The Federal Communications Commission issued new guidance on Wednesday on the application of the political equal opportunities statute, warning that late-night and daytime talk shows are not all exempt when they host certain politicians. 

Under Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934, broadcasters are legally required to offer equal time to candidates from different parties running for the same office. An exemption to this rule is if the content is “bona fide” news, meaning the politician appeared in a news segment, not an entertainment segment.