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FCC Orders Early Review Of License Renewals Of Disney Stations

Published

4 months ago

April 28, 2026

UPDATE: The FCC on Tuesday ordered The Walt Disney Co. to submit to early renewals of its owned and operated stations.

In a filing, the FCC’s Media Bureau said, “The FCC determines that calling in Disney’s ABC licenses for early renewal, at this time, under the Communications Act’s public interest standard is essential within the meaning of agency regulations. Therefore, Disney’s ABC is hereby directed to file license renewals for all of their licensed TV stations within 30 days–in other words, by May 28, 2026.”

The short notice indicated that the review is related to a prior investigation over the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices. But it also comes amid Donald Trump’s attacks on Jimmy Kimmel and his calls for him to be fired.

The licenses otherwise will come for renewal in 2028.

More to come.

PREVIOUSLY: The FCC reportedly is preparing to direct ABC-owned stations to file early renewals of their licenses, a move that quickly drew criticism from the commission’s sole Democrat.

The FCC under Chairman Brendan Carr already has been investigating Disney over its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. But the network has been under pressure from the Trump administration to fire Jimmy Kimmel, following a joke last week he made about First Lady Melania Trump being an “expectant widow.” That joke came days before the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, forcing Secret Service to rush Trump, the First Lady and Vice President JD Vance from the dais.

Katie Miller, wife of Trump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, posted a clip of Carr on his podcast where he talked of seeking an early license renewal process for ABC.

In the clip, Carr talked not of Jimmy Kimmel but of Disney being “pretty bad” on DEI and that it would raise “character questions about the company long term.”

“You can accelerate when a license becomes due and say, ‘We have significant concerns about you conducting your operations. We want to review your license now.”

An FCC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Disney has not commented, but it likely will set up a legal battle, something that can stretch for years.

Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the commission, said in a statement, “This is unprecedented, unlawful, and going nowhere. It is a political stunt and it won’t stick. Companies should challenge it head-on. The First Amendment is on their side.”

Station licenses do not come up for renewal until 2028. Disney has not yet commented.

Kimmel was doing an “alternative” Correspondents’ Dinner roast, and quipped, “Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

Kimmel did not apologize for his joke on Monday’s show.

Kimmel said, “This was Thursday. There was no big reaction to it, until this morning, when I greeted the day facing yet another Twitter vomit storm and a call to fire me from our First Lady, Melania Trump, saying I should be fired because of a joke I made again five nights ago. It was a pretend roast,” he said. “It obviously was a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together. It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination, and they know that. I’ve been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence, but I understand that the First Lady had a stressful experience over the weekend, and probably every weekend is pretty stressful in that house.”

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said, “Jimmy Kimmel is a shit human being for: #1. Making a disgusting joke about assassinating the President #2. Doubling down on that joke instead of doing the decent thing by apologizing ABC needs to fire him immediately and he should be shunned for the rest of his life.”

Semafor and NBC News reported that the agency was preparing to seek the early renewals.

More to come.

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Jon Batiste To Narrate/E.P. ‘American Amazon’ Doc For Super Big Screen

Published

7 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

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EXCLUSIVE: Grammy-winning musician and actor Jon Batiste is inviting audiences on a spectacular journey through natural wonders of a part of the country he knows very well, “the vast network of wetlands spanning Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and the Carolinas.”

MacGillivray Freeman Films announced Thursday that New Orleans-area native Batiste will narrate and serve as executive producer on American Amazon, a documentary set to premiere November 13 in select IMAX and giant screen theaters and museums. It will debut as a two-part miniseries on PBS’ Nature in early 2027.

Batiste not only narrates but appears on screen in American Amazon, which hails from Grizzly Creek Films and The WNET Group’s Nature. We have your exclusive look at the trailer below, which features stunning photography of the wetlands that deserve to be known, as the film suggests, as the American Amazon.

A release notes that terrain qualifies as “one of North America’s least explored and biologically rich regions… Batiste brings a powerful emotional resonance to this immersive journey, elevating the film’s celebration of nature, culture, and human connection to the ecosystem.”

Batiste, an 8-time Grammy winner, commented, “I love introducing people to the swamp. Growing up in Louisiana, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the landscapes, culture, and spirit of my home. I think the South is sacred soil. American Amazon reveals the wild side that many people have never seen. It’s a world of extraordinary beauty, mystery, and life – hiding right in our own backyard. We’re celebrating the power of nature, creativity, and human connection – and this is just the beginning!”

Eric Bendick of Grizzly Creek Films wrote, directed, and co-produced the documentary. “Jon Batiste brings the American Amazon to life,” the filmmaker observed. “His creativity, passion, and energy invite us to fall in love with this wild and mysterious place that is truly the world’s best kept secret. His voice is a perfect match for all the drama and soul-stirring beauty of this landscape, allowing audiences to connect with the untamed spirit of the wild South.”

