Conservative TV Group to Air Anti-Kerry Film

[Judi Lynn]

October 9, 2004

THE NATION
Conservative TV Group to Air Anti-Kerry Film
Sinclair, with reach into many of the nation's homes, will preempt prime-time shows. Experts call the move highly unusual.



By Elizabeth Jensen, Times Staff Writer


NEW YORK — The conservative-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group, whose television outlets reach nearly a quarter of the nation's homes with TV, is ordering its stations to preempt regular programming just days before the Nov. 2 election to air a film that attacks Sen. John F. Kerry's activism against the Vietnam War, network and station executives familiar with the plan said Friday.

Sinclair's programming plan, communicated to executives in recent days and coming in the thick of a close and intense presidential race, is highly unusual even in a political season that has been marked by media controversies.

Sinclair has told its stations — many of them in political swing states such as Ohio and Florida — to air "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," sources said. The film, funded by Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, features former POWs accusing Kerry — a decorated Navy veteran turned war protester — of worsening their ordeal by prolonging the war. Sinclair will preempt regular prime-time programming from the networks to show the film, which may be classified as news programming, according to TV executives familiar with the plan.

Executives at Sinclair did not return calls seeking comment, but the Kerry campaign accused the company of pressuring its stations to influence the political process.

"It's not the American way for powerful corporations to strong-arm local broadcasters to air lies promoting a political agenda," said David Wade, a spokesman for the Democratic nominee's campaign. "It's beyond yellow journalism; it's a smear bankrolled by Republican money, and I don't think Americans will stand for it."
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-na-sinclair9oct09,1,4817545.story?coll=la-home-headlines
(On edit: Free registration required)

[Brundle_Fly]

1. there is no shame.

none whatsoever.

[Amigust]

37. Proves they will do ANYTHING to stay in power

eom

[saracat]

2. This makes me want to leave the country NOW!

[w4rma]

13. Sinclair would like that. (nt)

[depakid]

3. This sounds like a violation of FEC rules

If Kerry gets elected, I think it's time to yank Sinclair's broadcast licenses. Seriously. Force them to divest.

[saracat]

4. And what does McCain say to this? Still supporting Bush?

[LynnTheDem]

5. Fine.

Let's show NEWS CLIPS of bush's LIES on September 11. Let's show the NEWS CLIPS where he aadmits knowing about the 1st plane BEFORE he enters the school.

Let's show the NEWS CLIPS where he stands around outside the school for photo ops after being told of the 2nd plane hitting.

Let's show the NEWS CLIPS of bush pumping his fists and shouting "I FEEL GOOD!" right before he announces the upcoming deaths of 1166 (so far) US men & women in Iraq.

Let's show the NEWS CLIPS of everything bush & Cartel said; WE KNOW...THERE IS NO DOUBT... and compare to Kay & Dueffler "WMD" reports.

Let's show the NEWS CLIPS of all the 1166 (so far) dead uniformed American men & women's funerals.

Let's show the NEWS CLIPS of all the maimed, torn-apart, brain-dead, mangled uniformed American men & women.

Let's show the NEWS CLIPS of the REAL STORIES of Iraq and Afghanistan; the NEWS CLIPS the entire world sees nightly...except in America.

[chelaque liberal]

24. That would be great except "we" don't own a television station.

The networks won't even run commercials for F911 during certain times.

