Yet another response from Sinclair Advertiser

[Ugnmoose]

I thought all of you would like to see this email response I just received. Hey folks - it is working. Keep bombarding them with emails and phone calls.


Dear Valued Lowe’s Customer,

Thank you for your comment regarding concerns about advertising on the Sinclair Broadcasting network. Lowe’s does not advertise in political programming. We will not advertise within this political documentary, nor will the company’s local advertising appear anytime during the day this documentary airs.

As far as advertising on the Sinclair group of stations as a whole, Lowe’s advertising agency is in contact with Sinclair to learn more about the program, and our company will make a decision about future advertising at a later time.

Lowe’s has a strict company policy specifying that its advertising is not to run in controversial programming. The company advertises primarily in national, network prime-time television programs and on select local stations and cable outlets. Because Sinclair owns 62 television stations reaching 24 percent of all television households, some Lowe’s advertising may appear on those stations from time to time, but again, not in close proximity to the controversial documentary you mentioned.

We appreciate your contacting us, and hope this information addresses your concerns.\

Lowe’s Customer Care

[mac56]

1. Remember at all times: advertisers hate controversy.

The bigger they are, the more they hate it.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Excellent! Kudos to Lowe's!

[troublemaker]

11. WTF? Kudos????

They are bragging about not running ads during a commercial free broadcast?

Thanks for nothing!

The point is that they should not advertise on any Sinclair station. Ever. Period.

That's like, "We only sponser KKK bake sales. We do not sponsor their cross-burnings"

[liveoaktx]

3. This is a dodge- NOBODY is running commercials for that sludge

But if they advertise on the other 23 hours of programming, they are SUPPORTING Sinclair.

[jtb33]

5. Good catch!

I was going to mention that as well... there won't be any ads during the time period that the "Stolen Honor" program runs.

[progdonkey]

6. read it again

We will not advertise within this political documentary, nor will the company’s local advertising appear anytime during the day this documentary airs.

[liveoaktx]

8. The point isn't that DAY, or that MONTH, it's that the company is

complicitly, by running advertising with Sinclair at any time henceforth, supporting a station that is unethical and possibly illegal.

Look: Suppose you went down to your grocery store and found a big sign in the front that said KKK Rally on Tuesday. The local chamber of commerce also has a sign in the window, but decides not to put the sign in the window on that Tuesday. Wouldn't you wonder why the Chamber of Commerce, AT ALL, is choosing to advertise with a grocery store that is racist?

[RafterMan]

9. Agreed. It's lame

One whole day? What a sacrifice.

[cheshire]

4. Great news. I've seen several now.I wish it was permanent.

[WVRevy]

7. And another:

Hello!
Thank you for taking the time to contact us at PepsiCo. Accurate and
balanced journalism is important to us, and we appreciate your thoughts
regarding Sinclair Broadcasting Group's upcoming plans.
We have no national advertising buys scheduled with Sinclair
Broadcasting, nor do we plan to advertise on the program in question.
We will also make our bottlers aware of this situation and share these
concerns so they can take them into consideration as they plan their
local marketing efforts. We will follow the resolution of this issue
closely.
Given your concerns, we also would suggest that you communicate your
views directly to Sinclair Broadcasting Group's President and Chief
Executive Officer, David D. Smith. He can be contacted at Sinclair
Broadcasting Group, 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, or
via email at [email protected]
Again, many thanks for bringing this to our attention. We value your
comments, and equally, the constructive spirit in which they are
offered.

-Pepsi-Cola Company

[harpo]

10. If they give money to Sinclair...FUCK 'em!

I don't care when they advertise or how they do it. If they give money to those slimebags...they are getting called and nagged and emailed and talked about.

[annabanana]

12. Sinclair is running it with NO PAID ADS...

We have to make it clear that advertising on ANY Sinclair station, regardless of the time slot, is grounds for boycott.

(Maybe we should offer a truce if they agree to also run "Fahrenheit 9/11" or "Going Up River: the Long War of John Kerry")

[TexasSissy]

14. We can't arrange to show a movie we don't own.

F9/11 is not going to show for free, is what I gather.

[harpo]

16. we're showing it for free :)

I don't think MM would come and fine me for it...hell he can come and help in the great state of TEXAS!

[harpo]

15. if they have a commercial on Sinclair...fuck 'em

I don't care if they bought it from the parent company...blahblahblbhalbhablah...fuck 'em

[TexasSissy]

13. Hey, Lowe's isn't on the list of advertisers I have. Where did you

get their name as an advertiser, mind if I ask?

[KharmaTrain]

17. Lowes Supports Democrats

Unlike Home Despot that is one of Bunnypants' Rangers (so is Anheiser-Busch, Cardinal fans), Lowes has a strong record of contributions to Democrats.

I felt this was a very good response from the company. Unfortunately, Lowes needs to buy advertising on Sinclair stations to reach all the homes in the market...especially in places where that company owns two major network affiliates. It's dealing with the devil, and the response says they will not only refuse to advertise on the show but during the entire broadcast day...that could mean a bunch of money to Sinclair. I think it's a very positive gesture!

Also, the letter explains that there may be Lowes commercials on programming they don't control...for example if they purchase commercials on an ABC program that airs on a Sinclair station that breaks away from the regular ABC programming to air the Slimeboat crap. This explains that if you see a commercial in and around that program from Lowes, it most probably could be from a network or other source, not directly from THAT Sinclair station.

I admire Lowes and will drive the extra 30 miles to do my business with them. I'm going to email this person and thank them for their response and I strongly suggest other DU members do the same. We need to applaud our friends.

Cheers!