NBC Gives Trump Free Airtime After Kamala Harris' Appearance on 'SNL'

[Zorro]

NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

The vice president’s appearance on the late-night sketch show begins with guest star Maya Rudolph in character as Harris sharing her disgusted reaction to Trump’s recent antics. The real Harris soon appears in a mirror, where she proceeds to give her fictional self a pep talk.

Following the vice president’s appearance, NBC filed a formal “equal time” notice Sunday with the Federal Election Commission, stating that it had featured Harris for just under two minutes while offering the same opportunity to feature Trump for a similar amount of time before the election.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/nbc-gives-trump-free-airtime-to-ensure-equal-time-after-kamala-harris-appearance-on-snl/

Any free air time on Fox for the Harris campaign?

[TwilightZone]

1. Equal time doesn't apply to Fox News.

They're a cable network, not a broadcast one.

[Sogo]

28. It doesn't apply to anyone.

The Fairness Doctrine was repealed in 1987 under Reagan !

[onenote]

34. The equal time rule is separate from the fairness doctrine and has never been repealed.

It's statutory.

You should delete your post.

[DoBW]

32. Harris B-slapped Brett Baier on his own show

Went into his house and turned the tables

[BootinUp]

2. Probably cable stations don't have the same requirement.

[wnylib]

15. They don't. You are right. I posted that info a few times

on another thread, but people don't seem to understand the difference between cable and network stations. .

[RandySF]

3. And to what benefit this late?

Too many people have already voted.

[underpants]

6. His campaign agreed to NASCAR???

[Prairie Gates]

10. My reaction, too

The only legitimate reading is that they are desperate to get their voters out. Otherwise, it's just profoundly stupid. They must be seriously lagging in GOTV. Maybe Elon's America PAC is a pfffffft.

[underpants]

13. If this turns out like WE hope - that will be an angle for a good story

I know I read months ago that their internals were showing a dip (at least) in enthusiasm. It was at least in southwest Virginia. I seem to think there have been whiffs of it coming out later.

He should have the NASCAR vote locked down without even trying. Hell, that’s where the Brandon thing came from.

[Qutzupalotl]

12. That'll broaden his base!

NOT!

They're reaching out to a coveted demographic they already have, because there are no new voters to get.

[underpants]

16. Maybe it's just so he can claim a WIN!!!

It was in Martinsville VA today. Virginia North Carolina line basically but I’d think the target is the TV audience.

[carpetbagger]

29. That's about right.

In the 90s I had to regularly drive on weekends between Raleigh-Durham and Eastern WV, right through that black hole where every single channel, am and fm, was NASCAR.

[Beartracks]

26. Maybe they didn't want to SHRINK his chances with other demographics.

[ZonkerHarris]

24. After the race was over. :)

[underpants]

31. I'd have to guess the NFL game was off limits

Either from the leagues contract or from a comparable ratings standpoint. I don’t think SNL gets big ratings because it can be streamed later or because skits are available in a lot of different formats.

[dweller]

4. Predicting economic doom again

Like he did for Biden … how’d that pan out for ya Pisswig?

😆



✌🏻

[underpants]

5. Well shit! There goes the NASCAR vote

The Trump campaign agreed to NASCAR???

[dchill]

11. Go Brandon!!

[Wednesdays]

7. There might not be a downside to us over this

Yeah, let TCF free associate for five minutes on national television.
What could possibly go wrong for him?

[Blue Owl]

8. Oh for Fat Fuck's Sake

[dchill]

9. Fox is disinfotainment, not news.

[exboyfil]

14. The offer should have been a SNL special

And a skit like Harris. No one says it had to be positive for Trump. I was thinking of one where various mics are associated with different sex toys.

[onenote]

18. The rule allows a candidate to use their time however they want.

And the rule is triggered by an "appearance" by a candidate on a non-news program -- again, it doesn't matter the nature of the appearance.

[exboyfil]

23. Thanks for the clarification

[Lunabell]

17. Maybe he could go on and replicate Hinchcliffe's set at the MSG rally.

That should go over well.

[Silent Type]

19. A free ad on NASCAR won't hurt us. I know some Dems like racing, but doubt they'll change their vote.

[SoFlaBro]

20. Orange Bastard is a dumb bag of lumpy shit.

[newdeal2]

21. Someone just release the Apprentice tapes already

NBC, if you’re listening…

[uncletio200]

22. Does this explain . . .

. . . the weird ad after the football games. Trump in that stupid hat, basically on some unhinged rant about the sorry state this country is in. If so, I don’t think he did himself any favors.

[blogslug]

25. Saw it. Not linking to it.

It was slap-dash and dumb, with all the warmth of a morgue.

[Sogo]

27. This is total BS by a Trump appointee.

The Fairness Doctrine hasn’t’ been operative for decades. It was repealed in 1987, largely for Rush Limbaugh to spread his venom un-contested.

[onenote]

35. The "equal time" rule is separate from the fairness doctrine and has not been repealed.

It is a statutory requirement applicable during elections to appearances by candidates for office in non-news, non-talk show settings It mostly applies to advertising in which a candidate appears and requires that the same amount of advertising time be made available, upon request, by any other candidate for the same office, at the same ad rate. It also requires that stations sell advertising to candidates at the "lowest unit rate."

[ailsagirl]

30. What a crybaby

[kacekwl]

33. I do not care. trump has nothing

new to say. Watching VP Harris during that skit you could see how much fun she was having. Love it.

[Autumn]

36. Bullshit. They give that fat fucker free air time ALL THE TIME.

[mysuzuki2]

37. Excuse me

But I was under the impression that the equal time provision was repealed in the 80’s under Reagan. Am I wrong?