NBC stations have begun filing the legally required notice about Donald Trump's broadcast time on "Saturday Night Live," noting that it lasted 12 minutes and five seconds.
"Donald Trump, a candidate for the Republican nomination for President in the 2016 national election, appeared without charge on NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' for a total period of 12:05 (12 minutes and 5 seconds) commencing at 11:39:11 PM ET on Nov. 7 and ending at 1:01:01AM ET on Nov. 8, 2015," read a notice filed by NBC's New York affiliate, WNBC TV.
This triggers a seven-day window in which rival candidates can request equal time. They still have to show that they are bona fide candidates within the state in which "Saturday Night Live" was broadcast, and NBC doesn't necessarily have to give them time within the same program.
After Hillary Clinton appeared on "SNL" on Oct. 3, NBC stations gave notice that her guest spot lasted three minutes and 12 seconds. Larry Lessig, running for the Democratic nomination, requested equal time, but dropped out of the race before any agreement could be reached with the network.
After Al Sharpton hosted the NBC variety show in 2003, the campaign of Joseph Lieberman, a rival for the Democratic nomination, requested equal time. That led to an agreement in which some NBC stations aired footage of a Lieberman campaign event.
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