[liberalnurse]

38. Here is a link to where Sinclair stations are....

http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/sinclair.asp

WTTA - Tampa
KMWB - Minneapolis
WPGH & WCWB - Pittsburgh
KOVR - Sacramento
KDNL - St. Louis
WBFF & WNUV - Baltimore
WTTV & WTTK - Indianapolis
WLFL & WRDC - Raleigh - Durham, NC
WZTV & WUXP - Nashville
WCGV & WVTV - Milwaukee
WSTR - Cincinnati
KSMO - Kansas City, MO
WTTE & WSYX - Columbus, OH
WFBC & WLOS - Asheville, NC
KABB & KRRT - San Antonio
WTTO & WABM & WDBB - Birmingham, AL
WTVZ - Norfolk, VA
WUTV - Buffalo, NY
KOCB & KOKH - Oklahoma City
WXLV & WUPN - Greensboro, NC
WKEF & WRGT - Dayton, OH
KVWB & KFBT - Las Vegas
WCHS & WVAH - Charleston, WV
WRLH - Richmond, VA
WEAR & WFGX - Mobile, AL
WSMH - Flint, MI
WDKY - Lexington, KY
KDSM - Des Moines
WSYT & WNYS - Syracuse
KBSI & WDKA - Paducah, KY
WUHF - Rochester, NY
WGME - Portland, ME
WMSN - Madison, WI
WEMT - Tri-Cities, TN
WGGB - Springfield, MA
WYZZ - Peoria, IL
WTWC - Tallahassee, FL
WMMP & WTAT - Charleston, SC
WICS & WICD — Springfield, IL
KGAN — Cedar Rapids, IA

[Amigust]

45. Battleground states where Sinclair has affiliates

Florida
Iowa
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
Ohio
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
Wisconsin

See also comment # 43

[Protagoras]

46. I'm glad these slimeballs aren't in Oregon

This has to come back and bite them in the ass...ahead of time. Writing now.

[Behind the Aegis]

48. or how about this!

If they (Sinclair) are going to "give" Kerry equal time, he should request they play "Bush's Brain," "Unprecedented," "Undercover: the Whole Truth about Iraq," "The Bush Family Fortune," or "Outfoxed." All are about an hour in length! Personally, if they are going to play shit about Kerry and the Vietnam war, then they should play "Undercover" and show the truth about the war in Iraq! Let's see if the war-mongering RW would like them apples!

[whistle]

6. I hope Michael Moore counters with F9-11 broadcast

[Dem2theMax]

7. I sent it to MM. I would suggest that everyone find out if your

television provider has Sinclair as part of it's programming. Then threaten to cancel if they allow this to happen. And if they allow it, cancel and remind them why. It's one thing for MM to arrange a pay per view showing of F 9-11. To literally commandeer the airwaves for one political viewpoint, one that we know will be packed full of lies, is, by God, UN-AMERICAN.

:kick:

[truthisfreedom]

8. one thing... BRING. IT. ON. schmucks.

bring it on, baby. KERRY ALL THE WAY!

[BlueEyedSon]

9. "worsening their ordeal by prolonging the war"?

:wtf:

(smacks head with palm)

[Lerkfish]

64. its doublespeak. anyone listening to Kerry's testimony with a brain knows

the opposite was true.

[Ruffhowse]

10. What can we do to help stop this? Any ideas?

[Dems2002]

11. The Light of Day - Contact All Sinclair Affiliates and Their Advertisers

Right now, we've got to start contacting all media outlets in the swing states, I just used the local database and sent this article to all media outlets in Ohio. Now, we need someone to get a listing of all of these Sinclair affiliates and we've got to start calling.

We've got to stop this. 60 Minutes refuses to air anything controversial about the War because it could negatively impact Bush and Sinclair Media does this????

This is insane, and WE HAVE THE POWER TO STOP IT!!!

Moveon.org needs to get on this immediately.

This is HUGE. But we've got time on our side. We must be relentless. Call all of the stations. Call their headquarters. Light them up like a Christmas Tree.

This is beyond ridiculous to have ONE CONGLOMERATE BE ABLE TO AFFECT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

This can not and will not happen. The affiliates will cave to preasure, they've done it for the other side, they'll do it for ours. In addition, the other media outlets won't like it much either because it spotlights the issue they like to keep in the dark, media consolidation. We've got to push the media consolidation aspect of this story in order to show that while some might favor winning the election for Bush, there are enough Republicans against consolidation that something so blantantly partisan is going to get the watchdog eye of Congress on their backs.

