscore complicated negotiations between national corporations and local affiliates who serve community access. Most stations showing ABC programming are not actually under Disney control though affiliated through contracts.
ABC Negotiations Under Scrutiny by FCC for Potential Harm to Local Media
Brendan Carr expressed alarm over ABC’s method of negotiations noting ABC is attempting to remove revenue and operational power from local stations during contractual renegotiations by removing their affiliations possibly leading to local service blackouts. The letter from Carr demonstrates a larger national media dynamic in relation to smaller community stations often left without financial safeguards. Carr in this move indicates that national corporate agenda should not supersede a communities access to news which further divides media outlets that are locally held versus national entities controlled by big corporation leadership .
Prioritizing Local Media and Content Through Regulation Is Focus Of Carr as FCC Chairman
Carr stated concern about Disney prioritizing streaming services at the cost of accessible and locally broadcasted stations. Brendan Carr indicated how critical retransmission revenues are as it supports local programming during periods of transition which further highlights his stance of focusing on locally produced media versus larger conglomerate companies. These statements from Carr position his regulatory efforts in support of local media plus against corporate giants. An ABC spokesperson is unavailable currently for commenting on the letter from Brendan Carr.
Carr intends on “monitoring” ABC’s negotiation output ensuring all those contractual conversations provide enough to local television broadcasters that satisfy federal obligations plus the local communities they serve. Brendan Carr’s expressed intention to closely control media practices signifies his clear desire to challenge past practices for greater accountability across broadcast networks while positioning himself as a champion of community level media. FCC which rarely ever intervenes has someone who is willing to exert power.