Customers hound Fox advertisers Restaurants pull Channel 47 ads

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.madison.com/toolbox/index.php?action=printme2&ref=tct&storyURL=%2Ftct%2Fnews%2Findex.php%3Fntid%3D14032%26ntpid%3D0

One local business has decided to pull its ads from WMSN/Channel 47 in the wake of the station's decision to air an anti-John Kerry documentary next week.

The owners of the Paisan's and Porta Bella restaurants said that after receiving about a dozen complaints about the program, "we just decided that we didn't want to jeopardize losing any customers over this," said owner Jerry Meier.

He was among several business owners who said they have received numerous calls from patrons upset that they advertise on Channel 47.

Channel 47 is one of 62 stations nationwide owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. that are being forced to pre-empt regular programming to air "Stolen Honor: Wounds that Never Heal." The show will air here on Oct. 22.

[RedEarth]

1. great.....hit them in the pocket book

[prolesunited]

2. Keep the pressure on DUers

Proof that it is working!

[otohara]

3. Bravo - If I Lived In Madison

I would go eat at these places in support of their decission. Wise move for a small business owner.

Unfortunately the biggie corporations will stay on, one, because ia boycot won't really impact them, two: freeper types will embrace them for not backing down.

[Lefta Dissenter]

5. I just wrote our Unity Group

encouraging them to write letters of support, and more importantly, to SPEND MONEY at Paisans and Porta Bella. Of course, those places are pretty popular, anyway...

I'm waiting for American TV to make their decision... that must be a pretty big contract. They do a lot of advertising, though I don't know how much on Fox47, which I don't really watch. But when I wrote to AmTV, I was able to say that we're still using the couches and coffee table that we bought in their store more than 25 years ago! :) (that tells you the condition of our couches) Of course, I don't shop there really any more, but they don't have to know that...

[otohara]

12. Applause

and Yeah!

[Lizzie Borden]

15. Doncha just love living

in Madison? We need to go after American Family Ins. too. They're on the list.

[jugami]

19. Is there a term for a "reverse boycott"?

I hate shopping at American TV but I would not mind making a purchase there if they do pull their ads. Of course I would let them know that I have preferred to do my business elsewhere in the past but appreciate their actions and am glad to do business with them today. I frequent Paisan's and PortaBella anyway but I won;t hesitate to let them know the next I'm there how much I appreciate their actions.

[drdtroit]

20. You mean thise cheap M-F-ing freepers

who stiffed all the waitresses and bartenders when those self absorbed POS's were in NYC?

[sybylla]

4. I'm not in Madison but I eat at Paisans every time I get to town

I was so disappointed to see that they were on the advertisers list. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that they have made this decision. It is my favorite place to eat in the Mad City.

[Chimpanzee]

6. I'll eat at Portabellas tonight

I'll make sure to let the manager know why...

[sybylla]

13. You lucky monkey, you.

Welcome to DU! Nice to see another friendly DUer from Wisconsin.

[Chimpanzee]

14. Thank you!!

Where do you live?

[sybylla]

21. Lived in Mad City for 8 years while hubby went to college

After he graduated we just stayed there. His engineering degree isn't highly sought outside the metro areas and we really didn't want to leave the state. He had a chance to take a job back home near our families in 1990 so now we live smack-dab in the middle of the state in eastern Clark County. Its a very rural area and nearly all our neighbors are Amish. Talk about moving from one end of the social spectrum to the other. On your average day you can hear the clip-clop of horses hooves more than a mile away. There isn't much you can hear more than a block away in Madison except sirens. We love it and our neighbors are wonderful. Unfortunately, most of the non-Amish are pukes.

I miss Paisans and being able to have supper delivered when I don't feel like cooking. I get to Madison a couple of times a year with my hubby for Dem stuff or with friends to pursue some genealogical threads at the Historical Society Library - which is only a block or so from Paisans so we always stop for supper.

Enjoy your dinner at Portabella's. I'll be thinking about you while I'm tossing a frozen pizza in the oven.

[progressiveBadger]

17. Me too

I remember waiting in two hour lines to eat there on Valentine's day. Ah the memories... I can't wait to move back!

[sybylla]

22. And when will that be?

I hope your not moving back in time for the nasty cold weather.

[Carolab]

7. Setting up the boycott

Setting up the Sinclair boycott

Posted by Jan on October 13, 2004 @ 11:04AM

The Internet is an incredible tool for building instant movements and campaigns. Remember the 0-1000 mph in two seconds success of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth? Well, the media reform adocacy group Free Press has launched its three-step campaign to express outrage at your local Sinclair station for its decision to air the anti-Kerry program, "Stolen Honor." Its very simple. You type in your zip code and it gives the contact information for your local station. The Free Press also gives a script for what to say to the station:


What to say: Sinclair stations use public airwaves free of charge, and are required by law to serve the public interest. One-sided programs like "Stolen Honor" do not, and are harmful to our democracy. Please do not air "Stolen Honor," or if you do, please be sure to air a pro-Kerry program like "Going Upriver" shortly after. Thank you.

