According to an article in today's Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Atlanta-based cable network TNT is "sticking firmly to its plans" to air Law & Order repeats featuring former Senator -- soon to be officially-announced GOP presidential candidate -- Fred Dalton Thompson.
The cable network, also known as the "Law & Order" network for its heavy reliance on L&O reruns, appears set in its defiance of the long-established practice known as "equal time," in which non-news related airtime for one candidate is matched with comparable time for the others.
Below the jump, let's discuss how to teach TNT about justice.
In this morning's AJC article, reporter Rodney Ho informs us that TNT aired 28 one-hour episodes of L&O last week alone, roughly 4 each day. Thompson appeared in many of these airings -- overall he appears in 116 episodes of the series, having joined the cast as NYC District Attorney Arthur Branch in 2002, and leaving only a few months ago.
If TNT continues to use the Thompson episodes in its schedule, Thompson's portrayal of a wise, tough, crime fighter will get plenty of air time, and lots of viewers. Ho reports that last week's L&O episodes "collectively brought in more than 45 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research."
TNT has been repeatedly asked about its plans for the show in the event that Thompson runs -- which the former Senator indicated will indeed happen, officially starting on Sept. 6. TNT's statements, according to Ho, are all virtually identical: "TNT has no plans to alter its schedule."
Ho continues:
The decades old [equal time] provision has long applied to broadcast television, but cable television has never been challenged.
It think that's time for a change. The broadcast network NBC, the originator of the show, has already said it will stop broadcasting Thompson episodes. TNT should do the same.
TNT, Turner Network Television
tnt@turner.com
404-885-4538
1010 Techwood Dr. NW
Atlanta GA 30318
Time Warner, Inc.
Investor Relations
ir@timewarner.com
Philip I. Kent
Chairman & CEO, Turner Broadcasting System
Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016
(212) 484-8000
Fred Thompson is already taking advantage of the system through his own stealth campaign tactics, including timing his official announcement to end-run FEC reporting rules.
Let's not let a cable network further hijack the democratic process by giving him -- or any candidate -- unequal exposure. Please contact TNT now and let them know how you feel.