Stolen Honor' gripes do not threaten WLOS license

[George_S]

ASHEVILLE - Allegations of political bias surrounding a program about Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam War testimony will do little to threaten WLOS Channel 13's upcoming broadcast license renewal, say media experts.

Protesters argue that "Stolen Honor: Wounds that Never Heal" is little more than political wrangling by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, parent company of WLOS, meant to disparage Kerry days before the presidential election. Sinclair executives have called the program a "special news event" and say those attacking the show are pushing their own partisan agenda.

The Maryland-based company has announced it will pre-empt regular programming to air "Stolen Honor." Sinclair reaches 24 percent of homes nationwide through 62 television stations. Locally, the program is scheduled from 9 to 10 p.m. Oct. 22, bumping ABC's hit-rated show "Desperate Housewives."

....

That's unlikely, she said. Public pressure might stand a better chance to change programming, Packer said, noting CBS's decision last year to pull "The Reagans," a controversial mini-series about the first family.

By Wednesday afternoon, 595 e-mailed comments about "Stolen Honor" filled WLOS inboxes, with more arriving by the minute. The comments are public record and can be viewed in person by anyone at WLOS offices at 110 Technology Drive in Biltmore Park.

http://www.citizen-times.com/cache/article/regional/63138.shtml

[Rose Siding]

1. 596

http://www.wlos.com/

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. 597

and one to the FCC for good measure

[tkmorris]

4. 598

The FCC already has one from me on this. Perhaps I can top it and send another.

:evilgrin:

[depakid]

3. Stay tuned...

These so called "media experts" are DEAD WRONG.... but then, what do you expect? The American corporate media to rell the truth. Please.

[Misskittycat]

5. Done - preempting Desperate Housewives

is incredibly stupid. It's a very popular show. Wait till they hear the howling from that decision.

[MADem]

7. EXCELLENT APPROACH!

Play the dumb viewer, screw the politics, I want my DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES!!!!! They'll probably respond to those types of emails more quickly than anyone having issues with the politics of it all.

[Misskittycat]

8. I raised the poor programming issue as well as politics but

they sent a really nasty reply:

"We welcome your comments regarding the upcoming special news event featuring the topic of Americans held as prisoners of war in Vietnam. The program has not been videotaped and the exact format of this unscripted event has not been finalized. Characterizations regarding the content are premature and based on ill-informed sources. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry has been invited to participate. You can urge him to appear by calling his Washington, D.C. campaign headquarters at [phone]. You may call this station's parent company headquarters at 410-568-1780 if you would like to make further comments on this matter. Thank you."

I chose to reply to them directly. I wrote that their parent corporation was, indeed, going to get an "earful" and also when their license comes up for renewal, they're going to have a real fight on their hands.

[G_j]

6. I will be demonstrating at WLOS in a few hours

please check out this local website: www.sinclairwatch.net

We have been monitoring WLOS and WILL challenge their license renewal.