Step 2 is registering your opinion with the FCC, and step three is to tell your friends about the project.

Josh Micah Marshall has a different approach, which is to call the sales managers (the folks who deal with advertising revenue) at local stations and tell them about your decision to call their local advertisers. Here is Marshall's account of what happened when he talked to a sales manager in Cincinatti:
He was really concerned when I read him a list of local adverstisers and said I'd be calling their advertising managers to express my displeasure that they choose to advertise on a Sinclair station. He practically begged me not to, saying "this involves people's livelihoods." And then I did call the local advertisers.

http://www.alternet.org/election04/2004/10/002565.html

[NJmaverick]

8. We need to keep up the pressure on these scumbags

Go after their advertiser in every way possible!

[Charles19]

9. Link to email a large chunk of the advertisers

http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/default.aspx

remember to be nice, they probably all think airing propaganda like that is as unethical as we do.

[JPZenger]

10. The Non-Owned Stations are Most Open to Persuasion

Of the 62 stations, most are not owned by Sinclair. Instead, they are only programmed by them. Those stations are the ones that are the most subject to pressure. The real owners of those stations need to be persuaded that the ideology of Sinclair's owners is threatening their investment. One station in Tallahassee has already said they would not follow Sinclair's orders.

If you contact advertisers, PLEASE be polite. The advertisers are not the enemy - they should be allies. I suggest trying to convince them that it is in their best business interests to avoid anything that is politically divisive - because so many people are so angry. Instead, the advertisers should quietly avoid advertising and then let the station sales managers know why. We are not trying to convince the advertisers that Kerry is right, only that they should avoid divisive politics and slanted programming.

I suggest that we not post responses from the advertisers unless they are adversarial or give their permission. Otherwise, some advertisers who avoid Sinclair may feel the effects of a counter-boycott from right-wing nuts.

[Carolab]

