Sinclair to Preempt `Nightline' , thats my local station

[G_j]

**I looked into Sinclair because of their negative influence on our local station. They are Repug supporters and chearleaders.


:puke:

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aqgo9j99xhd4&refer=us

Sinclair to Preempt `Nightline' on ABC Stations, Cites Politics

April 29 (Bloomberg) -- Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. ordered its ABC affiliates to preempt tomorrow's broadcast of ``Nightline,'' which will air the names and photos of U.S. military personnel who have died in combat in Iraq, saying the move is politically motivated.

``Despite the denials by a spokeswoman for the show, the action appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq,'' the company said in a faxed statement. Sinclair, which owns 62 U.S. television stations, said ABC is disguising political statements as news content.

Nightline anchor Ted Koppel will read the names of the more than 500 members of the U.S. armed forces killed in Iraq as their photos air in pairs, the network has said. Their names, ranks, branches of service, hometowns and ages will be listed under the photos. The entire broadcast will be devoted to reading the names.

The 30-minute program airs at 11:35 p.m. New York time on ABC, a unit of the Walt Disney Co. It will include those certified as killed in action by the Pentagon between March 19, 2003, and the date of the broadcast. Because of the list's size, Nightline will only be able to devote seconds to each casualty, executive producer Leroy Sievers said Tuesday.

Sinclair owns stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, WB and UPN in 39 markets.
..more..

[el_gato]

1. did you contact them ?

[G_j]

10. I will be calling them shortly

I have complained to them many times before, in particular about about that a**hole Mark Hymann's RW commentaries.
Interestingly the people I talk to tend to hint that they agree with me, but they have little choice. Sinclair owns the station.

[dArKeR]

14. [e-mail], [e-mail] : with letter to send them

Sinclair Broadcast Group,

We are compiling your advertisers list and will post this on the internet for a total boycott of everything to do with Sinclair Broadcast Group. Hopefully we can encourage moral people NOT to vacation in your broadcast areas.

You are a disgraceful and immoral group of people

YourNameHere

[e-mail], [e-mail]

http://www.sbgi.net/contact/contact.shtml

-----------------
(In my opinion, a massive demonstration should be organized! We all need to do more than call and send emails. Since Hollywood seems to have the only moral leaders left in America, some should get together immediately and jump on this and organize it.)

[dArKeR]

18. Sinclair Broadcast - Pick a state, post their emails here. HELP ME

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=7537#7551

[dArKeR]

25. Master email list so far. You won't be able to sleep until you email them

I've just emailed all these people in 2 minutes. Copy 1 state into your 'To". Short subject and short 'body'. Send, then back browse and roll me over and do it again.

Master so far:

Alabama
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


CA
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


Florida
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

IL
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


N. Carolina
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

Oklahoma
[e-mail], [e-mail]


S. Carolina
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


TX
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

[harrison]

2. This is THE reason people think that Saddam was connected

with Al Quaeda. FUCK! This is frightening people!

[lovedems]

3. Me too. Springfield, Illinois.

They have done this kind of crap before in the last 3 years.

[BlueEyedSon]

4. Write an email, pick up the phone!

[lovedems]

7. I have. I am incredibly pissed off right now.

They will hear from me every friggin' day. They have been making their whoring ways more and more apparent the past year. (refused to air Al Sharpton on SNL. We got "The Best of Steve Martin" instead)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. How should anyone describe the move to preempt Nightline?...

Isn't that even more politically motivated...just another way to hide the truth from the American people?

[DrWeird]

6. Raise hell.

Contact local advertisers too. Then call SInclair back and tell them you've contacted local advertisers. Drop names.

[napi21]

8. How can I find out if my local ABC is a Sinclair affiliate?

Your message say 39 markets. Where can I find out what markets?

[G_j]

11. lots of info here

this is a thread I posted where fellow DUers helped enlighten me about Sinclair broadcasting:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=967975

[2Design]

9. this is a note I sent to local station own by SBG

Note send to WB33 in Norfolk. Although this is not ABC, I don't know in the future what they will censor here.

It has come to my attention that Sinclair Broadcast Group believes in censorship. They are going to censor the showing of nightline on ABC stations they own on Friday night.

This is a show to honor our military dead in IRAQ. This is wrong to censor information. We live in a free society or we are suppose to.

Since SBG owns you also, I am suggesting you find a different owner that does not censor information to the public.
Who knows in the future what I will not be able to watch on your station based on bias of your parent company.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


http://www.sbgi.net/business/television.shtml
http://www.sbgi.net/business/news.shtml
http://www.sbgi.net/business/dtv/index.html
http://www.sbgi.net/business/ventures.shtml

Sinclair Ventures, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. We are strategic investors and our decisions to invest in a company must satisfy Sinclair Broadcast Group's strategic goals.

