Walt Disney has sued the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that the agency has waged a retaliatory campaign against the media giant's ABC television network and stations.

Disney's decision to file a federal lawsuit on Tuesday came after the FCC directed eight Disney-owned ABC stations to file applications to renew their broadcasting licenses ahead of schedule. The FCC issued the order on April 28, which was just one day after President Donald Trump called for the immediate firing of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.

Disney said that before the April 28 order, the FCC had not called for a renewal application ahead of schedule in more than half a century.

"For all but two of the Stations, this early review comes before their current license terms have even reached the halfway point, and years before the Commission is statutorily authorized to grant renewal," the complaint says. "That timing underscores the Commission's true purpose: coercing and retaliating against a network that refuses to bow to the Administration's demands."

Disney stock was up 0.7% on Tuesday to $104.18. Barron's has reached out to the FCC for comment.

The Trump administration has been critical of TV shows and stations that it deems to be biased against the president. The White House has published an online list of what it calls "Media Offenders." The list includes Disney's ABC News and daytime talkshow The View.

Kimmel and his show Jimmy Kimmel Live! have been at the center of much of the discourse surrounding action against TV shows that criticize the administration. In September, Disney even temporarily pulled Kimmel's show off the air after the host made comments regarding the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Trump also suggested in September that certain TV stations should lose their broadcast licenses because "they give me only bad publicity." The president told reporters at the time, "I mean, they're getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr." Carr is the FCC chairman.

"Defendants have violated, and continue to violate, Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights by launching pretextual regulatory investigations and threatening the Stations' valuable broadcast licenses through early license renewal proceedings-all to punish Plaintiffs for content and viewpoints the Administration dislikes," according to Tuesday's filing.