Cable TV networks are removing movies from their lineups if they star the candidate. Earlier this week, FX Network, owned by News Corp., said it had decided to pull Schwarzenegger flicks from its line-up until after the political situation was resolved.

The Sci-Fi network, owned by Vivendi Universal, has also decided to cancel the previously planned Arnold marathon. Instead, California disaster movies will be shown in the timeslots.

"We're pulling our Arnold marathon in deference to the electoral process. We wanted to level the playing field in California," said Kat Stein, a spokeswoman for Sci Fi.

The cable networks are taking the steps proactively, since under current law they are exempt from Federal Communication Commission rules requiring broadcasters to give equal air time to all candidates, free of charge, if they air entertainment programming featuring a political rival.

If films like "The Terminator," "Total Recall" or even "Kindergarten Cop" air on broadcast TV, all of the 134 other opponents in California's unprecedented recall election race could demand equal time for free.

An FCC source said the commission had received a record number of calls from lawyers for cable channels in recent days regarding California's recall election and ambiguities in the law regarding airtime and candidate appearances.

While rules exempt cable networks, they don't prevent political opponents of Schwarzenegger from filing complaints with the FCC, which could prompt the commission to revisit the rules, said the source who asked to remain anonymous.

Not all networks are following in the footsteps of FX and Sci-Fi. Both TNT and Turner South, owned by AOL Time Warner, announced that they would continue to air Schwarzenegger films.