[w4rma]

14. I think that sounds like a plan. (nt)

[Ruffhowse]

16. Good ideas, we have the numbers here to affect this. And

if we can get the big boys weighing in on this, that will really put some punch behind our efforts. Anyone know someone in MoveOn.org or any of the other big Democratic groups? It's just unbelievable to me that this can be allowed. If ever there was a reason to bring back the Fairness Doctrine this it. The fact that a small group of executives at the top of a company can decide something so potentially powerful is just incredible.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. We've got to threaten their national advertisers and threaten

the local money they get in those venues...there's enough Dems in those areas to harm those companies financially with a boycott

[LizW]

28. Contact info for Alabama affiliates

In the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa market area:

WTTO 21 (WB)
WABM 86 (UPN)

Snail mail address for both stations is the same:

651 Beacon Pkwy. W.
Suite 105
Birmingham, AL 35209

E-mail WTTO 21: go to their webpage and use the contact us link -- www.wtto21.com/birmingham_al/

E-mail WABM 68: [e-mail]

Dont forget to mention that Sinclair refused to air the Nightline broadcast of the reading of dead soldiers' names because they claimed they thought it was "political"! :eyes:

[americanstranger]

43. Don't waste your time contacting Sinclair.

Bluntly put, they won't give a rat's ass what you think.

A better course of action - contact their competitors in their markets. Write letters to the editors of newpapers in those markets. Turn this into a local, market-by-market controversy by getting their broadcast competitors to buy into the natural competition between broadcast outlets.

And Contact the FCC and FEC to let them know you are aware of this bald-faced electioneering, and that Sinclair must be held accountable if they violate restrictions of the FEC.

We've got a list of Sinclair affiliate stations on TBTM. If you live in those markets, start sending letters to competitor outlets and newspapers today.

http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/article.php?story=20041009160520115

-as

[MADem]

54. CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS

...contact YOURS, regardless of political affiliation. TELL THEM THEY COULD GET THE "SINCLAIR" TREATMENT if they step out of line. Tell them last time you checked, the AIRWAVES belonged TO THE PEOPLE.

Also, contact your local pols--selectmen, state reps, that sort of thing. Tell them that you don't think these clowns should have that kind of power, and if they ever think of running for national office, you would hate to have to see THEM sucking up to these clowns under penalty of bad publicity.

Be sure that you DEMAND THAT THEY TOUCH BASE WITH THE FCC AND THE FEC ABOUT THIS.

Friends and neighbors, a STINK needs to be made NOW. Time's a wasting, and if this does not go unchallenged, it could be problematic. Hustle!!!

[Mountainman]

27. We should have vet groups contact the stations to show that

not all of us agree most of don't agree with this film. Give me a list of stations and I write to every one of them.

[progressivebydesign]

33. Let's MAKE SURE this thread starts up in GD, where it can continue..

Sounds like time for some coordinated efforts to take back the media. We can do this!

[DeepModem Mom]

12. I'd like to see "Going Upriver" aired in primetime...

and/or have DVD copies mailed to swing-state homes.

[bluestateguy]

15. If Kerry wins, they must be made to pay for this

With an FCC investigation that will make their heads spin. And if that doesn't work, and IRS audit from hell.

[The Zanti Regent]

17. Kerry WILL reinstate the Equal Time provision!

Sinclair and Fox will go the way of the dinosaurs!

[mazzarro]

18. This provision needs to be pushed by Democrats regardless of

the outcome of the election. And I hope that Kerry's administration is the one that will ramrod it down the throat of the bid media companies.