11. Here's a full list of Sinclair advertisers

http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/

7Up 1-800-527-7096 Website [e-mail]
America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses 800-411-1162 Website
American Family Insurance 608-249-2111 Website
Applebee’s International, Inc. [phone] [phone] Website [e-mail]
Arby's 1-800-487-2729 Website
AZO Products - PolyMedica Corporation [phone] Website [e-mail]
Best Buy 1-888-BEST BUY 612-292-4000 612-291-1000 Website [e-mail]
Betty Crocker 1-800-446-1898 Website
Big Lots [phone] Website [e-mail]
Blue Cross of NC 919-489-7431 Website
Bob's Auto Repair [phone] Website
Brinker International [phone] Website [e-mail]
CDI College 866-569-2934 Website
Chaplin Papa & Gonet 804-643-0133 804-285-7500 804-276-5800 Website
Chili's Grill and Bar 800-983-4637 Website
CiCi's Pizza 972-745-4200 Website [e-mail]
Circuit City 800-251-2665 Website [e-mail]
CNS, Inc. /Breathe Right 1-952-229-1500 Website
Cochran Law Firm 1 800 LAW-HELP Website
Colgate-Palmolive 212-310-2000 800-468-6502 Website [e-mail]
Concerned Patient Hotline 1-800-CPADVICE Website
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services = April Lewis 9544843328x9344 Website [e-mail]
Corona Website [e-mail]
Covance Inc. 609-452-4440 Website
Discount Tire [phone] 800-589-6789 Website
Dodge 1-800-992-1997 Website
Domino's Pizza 734-930-3030 Website [e-mail]
Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc 914 612 4000 Website [e-mail]
Dunkin' Donuts 781-961-4020 Website [e-mail]
Educate, Inc. (Sylvan) [phone] fx?410 843-6145 Website
Einstein PCS Website
Elizabeth Arden Salon Holdings, Inc. 1-800-592-7336 Website [e-mail]
ESL Federal Credit Union [phone] [phone] Website
Fazoli's 1-859-268-1668 Website
Florida Lottery 1-850-487-7727 Website [e-mail]
Ford Motor Company 800-392-3673 Website
FreeStyle Flash 510-749-5400 Website
Geico 1-800-824-5404 Website [e-mail]
General Mills [phone] 612-540-7092 Website [e-mail]
Gillette Company 1-800-GILLETTE Website
Glaxo Smith Kline 1 888 825 5249 Website
GMC 1-800-462-8782 Website
Harrah's Casino 1-800-HARRAHS Website
Hyundai 800-826 CARS local dealer Website
Iams Pet Food [phone] Website
IDT 1-800-667-5401 Website
Injury Helpline 1-800-560-5516 Website
International Academy of Design Technology 1-866-425-5449 Website
Invention Submission Corporation 1-888-648-IDEA Website
Irondequoit Suzuki 585-338-2900 Website
ISC-Invention Submission Corp. 1-800-203-IDEA Website
ITT Tech [phone] Website
ITT Tech 317-706-9200 Website
JetBlue Airlines 913-645-3267 Website
Jim Barkley Toyota 828-667-8888 Website
Johnson & Johnson 1-800-355-3013 Website
K95 Radio Station 804/330-5700 Website [e-mail]
Kao Brands 203-353-5100 Website [e-mail]
Kings Auto Mall 513-683-5440 18 car dealers Website
LA Weight Loss Centers 1-800-526-SLIM Website
Liberty Medical 1-866-836-9935 Website
Liberty Medicare 1-800-225-1070 Website
Life Alert 800-815-5922 Website
LoChiatto's Restaurant 828-650-9797 Website
LoChiatto's Restaurant 828-650-9797 Website
Long John Silvers [phone] Website
Lowes 1-800-445-6937 Website
Marks and Harrison 804-282-0999 804-748-0999 Website
Mattel, Inc. 310-252-2000 Website
Medical Careers Institute 804-521-0400 757-873-2423 757-497-8400 Website
Meineke Car Care Centers 704-377-8855 Website
Melting Pot 800-783-0867 Website
Menards - Tammy Polzine [phone] Website
Mile One Automotive 866-645-3663 Website [e-mail]
Miller Brewing Co. 414-931-2000 Website [e-mail]
nationwide insurance 614 249-7111 Website
NetZero 1-888-349-0029 Website
Nissan North America 310-771-3111 Website
Papa John's 1-502-261-7272t Website
Patties Panties [phone] Website
People PC Online 1-888-587-9669 Website
Pfizer, Inc. [phone] fx: 212 5737851 Website [e-mail]
Philips Inc [phone] Website
Procter & Gamble 513-983-1100 Website
Progressive Auto Insurance 1-800-876-4031 Website
Progressive Auto Insurance 1-800-776-4737 440-395-1076 386-947-5158 Website
Prudent Choice health Care 1-800-314-7890 Website
Red Bull North America 310-393-4647 Website
Regis Corp. 952-947-7777 Website [e-mail]
rentway 814-455-1511 Website [e-mail]
Rentway, Inc. 1-800-RENTWAY 814-455-5378 Website
Safe Auto Insurance Company [phone] 800-SAFE-AUTO Website [e-mail]
SC Johnson Scrubbing Bubbles 1-800-494-4855 262-260-3709 262-260-4402 Website
Select Comfort Corp. 763-551-7000 Website
Skyland Automotive 828-667-5213 Website
Sonic [phone] [phone] Website [e-mail]
State Farm 1-877-734-2265 Website
Stone Street Capital 1-888-LUMP-SUM Website
Subaru - complete contact info 1-800-SUBARU3 Website
Subway [phone] [phone] Website
Taco Bell/Yum! Brnads Inc 502 874-2543 1-800-tacobell Website [e-mail]
The Dick James Law Firm 800-988-9842 Website
The Lawyer's Group 800-677-2020 Website
The Wish Center Surgical Program 888-854-9474 937-885-9474 Weight Loss Website [e-mail]
Time Domain Inc. 888-826-8378 (Sinclair owns equity stake) Website
Time Warner Road Runner of Rochester 585-756-1608 Website
Toyota Consumer Relations 800-331-4331 #3 Website
Tri-Star Health Systems/HCA Mid-America 615-886-5000 615-886-4902 Website [e-mail]
TRIMSPA® 800-467-3041 Website
U.S. Cellular 1-888-944-9400 Website
United Financial Management Group, Inc. 1-800-567-2630 Website
Value City Department Stores Inc. [phone] Website
Victoria's Secret 1.800.411.5116 Website
Wachovia Bank 800-922-4684 Website [e-mail]
Wal Mart 1-800-925-6278 479-273-4000 Website
WebMD 201-703-3400 201-703-3401 Website [e-mail]
Whataburger 361-878-0650 Website
Wyeth Consumer Healthcare/ Advil [phone] Website [e-mail]

[havocmom]

23. Great info, fast and easy to use. Thank you very much

Don't get any local stations from anywhere in my 'hood. Thanks for the list and links!

Copied and sent off to others who are in this fight with us.

[goforit]

16. Good decision!!!.........We'll boycott the hell out of ya if you do!!!

[stlsaxman]

18. I just wrote Johnsonville Brats and expressed my concerns...

Hope others will in the St. Louis area as well. The Sinclair Broadcasting affiliate is ABC-30.