Pgh Post Gazette: Sinclair advertisers face boycott over Kerry film

[RamboLiberal]

This is not the Scaife-owned paper-some DU'ers in past got it wrong.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04289/396184.stm

Here are some recent developments arising from Sinclair Broadcast Group's decision to order its 62 stations -- including WPGH 53 and WCWB 22 in Pittsburgh -- to air the John Kerry-bashing film "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal" two weeks before the election.

<snip>

Boycott response: As of yesterday no advertisers had announced withdrawal of their ads from Sinclair. Sylvan Learning Center, which, like Sinclair, is based in Maryland, said in a statement that its advertising strategy "is in no way supportive of any political party of agenda."

At Cadbury Schweppes, makers of 7UP -- the first product on the posted list of advertisers -- a beleaguered-sounding operator said she'd received "hundreds and hundreds" of calls about the boycott. Operators at Colgate-Palmolive and General Mills said they had been fielding numerous complaints, but the companies did not return calls seeking comment.

In Pittsburgh, WPGH station manager Alan Frank also did not respond to a request to comment on the boycott, but the receptionist, who identified herself only as Fran, said the phone had been ringing quite a bit on the subject. "A lot of them are repeat callers," she said. "I recognize their voices, and they say the same things, like they're reading off a script."

Oh and joy, Cheneying joy, cause Pittsburgh has two Sinclair stations we get two airdates. Cheneyers!

[napi21]

1. I never watched either chanel when I lived in Pgh.

I don't remember, but I think 53 is the FOX chanel there. Aren't they just preaching to the chior?

I guess Sylvan Centers are franchises, because I read an email that was posted on Du yesterday that said Sylvan was pulling their ads. Must be a local thing.

[movonne]

2. I guess these advertisers feel it will blow over....What I find

so outrageous is that it is just lies and bringing trying to bring down a hero, as they did with Clinton and taking a great president and making him less....and awol gets rave reviews...It really puts me in a rage.

[cdsilv]

3. Adv pulled ads in P'cola FL

the largest advertiser for the sinclair station here in P'cola - WEAR, has pulled their ads until after 11/2 - no link, saw it here earlier today...

[booksenkatz]

8. You're right, this is a pre-impeachment.

They're starting early this time.
:mad:

[Zorra]

4. Isn't Sinclair already financial trouble?

Almost seems like Sinclair is just a republican media shill group rather than a corporation intent on making a profit.

"News Central" or is it "News Speak"?

It would really be a good thing for the United States if we could make this company go bankrupt and go out of business. This may not be nice but this company is truly abusing our public airwaves in a very malicious manner.

They deserve it. I am boycotting all Sinclair advertisers.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

From there, the company embarked on a mission to get “as many TV stations as we can,” in the words of Smith, and as of 2004 Sinclair owns more television stations than any other company in the United States, reaching nearly 25 percent of all households. The four sons of the company founder still control about 95 percent of Sinclair.

From 1999 to 2000, in an effort to recover financially, Sinclair sold all of its radio holdings, including 55 stations, to Entercom Communications for $920 million, thus making the company all-TV. Despite the sale, the company is still wrestling with significant debt. Sinclair is No. 8 by revenue among the top broadcast television companies, according to Broadcasting & Cable magazine’s annual ranking, despite having the most stations: revenues of about $756 million for 2002 are a fraction of the $2.3 billion that News Corp., with only 35 stations, pulled in.

As Sinclair has continually added stations, its role has become increasingly that of a content provider rather than a straight distributor.

In 2002, Sinclair created News Central to manage news operations for all of its stations from a central location. The company prides itself on being an alternative to mainstream news media, broadcasting its own content under the name “News Central.” The company’s vice president for corporate relations, Mark Hyman, provides daily commentaries during broadcasts.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/telecom/analysis/CompanyProfile.aspx?HOID=22261

[Jandar]

5. Doesn't Carlyle Group own Cadbury Schweppes?

or at least have a controlling interest in the company, I don't think they will be very sympathetic to threats of a boycott.

[Brundle_Fly]

6. isn't this a grand opportunity?

to start some real changes about the way media is completely bastardized in the U.S. I mean this is not a new thing, but the focus is really on Sinclair. I think the focus should be expanded to take down the larger conglomerates, FOX, Clear Channel etc...The time is right, O'reilly is in trouble, it's time to act.

WHO WILL LEAD THE REVOLUTION??!!


*returns to laZyboy*

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. If this article is still accurate

then it's not a controlling interest in Cadbury Schweppes itself, but in the distribution company for Dr. Pepper and 7 Up. Whether they control the marketing in Pennsylvania isn't clear (that bottling company doesn't distribute over the whole of the USA).

http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2004/03/1686424.php