Business
Trump is threatening broadcast station licenses — what that means, and how it all works
A sign is seen outside of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show outside the El Capitan Entertainment Centre on Hollywood Boulevard, from where the show is broadcast in Hollywood, California on Sept. 18, 2025.
Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images
Disney’s decision this week to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from its broadcast network ABC is shining a light on a part of the media business over which the federal government has control.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump suggested his administration should revoke the licenses of broadcast TV stations that he said are “against” him. Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr has made similar threats, including during a CNBC interview, also on Thursday.
It’s not the first time Trump or Carr has invoked the government’s power to pull a broadcast station license — putting an in-the-weeds part of the media business front and center for consumers, and flexing the government’s power over a major part of the industry.
What’s a broadcast license?
Let’s start with the basics: Networks such as Disney’s ABC, Paramount Skydance’s CBS, Comcast Corp.’s NBC and Fox Corp.’s Fox are part of a system that requires them to obtain over-the-air spectrum licenses from the federal government in order to broadcast these household-name stations.
That means free, over-the-air service to anyone with an antenna on their TV.
Pay-TV networks such as CNN, MTV or FX, for example, are considered “over-the-top” and available for subscription fees. They’re often bundled together and distributed by companies such as Comcast, Charter Communications or DirecTV.
Broadcasters such as ABC are known for programming that includes local news, live sports, prime-time sitcoms and dramas, as well as late-night shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Although the way consumers watch these programs has significantly changed from the days of using an antenna for free viewership — now they’re often viewed via pay-TV bundles, plus the content is frequently found on streaming platforms — the model has remained largely the same.
Companies that own local broadcast TV stations, such as Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair, license spectrum — or the public airwaves — from the government, with the FCC in control.
Through this public spectrum for radio and TV stations, the federal agency has the right to regulate broadcasting and requires each network “by law to operate its station in the ‘public interest, convenience and necessity.’ Generally, this means it must air programming that is responsive to the needs and problems of its local community of license,” according to the FCC website.
Can Trump and the FCC revoke licenses?
That definition of serving the “public interest” is what the FCC’s Carr has zeroed in on with conversations around revoking licenses.
On Thursday, Carr told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” that comments by Kimmel, linking the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to Trump’s MAGA movement, were “not a joke,” and instead, he said, were “appearing to directly mislead the American public about … probably one of the most significant political events we’ve had in a long time.”
When Trump has noted the government’s right to take away licenses — both this week and in the past — he has pointed to what he said is bias against him as president.
“I have read someplace that the networks were 97% against me, again, 97% negative,” Trump said Thursday, referring to his 2024 election victory.
“They give me only bad publicity, press. I mean, they’re getting a license,” Trump said. “I would think maybe their license should be taken away.”
People protest at the El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was recorded for broadcast, following his suspension for remarks he made regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination, on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Sept. 18, 2025.
David Swanson | Reuters
In August, Trump accused networks ABC and NBC of being “two of the worst and most biased networks in history” and suggested revoking their broadcast licenses.
Carr earlier this year, freshly in his post as FCC chairman, reawakened complaints directed at ABC, NBC and CBS from the conservative organization the Center for American Rights.
And in February, during a conversation at Semafor’s “Innovating to Restore Trust in News” summit in Washington, D.C., he suggested the agency would be looking closely at licenses.
“If you’re going to have a license to be a broadcaster, it comes with something called ‘you have to serve the public interest.’ If you don’t want to do that, that’s OK,” Carr said during the summit. “I will give you the address of the FCC … you’re free to turn your license in and you can go podcast and you go over-the-top.”
What happens if ABC or NBC loses its license?
If the federal government deems a broadcast TV network isn’t acting in the public interest, it can revoke the license from the station’s owner, and the local station would effectively go dark in its market.
The local networks can preempt the programming, meaning air something other than what the broader network is offering up. That would theoretically keep the stations in compliance if the FCC were to find the broadcast content unlawful. But it’s unclear where that line would fall.
The process of revoking a license isn’t so simple, according to Roy Gutterman, a professor and expert on communications law and the First Amendment at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School.
“There’s a whole process before you can yank someone’s license,” Gutterman said, adding that the matter would be subject to an investigation and procedure — and would likely garner legal challenges.
Typically, the discussion of whether a station violated the FCC’s guidelines centers around children’s programming, a cut to news content, or obscenity — such as Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl in 2004.
