Monitoring Your Local Sinclair Station...

[KharmaTrain]

There's two types of advertiser...national and local, and it'd be good to differentiate who they are and how best to let them know our displeasure.

The national ones spend the most money, the local ones make the most noise. A good example are the scenes in Private Parts with the manic sales guys screaming about how they were losing accounts.

If possible, it'd be great to set up market or regional threads where folks can put the names of businesses that advertise on Sinclair stations, contacts, websites and other ways for us to drop in and say hello.

It's not hard to catch who these people are...usually the local commercials are sandwiched between shows (top & half hours) and in the huge clusters around the newscasts...ALL of 'em. Tuning in between 11:30-11:35 (5 solid commercial minutes on most stations) could yeild a lot of local names.

Feel free to post your monitorings here so we can get a clearer picture on what's going on in your city.

Cheers!

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. I started a thread in the WI forum

for the Madison station Fox47.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=186x2385
The third post has contact info and the results of some of my calls. I only watched the station for a little while this morning, though, so I'm hoping we can expand the list of advertisers and get people calling.

OBVIOUSLY, I'd appreciate help in making calls, since I don't seem to be getting a lot of push on that thread. If anyone, ANYWHERE, wants to make calls... well, feel free! Area Code 608.

[NVMojo]

2. done!

and be sure to sign this and pass it on!

http://www.stopsinclair.org/index.php

[KharmaTrain]

3. Please Keep Me/Us Informed Here

Problem with the state folders is having to manuever around this place...especially those on dial-ups. If you could give us a rundown of what folks are posting there, that'd be very appreciated.

[Lefta Dissenter]

4. my pleasure!

and it's only been about two weeks since I said my final farewell to dialup. I can't BELIEVE what a different experience the InternetS are! :D I feel like a new woman (and always feel like the last one to take the plunge).

[LeftyMom]

5. KOVR advertisers list

These are the advertisers I caught on channel 13 in Sacramento between 10pm and midnight on Monday October 11th. They are in order of first airing, asterisked items were advertised multiple times. Let's stay on this one, this is one of Sinclair's best stations, it's a real live big three network station in the #19 market in the country.

It's too late tonight for me to get contact info or to translate the product names into the info for the appropraite companies, I will take care of that in the am. If somebody wants to post contact info for some of these companies before I get around to it, I'd appreciate it, otherwise I'll add them into tmorrow as time permits.

WalMart*
Apple (I-pod)
Hyundai
Mervyns
Cache Creek Casino
Sleep Train Mattress Centers
Crysler
Jenny Craig
Johnsonville Sausages
105.1 KNCI
Yoplait yogurt
Mike Machado for Congress*
Comcast*
Mercury Insurance Group
Les Schwab Tires
Hometown Buffet
Yes on Prop 71
Roseville Toyota
Mix 96
Honda*
Target*
Gary Podesto for Senate*
Circuit City
Sutter Health
Subway
Yes on 64
California Ford dealers*
Thunder Valley Casino
Bryant Heating and Cooling
The Day After Tomorrow (I didn't catch which studio etc is behind the movie)
Jimmy Dean Sausage
Toyota*
Ameriquest
Mercedes
Great American Mortgage
Acura
Trojan
Applebees
GMC
Subaru
AAA
Taco Bell
Men's Warehouse
No on 68
Nyquil
Bounty Paper Towels
Extra Gum
Cadilac
Citi Small Business Card
Expedia.com
Levi's
Jack in the Box

[KharmaTrain]

6. Let Me See If We Can Seperate Local vs. National Spots:

Checking your list, these are ones I didn't recognize as possible national advertiser...these all look local.

Mervyns
Cache Creek Casino
Sleep Train Mattress Centers
105.1 KNCI
Mike Machado for Congress*
Mercury Insurance Group
Les Schwab Tires
Hometown Buffet
Yes on Prop 71
Roseville Toyota
Mix 96
Gary Podesto for Senate*
Sutter Health
Yes on 64
California Ford dealers*
Thunder Valley Casino
Bryant Heating and Cooling
No on 68

Do you know who those political advertisements are for? Are those candidates Democrats or Repugnicans and are those propositions non-partisan or who is behind those? This is very important and could come in extremely handy later.

