DES MOINES - Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton is set to be host of this weekend's broadcast of "Saturday Night Live," but it won't be seen in Iowa.

All four NBC television affiliates in Iowa, including KWWL-TV in Waterloo, announced they won't carry the show because Sharpton is one of nine candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. The selection process begins with the Iowa caucuses Jan. 19.

According to an online KWWL programming alert, "KWWL has determined that (the show) may trigger 'equal time' obligations and opportunities for all legitimate presidential candidates in the state of Iowa."

According to the statement, in the case of the Sharpton episode, NBC has left it up to individual stations to comply with the equal time rule, which states that television stations must treat all legitimate candidates equally.

"Iowa is in a unique position with the early caucuses and no clear cut definition of who is qualified and who isn't," reads the statement. "Since NBC is declining to offer equal time during network programming and is not offering any alternative Saturday Night Live programming, we have no choice but to preempt network (programming)."

In place of "Saturday Night Live," KWWL will air three infomercials pitching the Miracle Blade, Total Trolley and something titled "Attacking Anxiety." All other Iowa affiliates will air a previous 90-minute episode of "Saturday Night Live."

Sharpton campaign manager Charles Halloran was puzzled by the decision.

"Their lawyers must not have finished law school because NBC went through all sorts of research to make sure that it was appropriate," Halloran said.