FCC says US late-night, daytime talk shows must offer equal time for candidate interviews

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday that interviews with political candidates during broadcast late-night or daytime talk shows appear not to qualify for the exemption from "equal time" rules for rival political candidates.

In 2006, the FCC’s Media Bureau determined the interview portion of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” qualified for the equal opportunity exemption for a discussion with then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which networks have relied on as a precedent for recent interviews with political candidates.