Jimmy Kimmel requested the audience, “I might need your help again,” amid new FCC rules. Kimmel addressed the issue on last night’s broadcast of his show. For those uninformed, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) clarified its stance on the equal time rule. It stated that broadcast stations must give equal airtime to competing political candidates.
Jimmy Kimmel reaches out to fans amid new FCC rules
Jimmy Kimmel appeals to fans that he might need their help again as the FCC rolls out new rules directed at broadcast networks. Kimmel said, “The president took time, from 6,000 miles away, to continue his war on talk shows. He shared this story about how his minions at the FCC are planning to make it difficult for shows like ours and The View to interview politicians they don’t align with.”
Furthermore, the talk show host stated, “We are once again getting threatened by the FCC. I might need your help again.”
The FCC declared, “Importantly, the FCC has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late-night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption.”
They added, “Moreover, a program that is motivated by partisan purposes, for example, would not be entitled to an exemption under long-standing FCC precedent” (via The Hollywood Reporter).
The FCC said in a press statement, “Under Section 315, if a broadcast station permits any legally qualified candidate for public office to use its facilities, it shall provide an equal opportunity to all other legally qualified candidates for that office” (via Fox News).
In simpler words, this rule could impact who talk show hosts are allowed to invite on their show. If Kimmel books a Democratic politician as a guest on his show, a politician from the Republican Party can then invite themselves on his show as per the new FCC rules.
Previously, political authorities temporarily suspended Kimmel’s show over remarks he made about Charlie Kirk. At the time, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said that Kimmel’s remarks were “some of the sickest conduct”. He also alluded to the potential “avenues” the FCC could pursue.
