NBC granted former President Trump’s campaign’s request for equal time on the channel after Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on “Saturday Night Live” just days before Tuesday’s election.

In her opening skit on Saturday, Harris performed with Maya Rudolph, who frequently portrays the Democratic presidential candidate on the show. His appearance came just a few hours before the show’s 11:30 p.m. Eastern broadcast time, as his plane, originally headed to a campaign stop in Detroit, was diverted to New York.

NBC filed a timely notice with the Federal Communications Commission stating that Harris appeared on the network for one minute and 30 seconds.

Former President Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Milwaukee on November 1, 2024.

(Morry Gash / Associated Press)

Trump campaign officials contacted the network to ask for more time, according to people familiar with the discussions. The request was granted and Trump was given two complimentary 60-second messages that appeared near the end of the broadcast of the NASCAR playoff race and during the postgame broadcast of the “Sunday Night Football” contest in which the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Indianapolis Colts. 21-13.

Other presidential candidates who are legally qualified to vote may also request time.

The equal time provision is designed to ensure that no legally qualified candidate is unfairly given less access to public broadcasts than their competitors. News programs are largely exempt from the rule, which does not require a station to offer identical programming to rival candidates.

The rule only applies to broadcasters using public airwaves. Does not apply to cable or streaming outlets.

NBC has previously addressed the issue of equal time on entertainment programs.

In 2007, the network refrained from airing episodes of “Law & Order: SVU” that included former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, who played Dist. Lawyer. Arthur Branch opened up about the crime drama after the actor announced he was seeking the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

The rule required Trump to step down from his role as the star of NBC’s reality competition series “The Celebrity Apprentice” after he announced his candidacy in 2015.

While rumors arose that he would run against Barack Obama in 2011, Trump announced at an advertiser presentation at NBC’s Radio City Music Hall that he would not run and that his show would return for another season.