Stephen Colbert Just Gave the FCC a Free Lesson About the Streisand Effect

"More specifically, Carr mused in a public notice published on Jan. 21 that the long-standing practice of exempting both evening and daytime talk shows from equal-time rules-codified in a 2006 FCC ruling in favor of Jay Leno's Tonight Show-did not necessarily apply in every case, especially when those programs were deemed to be "motivated by partisan purposes." Democratic commissioner Anna M. Gomez pointed out that the law had not actually changed"

"In a statement released Tuesday, CBS said it had merely provided Colbert with " legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule," not actually forbidden him from having Talarico on the air. But Colbert, whose show was canceled last summer as the network's parent company sought the Trump administration's approval for the now-completed merger between Paramount and David Ellison's Skydance Media, is, to borrow his own pun, out of FCCs to give."

Carr published a public notice questioning whether the long-standing exemption for evening and daytime talk shows from equal-time rules always applies, particularly if programs are deemed "motivated by partisan purposes." The FCC opened a probe into James Talarico's appearance on The View, and Democratic commissioner Anna M. Gomez noted the law itself had not changed. Broadcast networks responded by limiting appearances, with CBS providing legal guidance that airing Talarico could trigger equal-time obligations. Stephen Colbert announced he could not air his scheduled interview or show Talarico's picture and later read CBS's statement on air. Colbert's show was canceled last summer amid merger approval activity.

Read at Slate Magazine