NBC files an Equal Time notice for Harris’ SNL cameo after backlash

NBC News filed an Equal Time notice with the Federal Communications Commission late Sunday, revealing Kamala Harris’ appearance on “Saturday Night Live” after the network was accused of violating the long-standing rule.

“Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president in the 2024 national election, appeared on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) without charge on November 2, 2024, for a total period of 1 minute and 30 seconds,” the message reads.

Under normal circumstances, the filing would allow all other qualified candidates running against Harris to apply for equal airtime on NBC for up to one week. NBC would have to grant this under federal law.

The announcement comes after Commissioner Brendan Carr, the FCC’s senior Republican, rejected NBC’s decision to host. Harris in the series finale of SNL prior to Election Day, while not being afforded equal time to former President Trump or other candidates in the presidential cycle.

“This has every appearance of, at least some leadership at NBC, at SNL, making it clear that they wanted to weigh in favor of one candidate before the election. That’s exactly why we’ve had the same time for decades. Rule by the book is to prevent that. Because remember: broadcasters are placed in a special position of trust. They’re not just someone with a soapbox on the corner. They are licensed by the federal government that requires them to do so in order to operate in the public interest,” FCC Commissioner Carr told Fox News Digital in a Zoom interview Sunday morning.

The NBC filing later Sunday confirms that the network “considers Harris SNL’s appearance to be a free use of their facilities and airwaves within the meaning of the federal Equal Time Rule,” Carr told Fox News Digital later Sunday, citing the limited timeframe emphasized that Trump and others should take the network up on its offer in this case.

HARRIS’ COLD OPEN APPEARS TO COPY TRUMP’S 2015 SKIT WITH JIMMY FALLON

In normal Equal Time cases, “there would usually be a seven-day window open during which all other qualified applicants could apply for Equal Time with NBC, meaning the time on a similar program would be comparable. Here, opponents don’t have seven days,” says Carr . said.

The FCC commissioner told – which still is. over election ballots after dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump earlier this year.

The Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule was established in 1934 and requires radio and television stations to provide the same amount of time to competing political candidates. There are exceptions to the rule, such as news broadcasts, documentaries and political debates.

Senior advisor to the Trump campaign Jason Miller told Fox News Channel earlier this weekend that SNL did not extend an invitation to Trump. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung denounced Harris’ actions as a sign of desperation to appeal to voters while “her campaign fades into obscurity.”

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate during her failed 2016 presidential run, also appeared in a skit Saturday as a game show contestant who couldn’t remember who Kaine was.

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NBC has also filed an Equal Time notice for Kaine’s appearance, Carr told Fox News Digital. Kaine is running for re-election in Virginia against Republican challenger Hung Cao.

NBC News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report. Read more of this story from FOX News.