Fresno broadcaster donates $325,000 in air time to GOP committees

[Kadie]

Fresno broadcaster donates $325,000 in air time to GOP committees
TOM CHORNEAU, Associated Press Writer

Monday, October 25, 2004

(10-25) 17:37 PDT SACRAMENTO (AP) --

One of the state's biggest broadcasters has given 13 Republican county committees $325,000 worth of free air time to promote candidates on its radio and television stations that serve communities from Sacramento to San Diego.

Pappas Telecasting Cos., which calls itself the largest privately held broadcast firm in the nation, made the donations earlier this month. While it is unclear how much of the time has actually been taken, Democrats complain the offer unfairly benefits GOP candidates in violation of federal law.

An attorney representing Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford -- who is running in a hotly contested re-election race against Republican Dean Gardner -- sent a letter Saturday to Pappas demanding equal time.

A spokesman for Pappas, however, said the donations have been reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission and do not trigger provisions of federal law that require broadcasters to give all candidates equal broadcast time.

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/10/25/state2006EDT0198.DTL

[gmoney]

1. I call shenanigans... or bullsh*t

isn't this an enormous soft money contribution?

By the way, you repub fucker, the PUBLIC owns the airwaves, not you.

[mcg]

13. Broadcaster Donates $325,000 to GOP (another article)

<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041026/ap_on_el_pr/broadcast_donation&cid=694&ncid=2043>

"Pappas Telecasting Cos., which calls itself the largest privately held broadcast firm in the nation, made the donations earlier this month. Democrats complain the offer unfairly benefits GOP candidates in violation of federal law."

Yes, because it is.

From their website:

"Pappas Telecasting Companies is the largest privately held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States in terms of US Household coverage as defined by Nielsen Media Research. The Company operates market-leading FOX, WB, ABC, CBS, UPN and Azteca America affiliates in all regions of the United States. According to statistics from Nielsen, Pappas Telecasting television stations serve over 15% of all US television households."
----------

PAPPAS TELECASTING INC
5111 E McKinley Ave
Fresno, CA 93727-2033
Harry Pappas, Chairman Of The Board
Dennis Davis, Chief Financial Officer
Stella Pappas, Treasurer
Lebon Abercrombie, Sr Executive Vice-President
559-255-2600

<http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?txtName=Pappas&NumOfThou=0&txt2004=Y&submit=Go%21>

Contributor, Occupation, Date, Amount, Recipient

PAPPAS HARRY VISALIA,CA 93291,PAPPAS TELECASTING COMPANIES/PRESID,
5/14/2004,$5,000,Pappas Telecasting Companies

PAPPAS, HARRY J MR, VISALIA,CA 93277, PAPPAS TELECASTING COMPANIES/PRESID, 11/18/2003, $5,000, National Assn of Broadcasters

PAPPAS, HARRY J MR,VISALIA,CA 93277,PAPPAS TELECASTING COMPANIES/PRESID,4/15/2004,$5,000,National Assn of Broadcasters

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Time to do what we did to Sinclair

if they're private, they have a board of directors that we can also pressure.

[Pirate Smile]

3. G@d D@mnit! This shows why it is so important that the broadcast

air waves can NOT simple be corporations own private property.

[Amigust]

4. Time to boycott Pappas advertisers

till he has paid many times over.

The 18 Democratic senators who complained about Sinclair should not let this one get by.

[Laelth]

5. Well, you know ...

When Colin Powell's son is the head of the FCC, there's no limit to what you can get away with, is there?

:mad:

PUT 'EM ALL IN JAIL!

It's not that they're screwing us (and they are). They're screwing America.

-Laelth

[Amigust]

6. Powell is a lying weasel. Watch "Orwell Turns in His Grave."

It was on Dish last day or two, maybe still around.

[Laelth]

7. I have no doubt you're right.

And I don't even need more evidence in order to believe it, but I'll look for that anyway.

Thanks. :toast:

-Laelth

[mitchtv]

10. I saw that last nite.It was great

to bad it is so far removed from Mainstream tv

[Kathy in Cambridge]

8. Here is the list of affiliates:

http://www.pappastv.com/Links.asp


On edit: They have stations in Florida and other swing states.

[Kadie]

14. Thanks for the list.

I never watch the stations they have listed in my area. I can't believe stations are able to do this.

[Democat]

9. Powell must be the first person fired and, if possible, investigated

We would all love to see Powell in jail for all of the corruption at the FCC during his time.

[SoCalDem]

11. You just know they are all yukking it up at dinner..

They are doing this because they CAN...and they know it..

Regardless of who wins, the Fairness Doctrine MUST be addressed..

Without it, this nonsense will only get worse..How many networks/stations are owned-operated by liberals???? Probably NONE..

When ONLY one philosophy is shown to the public, it gets dangeroous for everyone.

[Amigust]

12. Kerry would appoint a new FCC.

Then Fairness Doctrine must be reinstated and media consolidation policies reversed. At best, not an easy row to hoe, absent a cooperative congress.

[nodehopper]

15. is that legal?