Stephen Colbert says CBS forbid interview of Democrat because of FCC threat

We contacted CBS and its owner Paramount today and have not received a response. CBS denies blocking an interview with Tallarico Statement reported by Variety. However, CBS’s statement acknowledged providing “legal guidance” about possible outcomes under the equal time rule.

“The Late Show was not banned by CBS from airing the interview with Representative James Tallarico,” the statement said. “The show was provided legal guidance on whether the FCC could trigger the equal time rule for two other candidates, including broadcast representative Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how equal time could be accomplished for the other candidates. The Late Show decided to present the interviews through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing equal time options.”

Colbert put the interview on YouTube

Colbert recently played audio of an interview with Carr in which the FCC chairman said, “If [Jimmy] Kimmel and Colbert want to continue their programming, they don’t want to comply with this requirement, so they can go to a cable channel or a podcast or a streaming service and that’s fine.

Colbert said he “decided to take Brendan Carr’s advice” and interviewed Tallarico for a segment posted on his show’s YouTube channel. “The network says I can’t give you the URL or the QR code, but I promise you if you go to our YouTube page, you’ll find it,” Colbert said. That interview is available here.

Colbert described the unequal treatment of late-night talk shows and talk radio. “Here Carr claims he’s just removing bias from the airwaves, but the FCC is also in charge of regulating radio broadcasting. And what would you know, Brandon Carr says right-wing talk radio is not the target of the same time notice from the FCC,” Colbert said.

Colbert said that only because of a threat, not an actual rule change, CBS prevented him from interviewing a candidate. “At this point, he just issued a letter saying he’s thinking about removing the exception for late night, he just hasn’t finished it yet,” Colbert said. “But my network is implementing it unilaterally as if it did. But I want to assure you that this decision is purely for financial reasons.”

Colbert ousted after “big bribe” comment

Colbert’s tenure as host is set to end in May. CBS announced it would end the show last year after Colbert called CBS owner Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump “a big bribe.” Paramount later won FCC approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance, while agreeing to Carr’s demand to install a “bias monitor”.

FCC Democrat Anna Gomez said today that CBS’s blocking of the interview with Tallarico “is another disturbing example of corporate capitulation in the face of this administration’s sweeping campaign to censor and control speech. The FCC has no legitimate authority to pressure broadcasters for political purposes or to create an environment that chills free expression. CBS is perfectly protected under the First Amendment to determine which interviews it airs, subject to political pressure.” “Makes his decision to bow out all the more disappointing.”