[onenote]

21. equal "time" still on books

The equal time rule (actually "equal opportunities") is still on the books. But it only applies to candidate appearances, so if the Sinclair crap simply attacks Kerry, but doesn't have a Bush appearance, it doesn't fall under the rule. Plus, the FCC has watered down the rule considerably by expanding the "bona fide newscast" exception. The rule that's gone is the "fairness doctrine" which required broadcasterss to afford reasonable opportunity for discussion of contrasting points of view on controversial issues of public importance. The fairness doctrine was repealed in 1987. Congress tried to re-impose it, but Reagan vetoed it. Bush(I) did the same.

onenote

[onenote]

19. list of sinclair markets/stations

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

go get em.....

onenote

[leQ]

34. better link

Sinclair's stations

[LDS Jock]

22. I thought Sinclair didn't want to be political.. remember this..

They refused to have their stations carry an episode of "Nightline" devoted to reading the names of soldiers killed in Iraq. The reason they gave was this...

"While the Sinclair Broadcast Group honors the memory of the brave members of the military who have sacrificed their lives in the service of our country, we do not believe such political statements should be disguised as news content. As a result, we have decided to preempt the broadcast of Nightline this Friday on each of our stations which air ABC programming."

http://www.fair.org/activism/sinclair-nightline.html

What happened?

[NJmaverick]

23. Wouldn't this be an illegal campaign contribution?

[mmonk]

26. Yes

are they registered as a 527 or anything?

[Lerkfish]

65. simple thing to research: how much do they charge/minute for adv?

mulitply that by the amount of time for the movie, and it will be an immensely huge campaign contribution. It would be the same as if they purchased that much air time.

I'm no lawyer but someone who IS needs to get all over this like ugly on a chimp

[Democat]

25. This is a huge campaing contribution from a corporation - is that legal?

What does John McCain have to say about this? Will he say anything or is he too busy kissing Bush's ass?

Campaign finance reform is dead when media companies can do whatever they want and the rest of us are limited. That's not reform, that's a crime.

[maxrandb]

29. This Will Blow Up In There Faces IMHO

One thing you don't "Cheney" with in America is Prime Time Television. I'm sure people will just "love" that their favorite shows and the escape they provide will be pre-empted by a boring and slanted documentary.

Ex: After a busy day I want to sit down with my wife and catch the latest CSI...instead, they put a boring documentary on. I think most people will just turn off the TV and maybe have some quality time with their families. Won't take long for the conversation to turn to who is responsible for ruining our evening.

I see a "Heidi" moment coming. I say "Bring It On!"

[HFishbine]

30. Triad North Carolina Area DUers Take Action

Contact local Sinclair affiliate WXLV here:

http://www.abc45.com/greensboro_nc/station/contact_departments.shtml

[Kadie]

31. Sacramento, CA info

KOVR 13

2713 KOVR DR
West Sacramento
CA 95605
[phone]

[progressivebydesign]

32. And if Colin Powell's SON was not the head of the FCC..

.perhaps we'd have a chance. I'm sick to my stomach right now. Sinclair should have their fucking license revoked. THey refused to air Koppel's reading of the fallen soldier's names. They refused to show the 60 Minutes that was damaging to Bush, and now this.

I have decided that THIS is my cause.. THIS is where I'll put my energies for the next 3 weeks. I live in a secure Kerry state.

Sinclair Broadcasting? BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!

[progressivebydesign]

35. There's an activist thread going on this in GD 2004 forum. n/t

[indigolady]

42. what does "n/t" mean?

"n/t" - what does it mean?

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

51. "No text"

It signals to the reader that this post has no body, and its entire content is in the subject line.

[JPace]

36. I'm going to say it again....

that footage showing AWOL jokingly hunting around
his office for the WMD's to entertain his cronies
with a good laugh is shocking fodder for showing
the people how juvenile and cold AWOL is. Show the
footage with a split screen that depicts all those
soldiers who have died and been maimed looking for
those WMD's. They died for something that is nothing
but a joke to AWOL!

[Amigust]

39. That would be an explosive ad

I agree with you completely.

