Sinclair Broadcasting Group: We're Proud of Our Censorship
From Sinclair stations won't air 'Nightline' (Baltimore Sun):The Sinclair Broadcast Group will yank Nightline from its seven ABC stations tonight because of a plan to devote the show to reading the names of the hundreds of American service members killed in Iraq, which Sinclair says is intended to damage support for U.S. actions there.
By pulling a news program from seven markets, Sinclair has entered an interesting realm. They've decided that news which does not support their political stance is no longer news. I find it chilling in the extreme that merely because a program, news or no, which appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq, it is unfit for air. I thought we got over the "free speech undermines our troops" argument with the Dale Petroskey stink bomb. I find this even more repugnant because network affiliates pay good money to be the exclusive carriers of a network's shows in a given market. Nobody else in town is allowed to show ABC content. I'd love to know if the nationwide ratings for Nightline will be higher because more people in other markets will now be inspired to watch exceeds those unable to do so because they're in one of the seven unlucky markets.
From a statement on Sinclair's home page: We understand that our decision in this matter may be questioned by some. Before you judge our decision, however, we would ask that you first question Mr. Koppel as to why he chose to read the names of 523 troops killed in combat in Iraq, rather than the names of the thousands of private citizens killed in terrorist attacks since and including the events of September 11, 2001.
The key difference in my mind is that people killed in terrorist attacks did not volunteer. Our military personnel volunteered for the ultimate sacrifice, and for that they deserve thanks, even when they're killed as part of an unnecessary action. There is also a vast difference between a terrorist attack and a war of choice created by chickenhawks of the highest order. The administration may not have known they were risking American lives on 9/11, but they definitely knew they were sending American men and women into a war zone with Iraq.
I called Sinclair Headquarters in Baltimore, but didn't get a person or a voicemail box because I didn't have the names of any executives in front of me. I called Sinclair's only Rochester station, which is Fox Rochester and left a complaint with their receptionist. She tried to give me the number of the local ABC affiliate, but I patiently explained that my complaint was with Sinclair, not ABC. I tried calling Sinclair again, intent on finding the voicemail of Barry Faber, but got a busy signal. When I called just now, the phone rang and rang, but never connected.
By pulling a news program from seven markets, Sinclair has entered an interesting realm. They've decided that news which does not support their political stance is no longer news. I find it chilling in the extreme that merely because a program, news or no, which appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq, it is unfit for air. I thought we got over the "free speech undermines our troops" argument with the Dale Petroskey stink bomb. I find this even more repugnant because network affiliates pay good money to be the exclusive carriers of a network's shows in a given market. Nobody else in town is allowed to show ABC content. I'd love to know if the nationwide ratings for Nightline will be higher because more people in other markets will now be inspired to watch exceeds those unable to do so because they're in one of the seven unlucky markets.
From a statement on Sinclair's home page: We understand that our decision in this matter may be questioned by some. Before you judge our decision, however, we would ask that you first question Mr. Koppel as to why he chose to read the names of 523 troops killed in combat in Iraq, rather than the names of the thousands of private citizens killed in terrorist attacks since and including the events of September 11, 2001.
The key difference in my mind is that people killed in terrorist attacks did not volunteer. Our military personnel volunteered for the ultimate sacrifice, and for that they deserve thanks, even when they're killed as part of an unnecessary action. There is also a vast difference between a terrorist attack and a war of choice created by chickenhawks of the highest order. The administration may not have known they were risking American lives on 9/11, but they definitely knew they were sending American men and women into a war zone with Iraq.
I called Sinclair Headquarters in Baltimore, but didn't get a person or a voicemail box because I didn't have the names of any executives in front of me. I called Sinclair's only Rochester station, which is Fox Rochester and left a complaint with their receptionist. She tried to give me the number of the local ABC affiliate, but I patiently explained that my complaint was with Sinclair, not ABC. I tried calling Sinclair again, intent on finding the voicemail of Barry Faber, but got a busy signal. When I called just now, the phone rang and rang, but never connected.