I am aware that the FCC provides wide latitude for exemptions to its Equal Opportunities rule, including news coverage, debates, and bona fide news interviews. Beyond that, from one of my political broadcasting handbooks: "Regularly scheduled programs that do not exclusively address current events but that do include bona fide news interviews on a regular basis are eligible for the 'news interview' exemption... Unconventional interview formats, such as...the 'Howard Stern Show' may also qualify for the 'bona fide news interview' exemption... In its decision concerning the Howard Stern Show, the FCC reiterated that 'it would be unsound to rule that a program involving a unique or innovative approach to interviewing its guests somehow lacks sufficient licensee control evident in traditional new interview programs.'"
So that's how Obama and McCain can be on "Letterman," "Don Imus, "Stern," and "The View" without triggering an equal time obligation.
But what about "Saturday Night Live"? Is there any ruling or advice from the FCC that would indicate, for instance, that Sarah Palin's appearance Saturday night would be exempt from equal opportunities?
If not, I would think that many of the minor party (I'm sure Joe Biden wouldn't bother) vice-president candidates would use this as an opportunity to request equal time on all the NBC-TV stations which aired this week's SNL.
So that's how Obama and McCain can be on "Letterman," "Don Imus, "Stern," and "The View" without triggering an equal time obligation.
But what about "Saturday Night Live"? Is there any ruling or advice from the FCC that would indicate, for instance, that Sarah Palin's appearance Saturday night would be exempt from equal opportunities?
If not, I would think that many of the minor party (I'm sure Joe Biden wouldn't bother) vice-president candidates would use this as an opportunity to request equal time on all the NBC-TV stations which aired this week's SNL.
