Donald Trump to Host SNL, Does the FCC’s “Equal Time” Rule Apply?

Donald Trump is doing business again with NBCUniversal after an announcement that he will be hosting Saturday Night Live on November 7. “So what about Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Trump’s rivals for the Republican throne? Do they too get to host SNL,” asks Hollywood Reporter. 

According to the Hollywood Reporter story: “The FCC has something that’s commonly known as the “Equal Time” rule. If a broadcast station gives one candidate airtime in anything other than a newscast or news interview program, the other candidates shall be afforded equal opportunity. This doesn’t necessarily mean the same opportunity. Sorry, Lindsey Graham. You won’t be hosting anytime soon. But it could mean that NBC stations have the obligation to let other candidates appear for free for an equal amount of time.

“NBCU has likely been thinking about this scenario for quite some time. After all, Trump hosted The Apprentice while actively flirting with a presidential run for many years. Before he actually did run, it was presumed he would no longer be allowed to be on The Apprentice if he entered the race for this precise reason.”