NBC Submits Equal Time Filing to FCC After Kamala Harris’ Controversial SNL Spot Ahead Of Nov. 5 Election

NBC News filed an Equal Time notice with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Sunday night, addressing Kamala Harris’ recent appearance on the popular sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL).

The filing comes in the wake of criticism, particularly from FCC commissioner Brendan Carr, after the network was accused of violating the Equal Time rule by allowing the Democratic presidential candidate airspace without offering the same to other contenders.

Harris’ Appearance on SNL

Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president in the 2024 election, appeared on SNL for a total of one minute and thirty seconds on November 2, 2024.

The Equal Time rule, established in 1934, requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunity for competing political candidates.

According to NBC’s filing, the Harris appearance was deemed as “free use” of their facilities and airwaves under the rule.

In typical cases, this filing opens a seven-day window for competing candidates to request equal airtime from the broadcaster.

However, according to Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the FCC, the situation is more complex.

Brendan Carr’s Criticism

Carr, who has been vocal in his criticism of NBC’s decision, stated in a Fox News interview that this event presents a clear example of a broadcaster potentially showing bias.

He emphasized the responsibility that broadcasters have when they are licensed to operate in the public interest.

“This has all the appearances of, at least some leadership at NBC, at SNL, making clear that they wanted to weigh in in favor of one candidate before the election. That’s exactly why, for decades, we’ve had an Equal Time rule on the books, to prevent that,” Carr told Fox News.

He added that the unique trust placed in broadcasters, given their federal licensing, means they cannot act with the same freedom as individuals.

Trump Campaign Criticism

The Trump campaign quickly responded to Harris’ appearance on SNL. Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, stated that no invitation was extended to the former president to appear on the show.

Miller criticized the move as evidence of bias and political favoritism, while campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called the appearance a “desperate” attempt by Harris to gain traction as her campaign continues to struggle in the polls.

“The fact that Harris would appear on SNL just shows how her campaign is spiraling down into obscurity,” Cheung told Fox News over the weekend.

Equal Time Rule and Limited Window

While the Equal Time notice would typically offer a full week for other candidates to demand equivalent airtime, Carr pointed out that the timeline in this case is not as generous.

“Here, opposing candidates don’t have seven days,” Carr said, though he did not specify why the timeframe would be limited.

This limited window leaves Donald Trump, as well as other presidential candidates like Jill Stein and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a narrow opportunity to seek comparable airtime.

Stein, the Green Party candidate, and Kennedy Jr., who endorsed Trump after withdrawing from the race, are both on the ballot in several states, raising the stakes for NBC’s compliance with the Equal Time rule.

The Broader Implications

The debate over Harris’ SNL appearance and NBC’s subsequent filing with the FCC highlights the ongoing concerns about media fairness in the highly polarized 2024 presidential race.

The Equal Time rule, which excludes appearances in newscasts, documentaries, and debates, was designed to ensure balanced media coverage of political candidates.

However, appearances on entertainment programs like SNL can complicate the situation, as seen in the backlash over Harris’ involvement.

In addition to Harris, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who is seeking re-election in his state, also appeared in an SNL skit the same night.

NBC has since filed an Equal Time notice for Kaine’s appearance as well. Kaine’s Republican opponent, Hung Cao, has yet to comment publicly on the issue.

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