NBC complies with ‘equal time’ rule for Trump following Harris ‘SNL’ cameo

Nov 4

Craig Nigrelli Reporter

By Craig Nigrelli (Reporter), Alex Delia (Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

NBC has filed a notice with the Federal Communications Commission after Vice President Kamala Harris’ brief appearance on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend of Nov. 2. The network provided former President Donald Trump with airtime to ensure compliance with the FCC’s equal time rule, which requires broadcasters to offer equal access to competing political candidates.

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The rule dates back to the Communications Act of 1934, originally designed to ensure fairness and balanced coverage on broadcast airwaves. It requires that if a candidate is given airtime on a broadcast station, other qualified candidates must also be given equivalent opportunities.

Although there are exceptions to the rule, like appearances in news programs, interviews, or documentaries, entertainment programs can still trigger the rule.

The presidential candidates are making their final pushes to sway undecided voters ahead of Tuesday's election. — AP Images

Harris’s appearance on “SNL” was brief, clocking in at just one minute and 30 seconds. She joined comedian Maya Rudolph in a skit where Rudolph portrayed Harris, a role she has played several times on “SNL” ahead of elections.

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However, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed senior Republican, quickly raised concerns on social media, calling it “a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule.”

Donald Trump is facing backlash after making comments about and insulting one of his most outspoken republican critics – former congresswoman Liz Cheney. — Getty Images

NBC responded by airing Trump’s message to viewers during the NASCAR 2024 Cup playoffs on Sunday, granting him airtime to balance Harris’ cameo.

Carr later appeared on Fox News, urging the FCC to take “every single option” into account if violations are confirmed, emphasizing the need for impartiality across the board.

The equal time rule, while still enforced on broadcast stations, does not apply to cable networks, podcasts, social media or streaming services.

With more people turning to digital platforms for news and entertainment, the rule faces challenges in keeping pace with changing media consumption habits.

Critics argue this could limit its effectiveness and relevance, raising questions about its future in a digital-dominated world.

Tags: 2024 Elections, ABC, Broadcast, CBS News, Disney, Donald Trump, Election, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, Kamala Harris, NASCAR, NBC, nbc news, Saturday Night Live, Sports

[Saturday Night Live]

“It’s nice to see you, Kamala.”

“It is nice to see you, Kamala.

“And I’m just here to remind you, you got this because you can do something your opponent cannot do. You can open doors.”

[Craig Nigrelli]

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE OVER THE WEEKEND FEATURED A SKIT WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT.

NOW – NBC IS WORKING TO CLEAR UP A COMPLAINT FROM THE F-C-C OVER ‘EQUAL TIME’

BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IT – AND HOW IS IT ENFORCED?

THE BRIEF APPEARANCE OF KAMALA HARRIS IN A SKIT WITH COMEDIAN MAYA RUDOLPH OVER THE WEEKEND SPARKED SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT FAIRNESS ON BROADCAST TELEVISION.

NBC FILED A NOTICE WITH THE FCC THE DAY AFTER HARRIS’S APPEARANCE, ENSURING THAT THEY OFFER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP EQUAL TIME UNDER THE FCC’S RULES. TRUMP’S AIRTIME CAME SUNDAY, IN A BROADCAST DURING THE NASCAR CUP PLAYOFFS, ALLOWING HIM A CHANCE TO REACH VIEWERS DIRECTLY.

THIS FILING CAME AFTER FCC COMMISSIONER BRENDAN CARR CALLED HARRIS’S APPEARANCE A “CLEAR AND BLATANT EFFORT TO EVADE” THE FCC’S EQUAL TIME RULE… LATER ADDING THAT THE FCC SHOULD TAKE ACTION IF THIS INCIDENT IS FOUND TO VIOLATE THE RULE.

THE EQUAL TIME RULE DATES BACK TO THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934, DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT BROADCAST STATIONS PROVIDE BALANCED AIRTIME TO ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. THIS RULE APPLIES SPECIFICALLY TO AMERICAN BROADCAST NETWORKS LIKE NBC, ABC AND CBS BUT NOT TO CABLE CHANNELS, PODCASTS, OR SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHILE THE RULE ALLOWS SOME EXCEPTIONS, SUCH AS COVERAGE IN NEWS PROGRAMS OR INTERVIEWS, IT STILL HOLDS FOR APPEARANCES IN ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS THAT CAN REACH MILLIONS, LIKE SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

BUT DOES THIS RULE STILL CARRY WEIGHT? IN TODAY’S DIGITAL AGE, MANY VIEWERS GET THEIR NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM CABLE, SOCIAL MEDIA, OR STREAMING PLATFORMS…CHANNELS OUTSIDE FCC REGULATION. IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE ALONE WE’VE SEEN A MASSIVE INCREASE IN NEW MEDIA APPEARANCES FROM BOTH CANDIDATES ON PODCASTS AND STREAMS. THIS RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RULE’S EFFECTIVENESS AND WHETHER IT REMAINS RELEVANT IN A MEDIA LANDSCAPE WHERE TRADITIONAL BROADCASTING IS JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

IN SEPTEMBER, SNL EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LORNE MICHAELS STATED THAT THEY WOULDN’T HAVE EITHER CANDIDATE ON THE SHOW… CITING THESE EXACT FCC RULES.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.