US agency investigating if ABC's 'The View' violated equal time rules for political candidates

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: msn/Reuters

12h


WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission is opening an investigation into whether ABC's "The View" daytime talk show violated equal time rules for interviews with political candidates after an appearance by a Democratic Texas Senate candidate this week, a source told Reuters on Saturday.

The Republican-led FCC said last month that daytime and late-night TV talk shows are no longer considered "bona fide" news programs that are exempt from equal time rules that require them to give airtime to the views of opposing candidates. In September, FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the agency should consider reviewing whether "The View" runs afoul of equal time rules.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed Carr to take action against U.S. broadcasters and criticized networks for what he views as one-sided coverage. The move is the first significant step by the FCC to go after networks for interviews with political candidates.

TALK SHOWS WERE PREVIOUSLY EXEMPT

Until January, talk shows have qualified for the equal opportunities exemption as genuine news interviews, ever since the FCC Media Bureau granted an exemption to the interview portion of Jay Leno’s "The Tonight Show" in 2006. Networks have relied on the ruling as a precedent for recent interviews with political candidates.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-agency-investigating-if-abcs-the-view-violated-equal-time-rules-for-political-candidates/ar-AA1VTizr

[Roy Rolling]

1. There are no equal time rules

Republicans wanted equal time rules like the Fairness Doctrine abolished so their Fox News propaganda dreams could come true.

The FCC can’t abolish what they already gutted.

It’s like trying to cut the holes out of a blanket.

But 20% of MAGAts will go along with anything. Some bought Melania tickets, didn’t they?

[onenote]

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 While the FCC's Fairness Doctrine rulewas repealed, the statutory "Equal Opportunities" rule was not.

47 USC Section 315.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/315

While Carr's re-interpretation of the statute is bullshit, the equal opportunities rule (commonly referred to as the "equal time" rule), you are mistaken in thinking that the rule was repealed.
You should amend your post as it is incorrect.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. Have they heard of "The Five" on Fox.

It's a negative image of The View where there are four republicans and one democrat.

[PatSeg]

3. In their minds 4 to 1 is equal

As long as the "4" are republicans.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Maybe the View can mention them in the lawsuit as evidence of balance across

channels. Because, from what I remember Ronald Reagan put an end to the Fairness Doctrine. And as for campaign laws, please. FoxNews is an operating campaign program for the Right.

[onenote]

7. As noted above, the Fairness Doctrine and the Equal Opportunities aka Equal Time rule are separate.

Yes, the Fairness Doctrine rule, which was a non-statutory policy adopted by the FCC, was repealed in 1987. But the Equal Opportunities rule, which is statutory -- and has its origins in the Radio Act of 1927 -- was not impacted by the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine.

[oldmanlynn]

8. Evidently, the equal opportunities statutory law you referred to

Doesn’t seem to have much bite to it because nobody pays attention to that after they canceled and got rid of the fairness doctrine. I’m just curious why would they need the fairness doctrine if they had the equal time law you referred to

[onenote]

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

The Equal Opportunities rule applies only to appearances by legally qualified candidates for office during a campaign and is intended to prevent broadcast licensees from providing valuable airtime to only one candidate. A related statutory rule -- the Lowest Unit Rate rule -- requires station licensees to make advertising time available to candidates at the lowest rate offered to anyone else.

The Fairness Doctrine was intended to ensure that at all times, not just during political campaigns, broadcasters covered controversial topics of public concern and allowed for competing viewpoints to be heard.

[onenote]

6. The Equal Opportunities rule only applies to broadcast.

[mdbl]

11. They are using the fact the The View is an on-air broadcast

Fux and Dorks is only on cable so the FCC rules don't apply. That being said, entertainment shows were never included, but the Dump administration makes up their own rules to enforce.

[JohnnyRingo]

12. That makes sense.

It doesn't appeal to my sense of fairness, but it makes sense.

[onenote]

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

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.

[twodogsbarking]

10. Equal coverage for Democrats on the evening news, FOX included. Well?

[onenote]

14. As noted above, the equal opportunities aka equal time rule only applies to broadcast

The rule has its origins in the original Radio Act of 1927.

[twodogsbarking]

16. I was fantisizing. There is no emoji.

[Smackdown2019]

13. Foxnews???

They must of mistyped the network .. did they mean Foxnews????

Besides, freedom of the press....