Just on this list alone, you can see a bunch of the locals who can now be contacted...politely...about how you are monitoring this station and saw their advertisement. I'd then mention some of the very basics of how this is a Sinclair-owned station and you're investigating how the station serves the Sacramento area and the advertisers that support them.

Most advertisers hate being tied to a controversy, especially a local one. Also, if you can pass this list to others in town and they drop an email or stop in and "say hello" and say they're familiar with the controversy, this could also have some positive effects.

Thank-you for your posting...this is a start. Sinclair has dozens of stations operating in similar fashions across the country. If they lose one or two advertiser on each station from this action, it's gonna hurt the national corporation more than the local station.

Cheers

[blue neen]

7. I'm going to force myself to watch the 5:00 news broadcast on

WPGH-Fox in Pittsburgh so I can get a list of local advertisers.
I will give you the info later on. I contacted some of the national advertisers yesterday and the station itself.

[KharmaTrain]

8. If You Have A VCR or TIVO

Save yourself the agony...record the local newscasts...most do several hours in the morning (5am-7am), noontime (11am-1pm), afternoon (5pm-7:30pm) and night (11-11:35pm)...plus some also rerun the 11:00 news following the late night shows and run different advertisers (cheapies).


Also, take a prowl on their website...many offer "value added" banner ads on their site. Also in their "about us" or "sales" area, some include lists of advertisers as well.

Thanks for your post

[blue neen]

13. It turns out that WPGH-Fox does not have a 5p.m. news broadcast.

I was able to get these advertisers listed during the Maury Povich Show:

America's Dairy Farmers---3aday.org

LA Weight Loss Centers---800-526-SLIM

The Art Institute---aip.artinstitues.edu.

Duff's Business Institute---duffsinstitute.com

[LeftyMom]

9. the political ads

Machado is a Dem. Barbara Boxer also appears in the ad. We could probably get them to pull thier ad but that may be shooting ourselves in the foot.
Here's his office, I can't find any campaign contact info.
State Capitol, Room 3086
Sacramento, CA 95814
[phone]
Fax [phone]
[email protected]

Podesto is a Republican running on his record of having redeveloped Stockton. He 's trying to look like a centrist, so he might be a good target.
Podesto for Senate
[phone] Tel
[phone] Fax
P.O. Box 693533
Stockton, CA
95269-3533

Yes on 64
Supported mostly by business groups
www.stopshakedownlawsuits.com
phone [phone]
fax [phone]
3001 Douglas Blvd Suite 225
Roseville, CA 95661

Yes on 68
bipartisan, public safety orgs
www.stop68.com
1 [phone]
[email protected]

Yes on 71
bipartisan, patient advocacy and hospitals
www.yesonprop71.com
[email protected]
1 (800) 931-CURE

If there's a database or central thread for advertise info could somebody copy all this there? Thanks! :)

[KharmaTrain]

10. Great Work

Obviously these folks will disappear from the tube in a couple weeks and, yes, you don't want to hurt a Democrat...especially one going for a House seat. I'm involved in stealing one from the GOOP so I know this too well. The Proposition (gotta love California) are generally ballanced as they're both financed from on high.

Now, it'd be interesting to compare the Machado and Podesto spots for where they are placed...and might be worth a visit to the station to find out what rates they were charged. This has to be disclosed on FEC forms...if not, Houston we have a problem.

The local businesses are the ones I would like to focus on long-term as these are the folks that Sinclair will need in January when the holiday buys end and they have to live off the "fat of the locals" until Easter/Spring.

Again, thank you for all you've done...hopefully others can join us.

