Disney reinstates Jimmy Kimmel after backlash over capitulation to FCC

Origins and Role of the FCC

• Dispute over whether the FCC was created to suppress disfavored opinions:
  • One side claims it was effectively born as a censorship tool in response to a notorious radio demagogue.
  • Others push back: licensing predates the FCC (e.g., post‑Titanic RF chaos), the FCC came later, and there’s no solid evidence it was created to target one broadcaster.
  • Several commenters note Wikipedia’s framing around this history is misleading or selectively sourced.

Was This Censorship?

• Many argue this is textbook government censorship: an FCC chair publicly threatened ABC/Disney (“easy way or hard way”) over political speech, and the show was promptly suspended.
• Others say the key formal “action” was just a podcast appearance, not a regulatory move; they question whether that meets the threshold for censorship.
• Some compare it to earlier administrations privately pressuring platforms, arguing such behavior is not unprecedented, only more blatant here.

Disney’s Motives and Corporate Behavior

• Strong consensus that Disney acted out of self‑interest, not principle: first to placate regulators/affiliates and the White House, then to placate angry viewers, staff, and talent.
• Debate over whether to treat Disney as an “ally” (on social issues) to be nudged, or a profit‑driven giant that should be punished hard for even briefly bowing to political bullying.
• Skepticism toward Disney’s PR line that the suspension was purely internal business judgment; others accept it as normal employer discipline for perceived brand damage.

Affiliate Power, Consolidation, and Speech

• Commenters highlight that Sinclair and Nexstar can still keep the show off many local stations despite Disney’s reinstatement, effectively continuing the censorship.
• Media consolidation is framed as a civil‑rights and democracy issue: a few conglomerates, heavily regulated by and dependent on Washington, can be easily leaned on.
• Some urge opposition to further consolidation (e.g., Nexstar deals) at the FCC.

Streaming, Regulation, and Future Leverage

• Question raised: how much power does the FCC still have in a streaming world?
• Answer from others: quite a lot, due to control over broadcast licenses and local stations, and there are ongoing pushes to extend broadcast‑style regulation to internet video.

Politics, Hypocrisy, and Boycotts

• Many note conservative calls to punish Kimmel contradict years of complaints about “cancel culture.”
• Others argue both major political camps use corporate pressure and boycotts; nobody has consistent principles.
• Some call for targeted boycotts of Disney—enough to change behavior, not necessarily to destroy the company.

Meta: Hacker News Moderation

• Several comments note the thread was quickly downranked by HN’s “flamewar detector,” as the site’s algorithm deprioritizes high‑conflict political threads to preserve discussion quality.