For more information, please contact:
Len Ostroff
Chief Operating Officer
Sinclair Ventures, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030
Phone: [phone]

Sinclair Ventures, Inc. currently holds equity interests in the following companies:


http://www.g1440.com/
http://www.jadoopower.com/
http://www.visionair.com/
http://www.appforge.com/
http://www.sterlingcap.com/
http://www.acrodyne.com/
http://www.mileone.com/
http://www.allcapital.com/

[dArKeR]

15. http://www.sbgi.net/business/markets/champaign.shtml

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

here are email for WICD.

We should split this work up. It's too much for just me. I've got to go out now too.

[KharmaTrain]

22. And How Does One "Find A New Owner"???

Sinclair has the right to air whatever it wants to...or not, unfortunately. Once we start into determining whose censoring or not, we start down a real slippery slope as it then means someone is making that decission. This is what we're fighting against.

Several people are on the right track...contact investors and let them know how their money...$250G was spent. My bets are many won't be too happy to see it. In the markets where the show is being pulled, note the advertisers on that station you use or know about...let them know you no longer will buy from them as long as they advertise with Sinclair.

The only message these bastards hear are through their billfolds.

[bowler_4_columbine]

12. Go do something about it

There's an excellent thread on Atrios's Eschaton. Posters who live near the stations are making plans to contact their local media and then show up in front of Sinclair stations tomorrow to read the names themselves.

Stations Pulling Nightline
Apparently, honoring the fallen is "contrary to the public interest". (thanks to Athenae)
Contact the Sinclair Broadcast Group at 410-568-1500 and ask them why they refuse to acknowledge those who have served this country honorably.
You can also contact your local affiliate:
WXLV, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point NC 336-274-484
WEAR, Pensacola 850-456-3333
KDNL, St. Louis
WSYX, Columbus OH 614-481-6666
WLOS, Asheville NC 828-684-1340
WCHS, Charleston, Huntington W VA 304-346-5358
WGGB, Springfield MA [phone]
WTXL, Tallahassee [phone]
Be polite with them - recognize that it isn't their decision but you're nonetheless calling to voice your objection.
...more on Sinclair's mission to tell you that it's wonderful that soldiers keep dying in Iraq as long as they don't have to tell you about it.
In comments reader JBL writes:


I'm trying to organize a reading of the names in front of WSYX here in Columbus, beginning at 5:00. (Just in time for the local newcasts.) Folks who are interested in joining in, please meet at WSYX, 1261 Dublin Road. I plan to bring an American flag and dress in the somber attire appropriate for a de facto memorial service.
-Atrios 11:22 AM

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004_04_25_atrios_archive.html#108325213334078128

[G_j]

13. excellent

thank you, I will be seeing some fellow activists tonight and will bring it up!

[Kanary]

17. Thanks for taking action, G_j

I would also suggest letters to the editor, as people in your area need to have this info, also.

If I had known this was going to happen to you, I would have recorded it for you.

This REALLY stinks........ democracy, indeed!

Do you know which congresscritters are involved with this sort of media issues?

Kanary

[G_j]

19. thanks

we are spreading the word locally and people have been calling the station and threatening to boycott advertisers. We'll see what else people come up with.

[Kanary]

20. As if you didn't already have enough to "fight"

"It's always something." Gilda..... bless her.......

Kanary

[G_j]

21. you're right of course

it always is... :-)

I believe Sat. is the anniversary of "mission accomplished"

[LizW]

16. Can you imagine

if your child or husband or wife was dead as a result of this war, and you heard that he/she was going to be honored in this way, AND THEN YOUR LOCAL ABC AFFILIATE TELLS YOU THAT IT IS SOMEHOW HARMFUL TO SHOW YOUR LOVED ONE?????

[wabeewoman]

23. Send this info

to your local newspapers too. This needs to get out to everyone that the repugs are censoring what you can see on TV. Imagine if the democrats were doing this-the outcry would be loud and long.

[rumguy]

24. The owners of Sinclair will burn in hell for their general evil

and treason to this country....

They are the scum of the earth in my book.

[G_j]

26. Local Paper reports on local outrage over Sinclair censorship

http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/news/54054

War dead list won't air locally

By Tonya and Ostendorff Maxwell, staff writersApril 29, 2004 10:44 p.m.

ASHEVILLE - Beth Whitener would rather the country see her husband's face and hear his name on national television than see his moment of remembrance get caught up in politics.

<snip>

Wally Bowen, a local media activist and executive director of the nonprofit Mountain Area Information Network, said it was another example of heavy-handed corporate censorship.
<snip>

The Citizen-Times was referred to Hyman, corporate relations director, Thursday after calling Sinclair's corporate offices. He did not return a message.

Hyman donated $2,061 to Republican State Central Committee of Maryland in 2000 according to the Federal Election Commission's Web site.

Sinclair also has a political action committee that has given $37,200 to Republican candidates since 1997. The company gave $2,600 to Democratic candidates over the same time span.

The donations included $5,000 to President Bush in 1999 and to $2,000 U.S. Rep. Richard Burr, R-N.C., in 2002. A question of politics

..more..