Does CNN owe Obama an equal hour of air time on Monday night? re: EQUAL TIME RULE

[kid a]

EQUAL TIME RULE

U.S. Broadcasting Regulatory Rule

It is the closest thing in broadcast content regulation to the "golden rule." The equal time, or more accurately, the equal opportunity provision of the Communications Act requires radio and television stations and cable systems which originate their own programming to treat legally qualified political candidates equally when it comes to selling or giving away air time. Simply put, a station which sells or gives one minute to Candidate A must sell or give the same amount of time with the same audience potential to all other candidates for the particular office. However, a candidate who can not afford time does not receive free time unless his or her opponent is also given free time. Thus, even with the equal time law, a well funded campaign has a significant advantage in terms of broadcast exposure for the candidate.

The equal opportunity requirement dates back to the first major broadcasting law in the United States, the Radio Act of 1927. Legislators were concerned that without mandated equal opportunity for candidates, some broadcasters might try to manipulate elections. As one congressman put it, "American politics will be largely at the mercy of those who operate these stations." When the Radio Act was superseded by the Communications Act of 1934, the equal time provision became Section 315 of the new statute.

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/E/htmlE/equaltimeru/equaltimeru.htm

[democrattotheend]

1. Didn't he already have his turn on Larry Kind a few weeks ago?

I thought I remembered Larry King interviewing Obama and saying that Clinton had an open invitation.

[kid a]

3. not sure...

[my3boyz]

5. I know Michelle was on there but I don't remember Obama being on there. nt

[MonkeyFunk]

2. No

CNN is not a broadcast outlet. It's a cable network.

[libnnc]

4. I'm thinking since CNN is cable, the equal time rule doesn't count

If it had been on an over the air network then yes, they would owe Obama equal time.

I could be wrong though.

[kid a]

7. if he already did Larry King, that is the answer. But according to the link

cable is included

[libnnc]

9. didn't realize cable was included--thanks

[MonkeyFunk]

20. It says cable systems that originate their own programming

I'm thinking that means if Comcast, for example, aired shows of its own making.

But the government has no control over what CNN shows, nor should it.

[Skink]

6. Blitzer is in deep in MYOP.

He could pay it back by having Obama on and keeping his mouth shut.

[donheld]

8. I thought the "equal time rule" died in 1996

Guess I'm talking about the fairness doctrine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine#End_of_Fairness_Doctrine

[kid a]

11. Its alive, but has these exceptions, which the Larry King Show most likely falls under

From wiki:

"However, there are four exceptions: if the air-time was in a documentary, bona fide news interview, scheduled newscast or an on-the-spot news event the equal-time rule is not valid."

[zulchzulu]

10. To be honest, having Clinton on for an hour may not actually help her

Unless it's a puff piece love fest, it can actually make people see how Hillary Clinton "answers" a question. It's not always pretty.

Whatever...

:boring:

[kid a]

12. Maybe Sean Hannity will give Larry a call tomorrow.

[ladywnch]

13. I thought 'equal time' had been part of the fairness doctrine that Ronney

threw out back in the 80s?

[kid a]

18. This article is about a rule applicable to U.S. broadcast licensees with respect to political candid

This article is about a rule applicable to U.S. broadcast licensees with respect to political candidates. For rules on matters of public controversy, see Fairness Doctrine.

The equal-time rule specifies that U.S. radio and television broadcast stations must provide an equivalent opportunity to any opposing political candidates who might request it. This means, for example that if a station gives one free minute to a candidate on the prime time, it must do the same to another.

However, there are four exceptions: if the air-time was in a documentary, bona fide news interview, scheduled newscast or an on-the-spot news event the equal-time rule is not valid. Since 1983, political debates not hosted by the media station are considered news events, thus may include only major-party candidates without having to offer air time to minor-party or independent candidates.

This rule originated in § 18 of the Radio Act of 1927<1>. It was later superseded by the Communications Act of 1934, where the Equal Time Rule is codified as § 315(a).

Another provision of § 315(a) prohibits stations from censoring campaign ads. A related provision, in § 315(b), requires that broadcasters offer time to candidates at the same rate as their "most favored advertiser".

The rule was created because FCC thought the stations could easily manipulate the outcome of the elections.

The Equal-time rule is sometimes confused with the Fairness Doctrine.

[ladywnch]

21. thanks for the info. I haven't seen 'equal time' in so long I just assumed

it was part of the fairness doctrin. If that rule is still in place it would appear that EVERYONE in broadcasting is ignoring it. Again thanks for the info

[blm]

22. House of Saud trusts Bushes and Clintons, who've proven they can be trusted to protect the Kingdom

and its interests.

[truthpusher]

14. dont worry. nobody will want to sit through an hour of that anyway.

[goldcanyonaz]

15. He had his hour on 3/20.

[GainesT1958]

16. The Equal Time Rule went out...

During the first year(s) of the Reagan Administration. Their excuse was the then-emerging cable industry.

Would be neat if Obama "just happened to call in", though!:eyes:

B-)

[The_Casual_Observer]

17. Since when is king broadcast? Who cares anyway?

[Cha]

19. Hope this backfires on

hilary and consequently cnn like her big hallmark canned hall did before Texas.

[Cass]

23. He apparently was on Larry King already, not sure when.

I did see Michelle Obama on his show not long ago. I heard Larry King say one night a month or so ago that he had gotten mail asking why Hillary had not yet been on his show when both Obama and McCain had been on. He said that night he would love to have Hillary on his show and that she had a standing invitation (or something to that effect).