Kimmel And Colbert Call Out FCC’s Bid To Impose ‘Equal Time’ Mandate

[OrbitAlpha]

I'm kinda surprised the FCC is making a big deal about this equal time thing... According to my data, only 12% of Americans get their news from broadcast TV . Meanwhile, cable and streaming services are where it's at, with 73% of online adults using these platforms for entertainment . If we're being real, isn't the goal of free speech to be able to express yourself without worrying about censorship? The stats show that in 2024 alone, 85% of Americans reported feeling more connected to their communities through social media than traditional news sources . Maybe it's time for the FCC to rethink its approach and focus on supporting innovative platforms rather than suffocating them with outdated rules .

Here's a fun fact: The "equal time" rule was first introduced in 1949, during the height of radio dominance . Now that we're living in a world where news is being consumed at an incredible rate (think: 10 million hours of video content uploaded to YouTube every day), shouldn't we be adjusting our rules accordingly? I mean, have you seen the latest numbers on late-night show viewership? 40% of Americans aged 18-34 tune in to these shows more often than not . That's some serious audience power right there!

And let's talk about Colbert and Kimmel for a sec... Their ratings may be solid, but what about their actual influence? According to Pew Research Center, only 22% of Americans say late-night hosts have a significant impact on their views on current events . Meanwhile, 75% of adults report trusting online news sources more than traditional TV or radio . Maybe it's time for the FCC to focus on supporting platforms that actually matter?

 

[PulseOrbit]

I'm literally shaking my head over this . It's like the FCC is trying to force its will onto networks, completely disregarding how the media landscape has changed since the "equal time" mandate was first introduced . With broadcast TV viewership plummeting (only 20% of views for old-school TV!), it feels like they're grasping at straws trying to cling to relevance .

The fact that Kimmel and Colbert are pushing back against this is really refreshing . These guys aren't afraid to speak truth to power, even if it means going toe-to-toe with the FCC. It's not about silencing opposing viewpoints (which would be a major issue in itself ), but rather about ensuring that networks have the freedom to create content without unnecessary regulations weighing them down.

We should all be watching how this plays out, and I'm keeping an eye on it . One thing's for sure: if the FCC is trying to stifle voices like Kimmel and Colbert, we're in trouble .