|
Broadcaster orders ABC affiliates not to air Nightline tribute to fallen troops
(CNN) -- Sinclair Broadcast Group on Thursday said it has ordered its eight ABC stations not to broadcast Friday's Nightline, which will air the names and photographs of the more than 500 U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war.
Sinclair's decision drew a sharp response from ABC News.
"We respectfully disagree with Sinclair's decision to pre-empt Nightline's tribute to America's fallen soldiers," ABC News said in a statement. "The Nightline broadcast is an expression of respect which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country."
At least 533 U.S. troops have been killed in action in the Iraq war; another 203 troops have died from non-hostile incidents.
Sinclair general counsel Barry Faber confirmed the company told its ABC affiliates not to air Friday's Nightline.
"We find it to be contrary to public interest," he said.
ABC disagreed. The network noted that on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks it aired the names and pictures of all those who died on that day.
"ABC News will continue to report on all facets of the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism in a manner consistent with the standards which ABC News has set for decades," it said.
The show, titled "The Fallen," will air at 11:35 p.m. Friday. In it, newsman Ted Koppel will read the names of the U.S. troops killed in action while their pictures are shown to viewers. ABC News will show the tribute live on its Jumbotron in Times Square.
Sinclair owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 62 stations in 39 markets, according to its Web site. Sinclair's television group includes 20 FOX, 19 WB, six UPN, eight ABC, three CBS, and four NBC affiliates, along with two independent stations, and reaches approximately 24 percent of all U.S. television households.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
