Presidential Hopefuls Ask for Equal Airtime After Donald Trump's SNL

[brooklynite]

Source: Ad Week

This was inevitable. Following Donald Trump's hosting stint on the Nov. 7 episode of Saturday Night Live, three Republican presidential hopefuls have requested equal time on NBC stations.

According to the FCC's "equal time" rule, broadcast and radio stations are required to offer an equivalent opportunity for candidates to appear on non-news programs. NBC tallied up Trump's airtime at 12 minutes and five seconds. Opposing candidates then had seven days following Trump's SNL episode to request that amount of time on NBC stations.

And three of them have: former New York Gov. George Pataki's campaign has sent a request to 16 NBC affiliates, including stations in New England (WHDH in Boston serves much of New Hampshire), South Carolina, Iowa and New York. Meanwhile, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham demanded time on NBC affiliates in Iowa, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich has demanded time from NBC stations in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

While Kasich has done well enough in the polls to be on the main stage for all four GOP primary debates, the requests by Pataki and Graham are last-ditch efforts to drum up support. Both were bumped off the undercard of the most recent debate on Fox Business Network after being invited to the first three.

Read more: http://www.adweek.com/news/television/presidential-hopefuls-ask-equal-airtime-after-donald-trumps-snl-gig-168165

[yeoman6987]

1. Id tell them to go pound sand

Nobody else would get the ratings trump does.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

5. It's not about SNL.

They are requesting 12 minutes on a non-news program.

Anyone have any suggestions of what non-news program NBC should let them be on for 12 minutes.

My suggestion: The Biggest Loser

[Xipe Totec]

7. The Island

FOURTEEN MEN TO TEST LIMITS OF THEIR ENDURANCE ON NBC’S NEW SERIES ‘THE ISLAND’
Six Episodes of Man Vs. Nature Asks If Survival Is Possible Without Modern Conveniences

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/04/28/nbc-reveals-the-cast-of-new-reality-series-the-island/

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

20. Wow. You couldn't pay me to watch that!

[Xipe Totec]

21. That's the beauty of it; we drop them off at the island, then leave. nt

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

22. By jove! I think you've got it!!

[riversedge]

28. Maybe they could be the complainers/plantiffs in Judge Judy's Court?

[razorman]

29. I halfway expected some candidates (perhaps Sanders or O'Malley)

to demand equal time after SNL did their 90-minute campaign commercial for Hillary several weeks ago. Especially after Larry David's harsh parody of Bernie.

[wilt the stilt]

2. ooh ooh

can we see Cruz and Carson doing a monologue. It would have me roflmao.

[NCjack]

3. Invite them for a SNL moderated debate -- that's about equivalent to what Trump got.

[msrizzo]

26. Yes, that's perfect.

I totally agree, but it should be everyone but Trump...he already got his 12 minutes!

[marble falls]

4. I think they all should get a crack at it. I hope Larry David does a "Little Help From My Friends"..

duet with Bernie Sanders.

[Hestia]

6. That would be fun to see. Why not give them non-news time? It's where we all seem to be headed

as it is. Why not be honest about it?

[Hoppy]

19. Or Bernie, bartending with Larry as Bernie... that would be a hoot.

[marble falls]

25. I'd watch.

[murielm99]

8. I knew this would happen.

LOL.

[NotHardly]

10. Good on them...

Every last one of the candidates in both parties should request/demand under the FCC rule.

[Historic NY]

11. Hey SNL ought to host a GOP Presidential debate...

to kill all the birds with one stone.

[valerief]

14. At least SNL would be funny then. nt

[JudyM]

23. Ha! Though it kind of seems like their past debates have been SNL skits, already. Nt

[Nonhlanhla]

12. I might watch if they have Carson

[valerief]

13. So this means the Republican Party might get more air time than the Democratic Party,

so can our Democratic candidates get an equal share of air time as the Republicans?

[onenote]

15. No. The relevant elections to which the requests apply are specific repub primaries

Under the "equal opportunities rule" candidates are entitled to request "equal time" when one candidate in particular election makes an appearance. At the present time, the elections that are being contested are specific primaries which is why the requests that have been made are limited to just a handful of states where the candidates have been mounting a campaign and/or have qualified to be on the ballot.

This is why no repubs were able to request equal time when Clinton appeared on SNL earlier in the year.

[valerief]

17. I see. Thanks. nt

[JohnnyRingo]

16. The others have no sense of humor

They'd just want to rail about Obamacare, the fence, and the secret Muslim president.

On second thought... They would just be the only ones who didn't get the joke.

[keithbvadu2]

18. Give them a blow up love doll like Ralph Nader.

Better make it late, late at night.

They might think it's taxpayer and the show could get very interesting.

[Doctor_J]

24. piyish Jindal will have the audience rolling in the aisles

His dullness is even greater than his nuttiness

[DetlefK]

27. 12 minutes and 5 seconds of airtime on a non-news program.

Does NBC run late-night commercials about medical remedies for erectile dysfunction? Or weak bladders? Or hair-loss?