Before it was abolished in 1987, all media was required by the fairness doctrine to give information on both sides of a controversial issue, no matter the network, so long as they held a broadcast license.

I call these “the dreads” and it’s everything from hospital visits to loss to homelessness to ecological failure. My mind just locks on something bad from the news and “what ifs” for hours if I’ll let it. Helped immensely knowing the sad was normal from the drop in progesterone and the panic palpitations are from lower estrogen. Doesn’t make them easier though.

That rule allowed for so many freely or reduced price produced public service shows on tv and radio that wouldn't have been back then. Its not like we were all running podcasts, and that access was expensive. Plus the corporations got to call them public service and didn't have to produce an alternative program.

Well, when they did have it in place the networks hid their dissenting opinions in off hours things same as you said. The rules were very loose, but it also allowed for some public service broadcasts and other local tv shows that wouldn’t have had airtime, rather than pay to produce the alternate opinion which led to some cool local shows and lore.

BTW, what was his niche show about?