[LeftyMom]

11. more contact info

Other Advertisers

Mervyns
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-MERVYNS
Headquarters Address:
Mervyn's
Guest Services and Stores
22301 Foothill Blvd.
Mailstop 2115
Hayward, CA 94541

Cache Creek
Marketing Office: [phone]
Location: 14455 Highway 16 (at the corner of Wintun Road)
Brooks, California 95606
Our Mailing Address: P.O. Box 65,
Brooks, California
95606-0065 USA
Telephone Numbers: [phone] General Information
[phone] Toll Free California
[phone] Toll Free Nationwide
[phone] Facsimile


Sleep Train
If you have any questions or suggestions,
please contact us at:
[email protected]
or send your e-mail directly to Dale Carlsen,
President of Sleep Train at:
[email protected]
Corporate HQ 916-575-1462


105.1 KNCI (an Infinity broadcasting station)
5244 Madison Avenue,
Sacramento California, 95841
Business phone number(916) 338-9200

Mercury Insurance Group (Need an email or other immediate contact as well, still looking)
To report concerns or issues to Mercury's Board of Directors, please send written correspondence to the following:
Mercury General Corporation
Attention: Chairman of the Board of Directors
Post Office Box 36662
Los Angeles, CA 90036
To report concerns or issues to Mercury's Non-Management Board of Directors, please send written correspondence to the following:
Mercury General Corporation
Attention: Lead Independent Director
Post Office Box 36662
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Les Schwab
Having a very hard time finding a corporate contact number or address.
If someone else tracks this one down please share it.

Hometown Buffet (Buffets, inc)
Buffets, Inc. 1460 Buffet Way, Eagan, MN 55121
1-651-994-8608

Roseville Toyota
John L. Sullivan's Roseville Toyota 350 Automall Drive, Roseville, CA 95661
[phone]

Mix 96 (another Infinity station)
KYMX/Mix 96, 280 Commerce Circle, Sacramento, CA 95815
[phone]

Sutter Health
Sutter Health - Main Office
24-hour number
916-733-8800
Administration
916-286-6840
Communications
916-286-6770
2200 River Plaza Dr Sacramento, CA 95833

California Ford Dealers
I was unable to find contact info for who does the collective ad buys. We could try contactind local dealers individually.

Thunder Valley Casino
1200 Athens Avenue, Lincoln CA 95648
916/408-7777
run by Sation Casinos, inc. 1-800-6-STATIONS

Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems
ACLS, Dept. 8110-095
108 Metropolitan Drive
Liverpool, NY 13088 USA
Toll Free Phone: 888-999-BRYANT
Web: www.bryant.com


Whew! I had to look all over the internets (and even in the phone book) get all that. Time for everybody out there to DU your thing.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Whew...You Did Do A Lot Of Digging...

If you'll see most of these places are either in or near your area. Did you attempt to talk or contact any of these people? Maybe a very nicely worded, hi, saw your commercial on Ch. 13 will get their attention...the express your concerns that this station is owned by Sinclair and you find their use of these stations for political purposes disturbing...and that you hope they don't support this use, too.

The irony is those radio stations are owned by Inifinty, which is a subsidiary of CBS!

Looks like the media eye is starting to glare at Sinclair a bit...but many of these local companies may brush all this off thinking folks in the area either support the showing of this garbage or that no one connects their advertising with the station...(I've encountered business managers who didn't even know they were advertising...LOL)

Again, thank you for all your efforts.

[ExBuffguy]

14. Sinclair...

I realize that this posting will probably get me banned because there can be no dissension, but I am sick and tired of contentious politics.

What is the difference between Sinclair's broadcast of a "documentary" about Sen. Kerry and CBS' broadcast of "documentary" evidence about Pres. Bush? From my view point, they are one in the same. CBS was trying to influence the election by posting fraudulent documents and Sinclair is trying to influence it by showing an unsubstantiated "documentary".

Please, someone, explain the difference without resorting to "Because the Republicans are a--holes". Because that isn't much of an argument.

Thanks.

[KharmaTrain]

15. If You Can Speak In Facts & Objectively There's No Problem

I enjoy seeing all sides of an issue and learn as much from the opposite view as my own.

I'll answer your question if you answer mine and to try to keep the rhetoric and partisanship to a minimum.

You ask What is the difference between Sinclair's broadcast of a "documentary" about Sen. Kerry and CBS' broadcast of "documentary" evidence about Pres. Bush?

Let's look at this in the context of how they're presented. The 60 Minutes segment on Bush's military records was part of a continuing series...a known news program that has long been known for hard investigations of incumbent politicians, and I'll admit Republicans have gotten a rougher treatment, but IMHO, they deserved it.

