Why NBC gave Trump campaign free airtime?

NBC has complied with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “Equal Time” rule by airing a campaign message from former President Donald Trump on Sunday night for free, following Vice President Kamala Harris’s appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL), according to news outlet Hollywood Reporter.
The regulation mandates that broadcasters offer comparable airtime to competing candidates to ensure fairness in media exposure during election cycles.
Harris made a 90-second cameo on SNL's cold opening alongside Maya Rudolph, who impersonates her on the show.

The sketch aired less than three days before Election Day, drew criticism from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who claimed it violated the Equal Time rule by taking place within the seven-day window for campaigns to request equal airtime.
Carr argued that NBC’s timing was a “clear and blatant” attempt to bypass election regulations.
In response, NBC aired Trump’s pre-recorded 60-second message twice: once towards the end of its NASCAR playoff race coverage and again during post-game coverage of Sunday Night Football.
In both instances, Trump, wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat, warned of an economic “depression” under a Harris presidency and urged viewers to vote.

The network’s swift move to air Trump’s ad was likely to avoid any compliance issues with the FCC.
The Trump campaign criticised Harris’s appearance, calling it a frivolous distraction from serious campaign issues, while it remained unclear whether Trump’s campaign had formally requested the airtime or if NBC offered it preemptively.
As a result, the network may also need to accommodate other candidates should they request equal opportunities, per FCC guidelines.
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US Presidential Election | Trump Vs Kamala Harris | Swing States | Donald Trump