Sinclair Broadcast Group to buy KRCG Channel 13

[pstokely]

Source: Columbia Tribune

KRCG Channel 13, Mid-Missouri's CBS affiliate, is being sold to another TV station conglomerate.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, based in the Baltimore area, announced last week it had reached an agreement to acquire 18 stations, including KRCG, from Chicago-based Barrington Broadcasting Group for $370 million.

In addition, Sinclair inked agreements to operate or provide sales service for another six stations. Overall, the stations reach about 3.4 percent of U.S. households and are primarily in small to medium-size markets, Sinclair said in its announcement.

Read more: http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/sinclair-broadcast-group-to-buy-krcg-channel/article_b990d45c-85e3-11e2-ab8b-0019bb30f31a.html

[Left Coast2020]

1. We need to stop this trend NOW

http://signon.org/sign/restore-the-airwaves

[alp227]

3. Signed! +some helpful info if people are wondering why Sinclair is so controversial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_Broadcast_Group#Controversies

In 2004, Sinclair attracted controversy when it decided that seven of its ABC-affiliated stations would not broadcast an April 30 airing of Nightline, which was a tribute to the soldiers killed in the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq.[22]

The group issued a statement that said in part, "The action appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq." ABC responded, saying that the program was meant to be "an expression of respect which seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country."

In October 2004, it was reported that Sinclair would order all 62 of its affiliate stations to preempt prime time programming to air Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal, a documentary critical of U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry's anti-Vietnam War activism, just two weeks before the November 2 election.[23] The film was produced by Carlton Sherwood, a former associate of Tom Ridge, and accuses John Kerry of prolonging the Vietnam War because of his anti-war activism. The organization Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, an anti-Kerry organization whose name become well known in the 2004 election year, was cross-promoting the film as part of a $1.4 million advertising campaign.[24]

In November 2010, it was reported that five Fox affiliates and one ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair broadcast an infomercial critical of President Barack Obama, Breaking Point: 25 Minutes that will Change America, which was sponsored by the National Republican Trust Political Action Group.[27] The infomercial painted Obama as an extremist, and claimed that, during the 2008 presidential campaign, he received some campaign money from the Hamas terrorist group, and that Obama said in a speech, "You want freedom? You’re gonna have to kill some crackers! You gonna have to kill some of those babies." The special also discusses Obama advisers Van Jones and John Holdren, as well as Obama staff Anita Dunn, Kevin Jennings, Carol Browner, and Cass Sunstein -- all in an unflattering light; in one case, the special claimed that Holdren said that trees should be permitted to sue humans in court.

[rurallib]

2. Sinclair is one bad owner. Good luck

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Yup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_Broadcast_Group

[AngryOldDem]

7. +1

Sinclair owned a channel where I used to live. Their station manager commentaries were downright frightening.

They also made their stations air some kind of hit piece about John Kerry during the election, as I recall. Totally outrageous.

ON EDIT: See above post about the piece on Kerry.

[Norbert]

8. The did an Obama hit piece too

in Columbus, Ohio at the end of October 2012 when it was becoming clear that Rmoney was going to lose Ohio.

I used to watch the news on Cincinnati's channel 64 which is Sinclair owned. I watched it because it was one of the only stations that had their evening news at 10:00. The final segment was commentary from a Sinclair corporate bigwig. He would shill the RW batshit for two minutes that would make Hannity look tame. I started turning the news off early then I stopped watching their news altogether because I did not want to support that crap in any way. Apparently several people did the same because they never cracked the top four and finally the 10:00 news on 64 disappeared.

[AngryOldDem]

11. I'm lucky in that I don't think I live now in a market with a Sinclair station.

I remember calling the station (in Dayton, by the way -- Fox 45) about the Kerry piece and being told, basically, "we have no choice but to air it."

64 never did particularly well in ratings, did it?

[pstokely]

12. they don't care about ratings just profits

They don't even invest much in their stations. Their station could be in 6th or lower place but they don't care as it turns a profit. You probably don't live in a Sinclair market if you live in a major market (50 and above). The small market stations are cheap and quick to grab, A lot of their stations don't even have news departments of their own. Their ABC station in St Louis is programmed more like CW or MYNET TV station, they aired an infomercial after the Oscars.

[Norbert]

5. Sinclair wants to be the TV equivalent of Clear Channel.

They have been buying stations right and left. This scares me.

[olddots]

6. this is a big deal

it may seem like a small deal but its a very big deal and we have to figure out how to stop this or good bye America hello police state.
This is mini fox in the making and don't forget what clear channel did to a thing called free broadcast radio =replace with hate radio,corporate rock and pay sat radio.

Things are so bad in t.v. land that networks play infomercials in prime time ,channel 13 in L.A. has reverend shecky begging for prayer dollars and a ultra fascist gang like Sinclair is buying up t.v. stations for 10 cents on the dollar ----this is broadcast and or basic cable stuff that joe & betty brain dead tune in to and now they will play right wing poopaganda 24/7
sorry about the rant but this is big bad news

[Hayabusa]

9. Yes! I get to watch Ring of Honor Wrestling now!

It has been far too long! Fight, Steen, Fight!

[Hayabusa]

10. I'm sure my last reply is getting some stares

Obviously, Sinclair is a bad broadcasting group and I don't want them airing any more hit pieces on the liberal politicians that I support. As I've said many times before, I am a pro wrestling fan, and my first thoughts when I saw that they had bought my local CBS affiliate was that I would finally be able to watch one of my favorite wrestling promotions on TV for the first time since their show on HDNet was cancelled. I hope me marking out over that didn't offend anyone.

[pstokely]

13. Must be full of WWE rejects

nt

[Hayabusa]

14. Actually, there are at least four

Ring of Honor alumni on the WWE main roster right now, and I see several people on their current roster who should be given a shot.