There's never been any proof of Rather's intentions to do a piece deliberately to attack Bush, in fact, the focus of the piece was 5 questions Rather had regarding the controversy of missing records of Bush's millitary service. My question to you is why weren't those 5 simple questions answered, or even addressed. Instead, we got an sideshow about fonts and forged documents that were far from germaine about those questions and Bush's suspect military record.

With Kerry, there is unimpeached records of his military record, documented for over 35 years by the Dept. of the Navy and never, ever questioned. The Swiftboat group based it's assertions on second-hand and third-hand hearsay...and those who they claimed had first-hand knowledge were thoroughly impeached. If this had been a trial, the case would have been tossed for insufficient evidence.

Sinclair's "special presentation" is not a regularly scheduled news program or even part of a continuing series. I dare to say that outside of carrying their fluff-filled 30 & 60 minute newscasts, there's precious little outside "news" programming this company does.

Lastly, if they feel there's a need to question Kerry's military positions (and that's what it is...and another topic), isn't the same applicable about Bush? Can't we finally see his official discharge...the DD214, or can someone explain what happened to it? Can you tell us why all his past records have been sealed by executive order? If Sinclair dedicated the same amount of time to investigate these questions, would you think that's fair?

Your argument is an apples/oranges one and lacks perspective and is stated far simplier than these issues really are.

By the tenor of your post, I sense you really would like to dialogue and I would as well.

Let me welcome you to Democratic Underground and, as a longtime member, I know that as long as you express your thoughts sincerely...especially in a forum such as this, that isn't that busy, we all may learn thing.

Life goes on after November 2nd, and I'd sure like to see it turn for the better no matter who wins.

Cheers!

[ExBuffguy]

16. RE:If You Can Speak In Facts & Objectively There's No Problem

Thank you. I appreciate you extremely thoughtful response. I got into a discussion with some friends yesterday about the trend in life in general and politics in specific toward hatefulness. It is driving people crazy. I would so much rather discuss than yell.

I can see your point. I will have to re-read and digest it. Thank you again.

[KharmaTrain]

17. Thank You As Well...

To say how tired I am of the rhetorical shrillness in this country is an understatement. Since '98 it has seemed like a non-stop war that has resulted in a more divided, not united nation.

The sad thing is the degree of seperation between most of us is not that great at all. We all come from similar common experiences, just our views are now from seperate places and instead of meeting in the middle and discussing, we stay on our side and try to outshout one another. I'm way tired of that.

I used to participate in "non-partisan" boards...or so I thought, hoping for an exchange like you suggest. While there would be a brave soul now and then that would debate on known facts and fariness, they were shouted down by others who hurled every slur they could not only at me, but at him as well.

I appreciate you coming here to try to reach out, and I'd welcome a dialogue...even on a third-party board, and guarantee I'll always listen and respect your opinions as long as you'll afford me the same respect.

Regarding Sinclair and this issue, I'm curious to your responses once you've digested them. In my world there are no blacks & whites, no absolutes, just lots of colors and shades.

If you don't feel comfortable replying here or may have met the mighty DU tombstone (I truly hope that hasn't happened), please email me at [email protected] and we can go from there.

Cheers and thank-you for making the overture! It's very much appreciated at this time & place.

[ExBuffguy]

18. Wow...

Sorry it took so long for me to get back. School and work, work and school, and family in between.

Sinclair, dead issue now, but while I still don't necessarily agree with your position, I respect it.

Tough fight this Tuesday. Long night.

I agree about the non-partisan boards. I started on boards on the right, then moved to the middle. Then to here. Everywhere I go, it's ugly. No one wants to discuss, everyone wants to shout down dissent. And while this country has a history of passionate politics (thinking of Thaddeus Stevens in the mid-1800s), this isn't passion. It's hatred. I have restricted myself to classic rock and sports on the radio. Can't listen to NPR or the local stations any more. It's just to nasty.

You know, maybe you and I can start a new party. The Ears party. A group of people who will actually listen to each other. We can be on either side of the aisle and still respect each other.

What a concept!!

Hope to hear from you. My ears are open.

Granny