Trump and his administration’s threats take a different tack.
“This is such an unprecedented issue,” Gutterman said. “Responsible use of the airwaves doesn’t mean having the political language [the government] doesn’t want on there … Responsible use isn’t a political issue.”
Pressure mounting
There’s another factor at play here: The government’s role in local TV consolidation.
On Wednesday, before ABC sidelined Kimmel, Nexstar announced its stations affiliated with ABC wouldn’t air the late night show and instead would preempt it “for the foreseeable future” due to the host’s statements.
While Disney owns a portion of its ABC-affiliated networks, Nexstar, as well as Sinclair — which similarly said it would preempt the show — own the vast majority. Nexstar owns about 30 ABC-affiliated networks across the U.S., or 10% of the more than 200 stations Nexstar owns in total.
Nexstar is currently seeking government approval of a $6.2 billion deal to merge with fellow broadcast TV station owner Tegna, which would upend longstanding regulations for broadcast station owners.
Sinclair has also said it’s looking to merge its broadcast TV station business with another competitor, although a deal has yet to be announced.
While Nexstar and its peers have bulked up over the years through acquisitions, they’ve been subject to longstanding federal limits on the number of stations that these parent companies can own.
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at North Javits in New York City, an incredible roster of all-star talent will tout their connections to storytelling, Disney, and each other while showcasing their latest projects for the upcoming year.
Michael Le Brecht | Disney General Entertainment Content | Getty Images
Following Trump’s election in November, leaders of the station owners — as well as other media businesses — saw an opening for further consolidation and deals.
The FCC’s Carr has also publicly said in recent months that he would support getting rid of broadcast station ownership rules and caps, paving the way for such deals, which could help salvage a business model that’s being disrupted.
With the rise of streaming, the pay-TV ecosystem has bled consumers, and broadcast TV networks and local affiliates have also felt the effects.
While the stations are free to air, distributors such as Charter pay the broadcasters so-called retransmission fees, on a per-subscriber basis, for the right to carry the stations. These lucrative fees heavily buoy the profits of companies such as Nexstar, which means dwindling pay-TV customers cuts into broadcast profits.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. Versant would become the new parent company of CNBC under a planned spinoff.
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CBDT sets December 31, 2025, as the last date to link PAN with Aadhaar. From January 1, 2026, unlinked PANs become inoperative, affecting tax filing and refunds.
Last date to link PAN with Aadhaar card is December 31, 2025.
PAN-Aadhaar Link Deadline: Permanent Account Number (PAN) will become inoperative for those holders who are unable to link it with their Aadhaar card from January 01, 2026, affecting the ability to file income tax returns and get refunds.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has fixed December 31, 2025, as the last day to link PAN with Aadhaar card for those who receive the cards before October 01, 2025, failing which the services will be discontinued.
Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a ten-digit alphanumeric number, issued by the Income Tax Department. PAN enables the department to link all transactions of the “person” with the department. These transactions include tax payments, TDS/TCS credits, returns of income, specified transactions, correspondence, and so on. PAN, thus, acts as an identifier for the “person” with the tax department.
The income tax department with the aim to eradicate misuse and fraud, made it mandatory for holders to link with Aadhaar card, in case they are being issued without the linking. The department had extended deadlines several times to give the enough time to holders. It has also imposed a penalty for those who fail to link PAN with Aadhaar in due time.
The services that will be affected if a person fails to link PAN with Aadhaar:
1) The person shall not be able to file return using the inoperative PAN
2) Pending returns will not be processed
3) Pending refunds cannot be issued to inoperative PANs
4) Pending proceedings as in the case of defective returns cannot be completed once the PAN is inoperative
5) Tax will be required to be deducted at a higher rate as PAN becomes inoperative
How To Link Aadhaar With Pan Card Online
Linking Aadhaar with PAN Online (Pre-Login, Without Logging In)
This method is suitable for both registered and unregistered users of the Income Tax e-Filing portal. Visit the Income Tax e-Filing Portal: Go to the official Income Tax e-Filing website: www.incometax.gov.in.
- Access the Link Aadhaar Option: On the homepage, under the Quick Links section, click on Link Aadhaar.
- Enter PAN and Aadhaar Details: Input your 10-digit PAN number and 12-digit Aadhaar number.
- Enter your name as per Aadhaar.
- Check the box “I agree to validate my Aadhaar details”.
- Click Validate.
