NBC News filed an Equal Time notice with the Federal Communications Commission late Sunday, is disclosing Kamala Harris’ appearance on “Saturday Night Live” after the network was accused of violating a long-standing rule.
“Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee in the 2024 general election, appeared without charge on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) for a total of one minute and 30 seconds on November 2, 2024,” the notice read.
Under normal circumstances, the filing would allow all other qualified Harris contestants to claim equal air time on NBC for up to a week. NBC is required to provide it under federal law.
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Kamala Harris made a cameo on Saturday Night Live on November 2. (NBC/Saturday Night Live)
The announcement comes after commissioner Brendan Carr, the top Republican at the FCC, criticized NBC’s decision to host Harris on the final episode of SNL before Election Day, while not giving equal time to former President Trump or other candidates in the presidential cycle.
“This has every appearance, at least from some leadership at NBC, at SNL, which makes it clear that they want to vote for one person before the election. That’s why, for decades, we have had equal time. the law on the book, to prevent that because remember, broadcasters are placed in a special position of trust They’re not just like any other person on a corner soapbox. They’re licensed by the federal government to serve the public,” FCC commissioner Carr told Fox News Digital in a Zoom interview Sunday morning.
NBC’s filing later on Sunday confirmed that the network “considers Harris’ SNL appearance to be free use of their facilities and airwaves within the meaning of the Equal Time Act,” Carr told Fox News Digital later on Sunday, highlighting the time limit for Trump and others. you should this time take the network up on its offer.
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In normal Equal Time situations, “it would normally open up a seven-day period in which all other eligible candidates could claim Equal Time on NBC—meaning comparable time on a comparable program. Here, candidates don’t have seven days,” Carr. said.
An FCC commissioner ruled this weekend that the broadcaster violated the FCC’s equal-time rule by hosting the Democratic presidential nominee, but not Trump or other presidential candidates like Jill Stein or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – still in the polls after dropping out of the race earlier this year and endorsing Trump.
The Federal Communications Commission’s equal time act was enacted in 1934 and requires radio and television broadcast stations to offer equal time to competing political candidates. There are exceptions to this rule such as news broadcasts, documentaries and political debates.
Senior adviser to the Trump campaign Jason Miller told Fox News Channel earlier this weekend that SNL did not extend an invitation to Trump. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung criticized Harris’ appearance as a sign of his desperation to woo voters as his “campaign moves into a dark place.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 02: Maya Rudolph and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris appear on NBC’s Saturday Night Live on November 2, 2024 in New York City. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate during her 2016 presidential bid, also appeared in a skit on Saturday as a game show contestant who couldn’t remember who Kaine was.
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NBC also filed an Equal Time notice for Kaine’s appearance, Carr told Fox News Digital. Kaine is running for re-election in Virginia against Republican challenger Hung Cao.
NBC News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
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