NBC faces backlash over Trump ad and Harris SNL appearance, highlighting political broadcasting complexities.
At a Glance
- Trump election ad aired during NBC’s NASCAR and NFL coverage
- Ad warned against electing Kamala Harris, predicting economic depression
- NBC filed Equal Time notice after Harris’s surprise SNL appearance
- FCC Commissioner criticized NBC for potentially favoring Harris
- Situation underscores challenges of maintaining balanced political airtime
Trump Ad Airs Amid Harris SNL Controversy
A political advertisement for former President Donald Trump aired during NBC’s sports broadcasts, including NASCAR’s Xfinity 500 and the NFL’s Vikings-Colts game. The timing of this ad is particularly notable as it follows Vice President Kamala Harris’s surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” which has sparked a heated debate about equal airtime for political candidates.
In the advertisement, Trump issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of electing Kamala Harris. “We’re losing everything, including viability,” Trump said in the ad. “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.”
🚨🇺🇸NBC AIRS TRUMP AD DURING NASCAR, NFL TO MATCH KAMALA SNL TIME
Following the Equal Time controversy over Kamala's SNL appearance, NBC aired a 90-second Trump campaign message during Sunday's NASCAR Xfinity 500 and Vikings-Colts game.
The ad featured Trump in his MAGA hat… https://t.co/CKrWK2V8Bw pic.twitter.com/bagm5u5W70
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 4, 2024
Equal-Time Rule and NBC’s Response
The controversy surrounding Harris’s SNL appearance and Trump’s subsequent ad has brought the FCC’s equal-time rule into sharp focus. This rule, established in 1934, mandates that broadcasters provide equal airtime to political candidates, with some exceptions. In response to the backlash, NBC filed an Equal Time notice with the FCC, asserting compliance with the rule.
“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 book, is to prevent that. Because remember, broadcasters are placed in a special position of trust. They’re not just like any other person with a soapbox on the corner. They have a license from the federal government that obligates them to operate in the public interest,” FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said.
Carr further stated that NBC “views the Harris SNL appearance as a free use of their facilities and airwaves within the meaning of the federal Equal Time rule.” This interpretation of Harris’s 1 minute and 30 second appearance has raised questions about the balance of political airtime on major networks.
Implications for Political Broadcasting
The situation underscores the complex landscape that broadcasters must navigate during election seasons. While NBC’s airing of Trump’s ad could be seen as an attempt to balance out Harris’s SNL appearance, it also highlights the challenges of maintaining strict equality in political airtime.
