Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Latest Breaking News

onenote

(46,066 posts)

15. Entertainment shows are included, but not when they do a bona fide interview. Until now.

Reply to mdbl (Reply #11)

Sun Feb 8, 2026, 04:36 PM

19 hrs ago

For example, Richard Nixon's 1968 "sock it to me" appearance on Laugh In triggered the rule, but Humphrey and Wallace declined the offer of equal time. And Kamala Harris's appearance on SNL triggered the rule because it wasn't a bona fide news interview.

The problem with the FCC's new interpretation is that it limits the bona fide interview exception to new programming; but there is a separate exception for news programming, so the new interpretation essentially negates the stand alone exception for interviews.

Click here to purchase valentine hearts!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

16 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

US agency investigating if ABC's 'The View' violated equal time rules for political candidates [View all] BumRushDaShow Yesterday OP

There are no equal time rules Roy Rolling Yesterday #1

You are wrong. While the FCC's Fairness Doctrine rulewas repealed, the statutory "Equal Opportunities" rule was not. onenote 23 hrs ago #5

Have they heard of "The Five" on Fox. JohnnyRingo Yesterday #2

In their minds 4 to 1 is equal PatSeg Yesterday #3

Maybe the View can mention them in the lawsuit as evidence of balance across Baitball Blogger Yesterday #4

As noted above, the Fairness Doctrine and the Equal Opportunities aka Equal Time rule are separate. onenote 23 hrs ago #7

Evidently, the equal opportunities statutory law you referred to oldmanlynn 23 hrs ago #8

As someone who has practiced Communications Law for 45 years, I can assure you that licensees pay attention to it. onenote 23 hrs ago #9

The Equal Opportunities rule only applies to broadcast. onenote 23 hrs ago #6

They are using the fact the The View is an on-air broadcast mdbl 22 hrs ago #11

That makes sense. JohnnyRingo 20 hrs ago #12

Entertainment shows are included, but not when they do a bona fide interview. Until now. onenote 19 hrs ago #15

Equal coverage for Democrats on the evening news, FOX included. Well? twodogsbarking 22 hrs ago #10

As noted above, the equal opportunities aka equal time rule only applies to broadcast onenote 19 hrs ago #14

I was fantisizing. There is no emoji. twodogsbarking 18 hrs ago #16

Foxnews??? Smackdown2019 19 hrs ago #13