US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr has suggested that ABC’s The View could face scrutiny over its status as a “bona fide news” program, following the network’s suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Speaking on The Scott Jennings Radio Show on Thursday, September 18, Carr questioned why shows like The View are exempt from the FCC’s Equal Time Rule, which requires broadcasters to provide equal airtime to political rivals. Currently, programs labeled as bona fide news are not subject to that requirement.
“It’s worthwhile to have the FCC look into whether The View and some of the 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,” Carr said.
The View, launched in 1997 by veteran broadcaster Barbara Walters and produced by ABC News, has long carried news credentials that qualify it for exemption. Whether those credentials could be reassessed remains uncertain.
Carr’s comments came shortly after ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely following remarks he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassin. The suspension followed objections from Carr and major affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair, who argued that Kimmel’s words crossed a line for their audiences.
Despite the controversy dominating headlines, The View made no mention of Kimmel’s suspension during Thursday’s broadcast.