- Pay the Penalty (if applicable): If you are linking after December 31, 2025, a pop-up may appear stating “Payment details not found”, indicating that a Rs 1,000 penalty is required.
- Click Continue to Pay Through e-Pay Tax.
- Enter your PAN, confirm the PAN, and provide your mobile number to receive an OTP.
- After OTP verification, you’ll be redirected to the e-Pay Tax page.
- Select Assessment Year as 2025-26, Type of Payment as Other Receipts (500), and Sub-type of Payment as Fee for delay in linking PAN with Aadhaar.
- The penalty amount (Rs 1,000) will be auto-filled under Others. Click Continue.
- Choose your payment method (net banking, debit card, NEFT/RTGS, or payment gateway) and complete the payment. A challan will be generated.
- Submit the Linking Request: Return to the Link Aadhaar section on the e-Filing portal.
- Re-enter your PAN, Aadhaar number, and name as per Aadhaar.
- Enter your mobile number linked to Aadhaar to receive a 6-digit OTP.
- Enter the OTP and click Validate.
How To Check Aadhaar-PAN Link Status Online
- Visit the Income Tax e-Filing Portal:
- Go to www.incometax.gov.in.
- Access the Link Aadhaar Status:
- On the homepage, under the Quick Links section, click on Link Aadhaar Status.
- Enter Details:
- Input your 10-digit PAN number and 12-digit Aadhaar number.
- Click View Link Aadhaar Status.
- Check the Result:
- Linked: You’ll see a message like, “Your PAN is already linked to the given Aadhaar.”
- Not Linked: The message will state, “PAN not linked with Aadhaar. Please click on ‘Link Aadhaar’ to link.”
- Pending: If the linking request is under process, it will say, “Your Aadhaar-PAN linking request has been sent to UIDAI for validation.”
Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst…Read More
Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst… Read More
November 05, 2025, 12:14 IST
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Online retailers Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Wish are being investigated in France in relation to the offence of enabling minors to access pornographic content on their platforms, the Paris prosecutor said on Tuesday.
The country’s consumer watchdog had reported the four firms to the prosecution service on Sunday after raising concerns about the sale of childlike sex dolls on Shein’s platform over the weekend.
The Paris prosecutor’s office told the BBC that the platforms are being investigated over violent, pornographic or “undignified messages” that can be accessed by minors.
AliExpress told the BBC it takes the matter very seriously. Shein, Temu and Wish have also been contacted for comment.
Shein and AliExpress are also under investigation over the dissemination of content related to children that are of a pornographic nature, the office said.
The cases have been referred to Paris’ Office des Mineurs, the prosecution service added. The office is an arm of the French police force that oversees the protection of minors.
AliExpress said the listings in question violated its policies and were removed once it became aware of them.
“Sellers found to violate or trying to circumvent these requirements will be penalised in accordance with our rules,” AliExpress said in a statement.
On Monday, Shein said it had banned the sale of all sex dolls on its platform worldwide. The Singapore-based retailer also said that it would permanently block all seller accounts related to the illegal sale of the childlike dolls and set stricter controls on its platform.
The French consumer watchdog, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, had said the sex dolls’ description and categorisation left “little doubt as to the child pornography nature” of the products.
The scrutiny of Shein comes as the company, which was founded in China, prepares for the opening on Wednesday of its first permanent physical outlet in France.
Protesters have been seen gathered in front of the Paris department store where Shein is set to open the outlet.
Shein plans to open outlets in other French department stores in cities including Dijon, Reims and Angers.
Business
Bank Holiday Today Guru Nanak Jayanti: Are Branches Closed Or Open In Your City? Check State-Wise List
New Delhi: As per RBI holiday list, bank branches will be closed in several cities today 5 November 2025 on account of several regional festivities as well as Guru Nanak Jayanti. Branches in several states will be closed on account of Kartika Purnima/Rahas Purnima today.
List of cities where bank branches will remain closed on 5 November 2025
Bank branches will be closed for Guru Nanak Jayanti/Kartika Purnima/Rahas Purnima in different Mizoram, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Srinagar, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, West Bengal, New Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
Holidays of the mentioned days will be observed in various regions according to the state declared holidays, however for the gazetted holidays, banks will be closed all over the country.
If you keep a track of these holidays, you would be able to plan bank transaction activities in a better way. For long weekends, you can even plan your holidays well.
PAN To Become Inoperative From Jan 1, 2026, If Not Linked With Aadhaar By Year-End
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