[drscm]

40. And what was *Bush doing at that age? AWOL? Coke? Alcohol?

It never ceases to amaze me what that boy gets by with.

[Dark Jedi]

41. Old News is Boring

The GOP has nothing else to go on. They know they stink on current domestic issues so all they can do is reach back into the long past and dig up things that young people like myself don't give a flying f*** about.

[wiswrong]

44. Please help by recording Sinclair advertisers

If you live in a Sinclair Broadcasting area, please take an hour and record the names of the advertisers you see, and use the internet to look up their full names, CEO and director's names, e-mail addresses, snail mail addresses, and locations and share them with this list, so that all of us can let them know how how we feel about this.

- wiswrong

[Protagoras]

47. Yes directly to their advertizers

And their local market competition. If they really try and go thru with this, then every paper in a Sinclair market needs to hear in LTTE how vile this is. Every competing station needs to know that viewers are turning off Sinclair because of this.

But most important, the people who advertize on these stations need to know that they will lose money if they allow this to continue.

That is, as the repukes are so fond of saying...the free market in action.

[Hephaistos]

49. Who owns Sinclair?

Hmmm, most if this corp is held by institutions and insiders. Their stock price has really dropped.

According to Yahoo Finance, 5% is owned by GAMCO, the company running Gabelli Funds.

Heavy players at GAMCO:

* Frank Fahrenkopf, gaming laywer and former chairman of the Repugnican Party; also on the board of the "non-partisan" International Republican Institute (IRI), which released that bogus Iraqi right track / wrong track poll, cited by * a little while back link. Chairman of the IRI just happens to be a certain John McCain.

* Mario Gabelli, heavy repug donor

Other institutions holding:
- Earnest Partners LLC
- Morgan Stanley
- Blackrock Inc.
- Perry Corp.

... and more

Keep digging...

[NeoConsSuck]

53. Thank you Hephaistos

[George_S]

56. Will someone please explain this?

http://money.cnn.com/news/companies/research/research.html?pg=in&osymb=SBGI&sid=14752&pid=14694

Are they selling out?

[Hephaistos]

58. Well. *SOMEBODY* is selling

Data available on the web not really up to date, but:

- 49.9% of the company is owned by the Smith family - I doubt they are selling
- 5.8% is held by Earnest Partners, an Atlanta investment company,
Black Enterprise's 'financial company of the year', owner donates Dem (Obama, Kerry)
- close to 5% by Gabelli funds, with repug ties (see above)

Heavy selling (as of end of June) by Neuberger Berman, JP Morgan, and Janus. Only Gabelli has continued to increase stakes lately (according to SEC Edgar filings).

For more info see:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/ownership/ownership.asp

[starroute]

60. Sinclair and the producer of the film have lots of strange connections

I've been out Googling and have posted the details of what I found at two other threads on this topic:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1021550
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1020830

The short version is:

- Mark Hyman, vice president of Sinclair Broadcasting was formerly with Naval Intelligence and still has intelligence connections.

- Sinclair Broadcasting owns a share of a company called VisionAIR which provides software to law enforcement, the military, and homeland security.

- General Barry McCaffrey, who is on the board of directors of VisionAIR, is also on the advisory board of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq and has served as a pro-war comentator for NBC news.

- Carlton Sherwood, the producer of the anti-Kerry film is the author of a whitewash of the the Rev. Sun Myung Moon that was published by Alfred Regnery, publisher of the anti-Kerry "Unfit for Command" and of the anti-Clinton "Unlimited Access." He has also worked for the Department of Homeland Security and is executive vice president of the WVC3 Group.

- The CEO and vice president of WVC3 Group, who are also former military officers, have served as military analysts for Fox News.


In other words, what is involved here is not merely the standard right-wing attack team associated with Moon and Regnery, but also something much larger, including a whole set of military, intelligence, and homeland security figures.