Co-producer Thomas Winston of Grizzly Creek Films noted, “Jon’s ability to move between joy, wonder, and reflection makes him an ideal narrator for this story. He brings a unique perspective that amplifies the film’s message of appreciation and stewardship. American Amazon marks an exciting new chapter in our ongoing collaboration with Jon—and there’s more to come.”

The documentary, shot over the course of four years, reveals an ancient and mysterious landscape defined by towering two-thousand-year-old cypress trees, labyrinthine flooded forests, a network of wild rivers, and an astonishing array of wildlife, according to the release. “From the mass migration of swallow-tailed kites—the world’s only social raptor—to the elusive behaviors of American black bears in the swamp, the film uncovers a world teeming with life, discovery, and enduring surprises.”

“American Amazon shines a light on one of the most ecologically important and least understood regions in North America,” said Fred Kaufman, executive producer of Nature. “Jon brings a rare authenticity to this story. His voice captures not only the wonder of the natural world, but also the deep cultural connection between the people, places, and wildlife that make the American South so extraordinary.”

MacGillivray Freeman Films is recognized as the world’s leading independent producer and distributor of giant screen films. Its many productions include Superhuman Body (2024), Ireland (2022), Out Where the West Begins (2021), America’s Musical Journey (2018), National Parks Adventure (2016), and Journey to the South Pacific (2013).

“Having worked with Jon previously on our giant screen film America’s Musical Journey, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible artistry and range he brings to every project,” said Shaun MacGillivray, president of MacGillivray Freeman Films. “He is an extraordinary talent, and his ability to connect with audiences through music and storytelling makes him the perfect voice for American Amazon.”

Watch the trailer for American Amazon here:

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Prime Video Sets Access Doc Series On Peter Crouch & Abby Clancy

Published

13 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

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Cameras are going behind the scenes on the lives of Peter Crouch and Abby Clancy.

Prime Video has greenlit access doc series The Crouches, which will follow former footballer-turned- broadcaster Crouch and his wife, model and content creator Clancy, over a year.

The show, which is the second docu-series Prime Video has unveiled today at the Edinburgh TV Festival, will follow the couple as they prepare to move to a new home in need of renovation to accommodate the 6″7 Crouch. It also sees Crouch set off for the World Cup, leaving Clancy with their children and a building site, with Clancy looking to redress the power balance of their relationship as she turns 40.

Workerbee, which is part of Banijay UK, with Rick Murray, Ben Hirsch, Ben Mitchell and Demi Doyle the exec producers. Charlotte Taylor is the series producer and Simon Draper the series director.

This marks the second time Crouch, who played for clubs such as QPR and Liverpool before his career in broadcasting, has worked with Prime Video after That Peter Crouch Film in 2023.

“I absolutely loved making That Peter Crouch Film, so much so that this time I’ve somehow managed to drag Abbey and the whole family into it,” he said. “It’s a bit scary as it’s warts and all, but I’m sure you enjoy laughing with us – probably at us.

“There will be a lot of chaos and probably a few moments we’ll regret letting the cameras see, some ups and some downs, but it will be us. Our life should be lovely, calm and simple… it is not. Watch out Kardashians we are coming for you.”

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Prime Video To Adapt Stephen King Short Story ‘Crouch End’

Published

20 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

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Prime Video has greenlit a six-part limited series based on Stephen King’s Crouch End short story.

The series will also be titled Crouch End and produced in the UK. The official synopsis reads: “London never sleeps deeply, and its dreams are uneasy. When global movie star Doris Freeman bursts into a London police station claiming that strange phenomena are behind the disappearance of her husband, police inspector Ted Vetter must investigate whether she’s telling the truth, whether she could be a murderer, or whether there’s something even more chilling at play…”

The series will be adapted by Paul Tomalin (Bodies) and directed by Tom Shankland (Berlin Noir, The Serpent). The series producers will be Mammoth Screen (Hercule, The Serpent) and Fifth Season (East of Eden, Severance). Executive Producers are Paul Tomalin, Tom Shankland, Damien Timmer, Rebecca Keane and Ben Irving.

“I’ve been a Stephen King super-fan forever,” Shankland said in a statement.

“The chance to work with this great team and bring his utterly brilliant London mystery to life is beyond exciting – Crouch End will be cinematic, original and thought-provoking in equal measure.”

Nicole Clemens, VP of International Originals at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, added: “Stephen King is one of the defining storytellers of our time, and we’re thrilled to bring his Lovecraftian tale to life in London with Crouch End. Paul Tomalin brings a singular, character-driven vision to the series and, paired with Tom Shankland at the helm, plus the first-class production teams at Mammoth Screen and Fifth Season, this show will grip audiences worldwide with its visceral crime thriller and supernatural mystery.”