A conservative media watchdog is urging the Federal Communications Commission to deny the renewal of several ABC broadcast licenses, arguing the network has failed to serve the public interest by engaging in partisan news coverage and misinformation, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.

The Media Research Center (MRC) filed a petition with the FCC this week opposing the renewal of eight Disney-owned broadcast licenses — including ABC-owned television stations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The filing comes as the FCC is conducting an early review of the licenses after Chairman Brendan Carr accelerated the renewal process last year.

"We finally have an FCC willing to hold Disney and ABC accountable," MRC President David Bozell said in a statement. "Broadcast licenses are a privilege, not an entitlement. In exchange for free use of the public airwaves, broadcasters agree to serve the public interest."

Bozell added that "if ABC wants to operate like a partisan cable network, it should give up the benefits reserved for broadcast licensees. No one is above the law, and ABC should not have its broadcast licenses renewed."

The FCC said the review is part of its statutory responsibility.

"Broadcast licenses are not sacred cows," an FCC spokesperson said.

"When a broadcaster files an application to renew their FCC licenses, Congress has tasked the FCC with determining whether the broadcaster has served the public interest. That is exactly what the FCC will do here," the spokesperson explained.

ABC has criticized the early license review, calling it an effort to suppress protected speech, the Post reported.

The network has said the accelerated review serves "no legitimate purpose" and amounts to "an effort to suppress speech under the guise of bureaucratic process."

ABC has also launched a public campaign encouraging viewers to support renewal of its broadcast licenses while separately asking the FCC to recognize "The View" as a news interview program amid another agency investigation involving the daytime talk show.

In its filing, the MRC alleges ABC demonstrated systematic political bias during the 2024 presidential campaign by providing predominantly positive coverage of then-Vice President Kamala Harris while portraying President Donald Trump negatively.

The organization also alleges that ABC programs, including "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "The View," favored Democrat politicians and commentators while limiting appearances by Republicans.

The petition further accuses ABC of minimizing or failing to adequately cover stories involving Hunter Biden's laptop and allegations surrounding former President Joe Biden's use of an autopen while also alleging the network downplayed or excused instances of political violence.

Among the examples cited, the MRC pointed to comments made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk, as well as ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos' on-air statement that Trump had been found liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.

ABC later agreed to pay $16 million to settle Trump's defamation lawsuit stemming from those remarks. A New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll but not for rape under New York law.

The filing also cites ABC's coverage of actor Jussie Smollett, alleging the network devoted extensive airtime to Smollett's claims of being the victim of a hate crime but provided comparatively little coverage after authorities concluded the attack had been staged.

The FCC's review of ABC's licenses began amid broader tensions between the network and the Trump administration. Carr initiated the process a year ahead of schedule, citing ABC's alleged lack of cooperation with an FCC investigation into Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

The license renewal proceedings remain pending before the commission.