The Federal Communications Commission has launched an enforcement action against ABC’s “The View” for potentially violating federal broadcasting rules, the Daily News reported, after the talk show featured a Texas political candidate without offering equal airtime to his opponents.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr confirmed the investigation Wednesday, telling reporters, “We’re taking a look at it,” without elaborating. The inquiry centers on James Talarico, a Democratic Texas representative running for U.S. Senate, who appeared on the show Monday, Feb. 2.
The equal time rule requires broadcast networks to provide comparable airtime to political rivals when featuring candidates. This rule applies to broadcast television but not cable networks.
Carr told Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” that ABC had not established The View as “bona fide news,” making it subject to the equal time requirement. “We’ve started enforcement proceedings, taking a look at that,” Carr said. “And, again, we’re going to hold broadcasters accountable.”
According to the Daily News, the FCC announced a crackdown on equal time enforcement on Jan. 21, specifically citing concerns about daytime and late-night talk shows on ABC, NBC and CBS.
Talarico appeared on The View after the FCC announced its enforcement effort on Jan. 21. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat running against Talarico for the Senate seat, also appeared on the show — but before the announcement.
ABC has not provided equal airtime to Republican rivals and reportedly filed no exemption petition regarding Talarico’s interview, the Daily News report said.
The issue extends beyond The View. On Tuesday, Stephen Colbert said he was blocked from airing his interview with Talarico on his CBS show for similar equal time reasons.
The interview was later published on YouTube, where the FCC has no jurisdiction. CBS denied pulling the interview, stating that it had provided legal guidance to the “Late Show” regarding the FCC’s guidelines.
ABC has yet to comment, the Daily News report said.