ABC asks viewers to protest FCC attempt to 'control who is allowed' on 'The View'
ABC is urging viewers to write to the FCC opposing its move to revoke the talk show's exemption from the equal-time rule, with a July 6 deadline for public comments.
ABC has launched an advertisement campaign asking viewers to tell the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop trying to control who appears on the talk show "The View." The FCC is seeking public comment on whether the show qualifies as a "bona fide news interview program," with comments due by July 6.
The ad states that "The View" has welcomed guests and covered important issues for nearly 30 years, and now the FCC wants to control who is allowed on the show. ABC urges viewers to speak up and let the FCC know that viewers should decide.
For decades, the FCC has classified late-night and daytime entertainment talk shows as bona fide news programs for their interview segments, exempting them from the equal-time rule. That rule requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunities to opposing political candidates on non-news programming. While shows are not required to seek exemptions, many have done so to avoid doubt. Previous exemptions include Phil Donahue, Sally Jessy Raphael, Jerry Springer, Bill Maher, Jay Leno, and Howard Stern. "The View" itself received an exemption in 2002, during George W. Bush's presidency.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who has repeatedly threatened to penalize networks and shows not favored by President Trump, has departed from the agency's long-standing approach by opening a proceeding that could force "The View" to comply with equal-time requirements. Carr began targeting the show after it aired an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. The FCC subsequently issued a broad warning to all broadcast TV stations that late-night and daytime talk shows should not be used for "partisan political purposes." Carr has not opened similar proceedings against predominantly conservative talk radio shows.
