I wish I had known that there was going to be a protest at the local ABC affiliate, I would have gone down and shot some pictures to put up here. So much for avoiding "work" at work. Here is an interesting statement made by the Sinclair Broadcasting Group's counsel:
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 said that on the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it aired the names and pictures of all those who died on that day.
...
"Mr. Koppel and 'Nightline' are hiding behind this so-called tribute in an effort to highlight only one aspect of the war effort and in doing so to influence public opinion against the military action in Iraq," the statement said.
According to campaign finance records, four of Sinclair's top executives each have given the maximum campaign contribution of $2,000 to the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.
So a couple of thoughts here, since Senator McCain is runs a [ahem] highly influential Senate Committee, why doesn't he just drop a bug in the ear of the FCC commissioners when Sinclair's licenses come up for renewal? At this point, I'd say Sinclair Broacasting Group having public licenses to broadcast counts as being contrary to the public interest...you know, in that old-fashioned democracy sense and all.
And in the Flying Pigs Department, why doesn't he RNC/1600 Crew reelection committee give the SBG folks their money back? That would be a great statement if they were serious about real "freedom of the press", nah, a tainted buck is a tainted buck...it's all the same to them.
posted by Jo Fish on 05.01.04 at 01:03 AM
Comments:
This is the official statement on the web site for WEAR TV in Pensacola {www.weartv.com}
" Viewers of eight A-B-C stations, including W-E-A-R, won't be able to see tonight's ''Nightline'' program.
Ted Koppel plans to read the names of more than 700 US soldiers, killed in Iraq. Sinclair Broadcast Group *owns and makes executive decisions for its stations, and is pre-empting the program, on the grounds that Nightline will contain anti-war propaganda."
Honoring the dead is now propaganda.
posted by: Bryan on 05.01.04 at 02:33 AM [permalink]
Personally I find the last episode of Friends to be contrary to public interest.
