The Federal Communications Commission has opened an investigation into ABC’s daytime talk show The View following an on-air appearance by Texas state Rep. James Talarico, citing potential violations of federal equal-time rules.
In a memo released this week, the FCC said it is reviewing whether the broadcast complied with the “statutory equal opportunities requirement” of the Communications Act of 1934, which requires broadcast licensees to provide comparable airtime to legally qualified political candidates when one candidate is given access to a program.
The agency noted that while the law allows exemptions for “bona fide” news programming, including newscasts, news interviews, documentaries, and on-the-spot coverage of news events, those exemptions do not automatically apply to daytime or late-night entertainment talk shows.
James Talarico, a Democrat who represents House District 50 in the Texas Legislature, appeared on The View earlier this week to discuss faith, politics, and public policy. The FCC’s review does not allege wrongdoing but seeks to determine whether ABC was required to offer equal opportunities to opposing political candidates.
ABC has not publicly commented on the investigation, and the FCC emphasized that opening a review does not guarantee enforcement action. Equal-time complaints are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, factoring in a program’s format, intent, and editorial control.
Broadcast law experts say the case could have broader implications for political appearances on entertainment-based programs during election cycles, particularly as campaigns increasingly turn to nontraditional media to reach voters.
The FCC said it will continue gathering information before deciding whether any violations occurred or whether corrective action is necessary.
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