As Disney and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) bicker over whether "The View" is a bona fide news program, ABC is celebrating the significant audience bump the reliably liberal show received for booking a high-powered Republican. ABC News announced on Tuesday that last week’s edition of "The View" featuring Vice President JD Vance was the show’s most-watched episode in more than 18 months.Vance’s appearance attracted 3.3 million viewers to the daytime gabfest and the only episode of "The View" since January 2021 to outdraw the VP sit-down came on November 6, 2024, during post-Election Day coverage. ABC News’ press release touting the viewership success didn’t mention the FCC but came on the heels of the Disney-owned station launching an ad campaign urging viewers to support "The View." ABC LAUNCHES ON-AIR CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGING VIEWERS TO SUPPORT ‘THE VIEW’ IN BATTLE WITH TRUMP’S FCCVice President JD Vance appears on ABC's "The View" on Tuesday June 16, 2026.
(ABC/ Lou Rocco)Earlier this year, the FCC launched an investigation into ABC's "The View" amid the agency's crackdown on equal time for political candidates after Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appeared on the show.Disney’s ABC believes "The View" is bona fide news and, therefore, exempt from the equal time rule.
ABC’s new campaign features a petition to declare that "The View" indeed qualifies as a bona fide news interview program.A commercial debuted Monday during the program that declared, "’The View has welcomed your favorite guests for nearly 30 years.
Now the FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show.Tell the FCC to let the viewers decide.
You have until July 6th." ABC’s campaign will also run online and across ABC social media platforms.When reached for comment, the FCC accused Disney of "misleading" viewers. Also on Monday, Media Research Center (MRC) penned a letter to the FCC insisting that the show fails to meet the "b...