NBC has found itself in hot water after Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) just days before the 2024 election. The network has since filed an Equal Time notice with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The filing comes amid criticism that NBC violated the longstanding Equal Time rule by giving Harris free airtime without offering the same opportunity to her competitors.
The Equal Time rule, established in 1934, mandates that broadcast stations must provide equal airtime to all legally qualified political candidates. While there are exceptions for news coverage, documentaries, and political debates, SNL’s sketch did not fall under these exemptions. Harris appeared on the show for a brief 1 minute and 30 seconds, prompting accusations of bias from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a senior Republican on the commission.
“This has all the appearances of NBC and SNL trying to tip the scales in favor of one candidate just before the election,” Carr said in an interview. He emphasized that broadcasters, due to their federal licenses, are held to a higher standard of public trust.
In response to the backlash, NBC’s late Sunday filing acknowledged Harris’ appearance as a free use of their facilities under the Equal Time rule. This action allows other presidential candidates, including Donald Trump, to request equal airtime. However, Carr noted the unusual timing, which doesn’t afford opposing candidates the typical seven-day window to request equal time.
Trump campaign representatives criticized Harris’ SNL appearance as a desperate move. “It’s clear her campaign is floundering, and this is an attempt to salvage some relevance,” said Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller.
The incident has sparked significant debate about media fairness and the role of broadcasters in the political process, especially as the nation approaches a crucial election.
Adding fuel to the fire, an election ad for Donald Trump aired on NBC during the network’s NASCAR and NFL broadcasts on the same weekend. The ad featured Trump wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, warning viewers that electing Harris would lead to an economic depression. He urged voters to participate in the upcoming election, stating, “We’re losing everything, including viability. We’re going to end up in a depression based on what’s been happening. We’ve never seen anything like it, at least in the last 40 years.”
The Trump campaign’s ad placement during high-profile sports events underscores the network’s efforts to address concerns about equal airtime for political candidates. Whether Trump or other candidates will take advantage of the Equal Time provision remains to be seen.