U.S. judge rejects Disney’s request for emergency court hearing involving ABC license review case

(Central News Agency, Washington, 20th, comprehensive foreign news reports) A U.S. federal judge today rejected Disney’s request for an emergency court hearing. Disney previously filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for early review of the licenses of eight of its American Broadcasting Company (ABC) self-operated television stations, trying to block the FCC's action.

Reuters reported that U.S. District Judge Loren Ali Khan in Washington dismissed Disney’s request to hear the motion for a temporary restraining order before the 25th after the U.S. government deemed it unnecessary. The Federal Communications Commission has agreed to provide at least 48 hours of notice before issuing an order to submit Disney's ABC license to a hearing.

The ruling is the latest development in a legal battle that has become a key test of broadcasters' free speech rights at a time when U.S. President Trump has repeatedly called for ABC to withdraw its license due to dissatisfaction with the content of its programs.

The judge directed both parties to submit a series of legal documents on the request by September 24 and will hold a hearing on the matter in October.

Arihan added that if the FCC issues a hearing order, both parties must appear in court the next day for the court to hear arguments on whether a temporary restraining order is necessary.

An FCC spokesperson said: "We are pleased that the judge has now rejected Disney's baseless attempt to rush into court. The court also sided with the FCC on the timeline of subsequent proceedings and denied Disney's request for an immediate injunction."

Disney has not yet commented.

The latest action is the latest development in a two-year feud between Trump and Disney as he launches a series of blistering attacks on the news media. Last month, Trump once again demanded that ABC’s license be revoked because ABC refused to air his prime-time speech on the election.