FCC disputes long-standing view that the shows are exempt from equal-time rule.
The equal-time rule, formally known as the Equal Opportunities Rule, applies to radio or TV broadcast stations with FCC licenses to use the public airwaves. When a station gives time to one political candidate, it must provide comparable time and placement to an opposing candidate if an opposing candidate makes a request.
The rule has an exemption for candidate appearances on bona fide news programs. As the FCC explained in 2022, “appearances by legally qualified candidates on bona fide newscasts, interview programs, certain types of news documentaries, and during on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events are exempt from Equal Opportunities.”
Entertainment talk shows have generally been treated as bona fide news programs for this purpose. But Carr said in September that he’s not sure shows like The View should qualify for the exemption, and today’s public notice suggests the FCC may no longer treat these shows as exempt.
This is where the old Stephen Colbert would have come in handy. Most conservatives had no idea he was making fun of them.
I don’t think they thought this one through. You absolutely don’t want to be putting republicans on stage with comedians that’s a really bad idea.
Most of these shows would love to get a republican on so they could ask them very simple questions that they know they won’t be able to answer.
- President Ronald Reagan, Republican, revoked the equal time rule in the 80s.
- The equal time rule was limited to news broadcasts in the public interest. It did not apply to entertainment like late night talk shows.
- The FCC has no jurisdiction over cable TV, Satellite TV, or streaming providers. Only over the air broadcasts are regulated by the FCC.
It’s going to be deliciously ironic if actual leftists use this to get air time
It’s only going to apply to left-leaning shows by forcing them to host conservatives.
Right-leaning shows will find some way to get the supreme court to side with them and give them an exemption.