The old military-industrial complex is moving heavily into information tech these days and getting a lot more dangerous in the process. Deliberate attempts to control the media, whether through the existing networks or through new companies like Sinclair, seem to be very much a part of that.

[IHateFundies]

50. Sinclair huh?

Who owns these guys?

[David Zephyr]

52. Kicking This "October Surpise" Story Up to the Top Where It Belongs.

This is the story that greeted me this morning with my Los Angeles Times. I read it in the driveway before entering the house.

Thanks JudiLyn for posting it here.

This is not a "little thing" to sneeze at folks.

[MADem]

55. Damn right

This is a big deal. As I said above, don't just contact your national reps (senator, congress). Call local politicians too--state reps, city council, anyone, everyone. Get LOCAL papers fired up, do what needs to be done. Let them know you resent the intrusion of a broadcaster, who broadcasts over OUR airwaves, making political points for partisan and personal gain in violation of FEC and FCC guidance.

Tell the elected official that if they stay silent, they could be on the receiving end of the "SINCLAIR TREATMENT" if they don't watch out. This is AN AFFRONT TO DEMOCRACY and should not stand!

[Lizzie Borden]

57. KICK

:kick: :kick:

[Noob Saibot]

59. Fahrenheit 9/11 should be played on tv.

That'll even everything up then.

I'll never watch the channels that will play this anti-Kerry movie again.

[Tamyrlin79]

61. I think that they are doing this makes an F 9/11 Broadcast more likely...

Before, it probably wouldn't have because no one would want to be accused of promoting a an agenda. But, since Sinclair obviously has no qualms about such accusations, I think that other, more liberal channels might more seriously consider airing F 9/11 simply to counter.

[NeoConsSuck]

62. Morning Bump.

[pimpbot]

63. Anyone wanna stir up some trouble at their headquarters in MD?

I'm game! Maybe we can go in posing as potential advertisers or something. Rile them up on the inside!

[bunkerbuster1]

66. Sinclair's Pres. got busted for BWD (blowjob while driving)

Let's make sure everyone knows about this (swiped from Atrios):


Broadcasting official charged in sex stakeout
Sinclair president, woman arrested in company car

Published on: August 15, 1996
Edition: FINAL
Section: NEWS
Page: 2B
Byline: SUN STAFFPeter Hermann

372

The president of Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., which owns the local Fox television affiliate, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with committing a perverted sex act in a company-owned Mercedes, city police said.

David Deniston Smith, 45, of the 800 block of Hillstead Drive in Timonium, who also is Sinclair's chief executive, was arrested in an undercover sting at Read and St. Paul streets, a downtown corner frequented by prostitutes, Baltimore police said yesterday.

Smith and Mary DiPaulo, 31, were charged with committing unnatural and perverted sex act. Smith was held overnight at the Central Booking and Intake Center and released on personal recognizance at 2 p.m. yesterday. DiPaulo's bail status was not available.

Officials at WBFF-TV (Fox 45) and Sinclair, one of the fastest-growing broadcasting companies in the nation with 28 television and 34 radio stations, would not comment yesterday. The company had $126 million in sales in the first half of this year.

Police said undercover Officer Gary Bowman, on a prostitution detail, was talking to DiPaulo about 9: 15 p.m. in a car at St. Paul and Read streets. She left the undercover car after telling Bowman that ``she had just seen her regular date driving in the area,'' according to court documents.

Police said DiPaulo ran across the street to a 1992 Mercedes, registered to Sinclair, and got in on the passenger side. Police followed the car onto the Jones Falls Expressway, where they said they witnessed the two engage in oral sex while Smith drove north.

Police said they followed the car back to Read and St. Paul streets, where they arrested Smith and DiPaulo, who lives in the 700 block of Washington Blvd.

[NVMojo]

67. it will air on 62 stations

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/politics/campaign/11film.html?adxnnl=1&oref=login&adxnnlx=1097513777-izY6Ff3mUq9vml+lAwlN3w

this is just sickening.