AZ's Politics BREAKING: BLACK FRIDAY...and SATURDAY: NBC's 60 Minutes of Equal Time For GOP Presidential Candidates Will Be Spread Out This Weekend

Arizona's Politics is learning details on how NBC and its affiliates are giving equal time to five of Donald Trump's GOP Presidential rivals, in response to his November 7 "Saturday Night Live" hosting gig.  The requesting candidates - none of whom are among those closest to him in the current polls - will receive their 12 minutes of free airtime spread out in small chunks this coming Friday and Saturday.

A reliable source with knowledge tells Arizona's Politics that the time will be allocated on the NBC affiliates in the three earliest-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.  Each candidate will receive network commercial and promo time during primetime hours on "Black Friday"* and Saturday, November 27 and 28, as well as during SNL on the 28th.

There are five settling candidates - Ohio Gov. John Kasich, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former NY Gov. George Pataki, and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore.

With each receiving slightly more than 12 minutes of unfiltered airtime, NBC's tab will run to approximately 120 30-second spots.  No word yet on how the candidates will be using their 12:05.

Arizona's Politics was the first to report on NBC's Saturday Night Live equal time memos this year, and has been providing comprehensive and breaking coverage. Here are links to our previous articles.

*As the SNL cast joked this past week - during the opening parodying Fox & Friends - what is so special about "Black Friday"; I think ALL Fridays matter.

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