On April 12, the Ninth Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, struck down the federal law that prohibits Public Television Stations from transmitting advertisements regarding issues of public interest, and advertisements concerning candidates for public office. The decision is Minority Television Project, Inc., v Federal Communications Commission, 09-17311. The lawsuit was brought by one of the few public television stations in the U.S. that does not receive subsidies from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That station is KMTP-TV, located in San Francisco.
The decision depends on the First Amendment, and says that already, public broadcasting stations are entitled to run announcements in which for-profit corporations who donate to public television are permitted to praise themselves. The government argues that if public television stations are permitted to run campaign ads, the management of those stations might alter their content to be favorable to the candidates who advertise. The decision says that although this might be true, there is no evidence that it is true. Thanks to HowAppealing for this news.
“The government argues that if public television stations are permitted to run campaign ads, the management of those stations might alter their content to be favorable to the candidates who advertise.”
Welcome to planet Earth. It does make sense though that a channel or other media without public funding should be able to take money and/or promote politicians of their choosing.