Ten Years Ago... A TV 'Time Bank' for Candidates

A TV 'Time Bank' for Candidates
[SOURCE: Washington Post 2/12/1997, AUTHOR: David S. Broder]
[Commentary] Broder and FCC Chairman Reed Hundt had a conversation about campaign finance reform. Hundt suggested that since most of the money in campaigns goes for expensive TV ads, why not provide free TV time for candidates? He wanted broadcasters to be required to give $2 billion worth of commercial air time free to state and federal candidates in a political time bank. While that may have sounded like a lot of money, the $1.8 billion of paid political ads in 1996 equaled only 2.5 percent of TV ad revenue for the period. Vice President Gore's plan for a panel to review broadcasters' public interest obligations as they get more spectrum for digital TV could provide an opportunity to promote the TV time bank. Barry Diller, owner of the Home Shopping Network and many TV stations, also thought that TV stations should be responsible for supporting political advertising.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/11039436.html?dids=110...