Disney and ABC sue Trump's media regulator to stop early licence renewal

Disney and ABC have filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from launching an early licence renewal process, arguing that the network is being unfairly targeted over its editorial content.

"Government censorship is deeply un-American," the lawsuit says. "This case concerns the Administration's sustained effort to do just that."

The lawsuit says the Federal Communication Commission - the government's media regulator - is being pressured to renew broadcast licences years early. It alleges the push stems from complaints from, and under the direction of, President Donald Trump.

FCC chairman Brendan Carr has said that the renewal requests were focused on "public interest", not retaliation.

"If broadcasters don't like that, that's okay," Carr told CNBC in July.

"They can become a cable channel, they can become a podcast, they can stream online. But if you want to uniquely be on the public's airwaves, you have to comply with those obligations."

Disney and its eight owned-and-operated TV stations are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed on Tuesday against FCC and its chairman.

The FCC ordered licence renewals for the Disney-owned ABC stations in April.