To fight Sinclair: It is time to go nuclear

[DesEtoiles]

What are the nuclear options?

Let's brainstorm. And then let's do it.

[benburch]

1. I can think of several

1. Go to court for an injunction.

2. Boycott advertizers who use Sinclair

3. Oppose Sinclair's licenses as they come up for renewal.

Or all of the above.

Any lawyers here who might want to file this case?

[madrchsod]

6. call the advertisers and ask if Sinclair

or the local station is going to rebate them on lost revenue when their target viewers change channels. up , wb,even fox have there programming aimed at target age and race demographics at certain time slots..if i was an advertiser and realized that my ads targeting a young demographic and they were running this program i`d be calling wanting a rebate...follow the money...

[Warpy]

13. Complain to the parent networks, too

Let them know that you don't appreciate having their programming preempted by such blatantly partisan garbage.

The best bet is threatening their licenses at the grassroots level. We own those airwaves, folks, so let's use that power.

[sleipnir]

2. Visible protest at live news feeds on Sinclair stations.

If you live near a Sinclair broadcaster, go and protest at all live remote feeds during the evening news. Go to crime scenes, school graduations, human interest stories, anywhere a remote camera crew and reporter might be filming a live story. Get highly involved, lots of signs, noise, let the people know what is going on, but remember to stop just short of totally disrupting the remote feed.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

4. Boycotts will be tough nationally...

They own affiliates from more than one network in more than one market. Chances are any product you buy is being advertised on a Sinclair station somewhere.

Locally, however, you can find the local advertisers who appear on their "newcasts" and tell them that there's going to be hell to pay if that smear piece hits the airwaves, and the first casualty is going to be their bottom line. The other thing to do is organize letter-writing campaigns before and after the broadcast to get out the message that this was a campaign commercial and an illegal attempt by corporate interests to sway the election.

[FightingIrish]

3. Has anybody set up a site to bombard

Sinclair sponsors with e-mail? Thank God we have these internets.

[Nordic]

5. massive sit-ins around their headquarters, starting early a.m.

don't let anybody in or out.

shut down their power if they have a power box outside of the building. Snip the lock and flip the main switch. Don't let anybody else near it.

Let yourself peacefully get arrested. If there's enough of us, they won't have enough cops to deal with it.

[tomreedtoon]

7. I should issue a warning at this junction:

I know this angers you guys. It angers me. However, before anyone goes spouting off something, there are legal issues involved.

To wit: to interfere with the operation of any broadcast station, TV or radio, by damaging its transmitter, antenna or associated equipment, or through jamming its signals, is a Federal crime. It's also morally troublesome; it's the kind of censorship we abhor in our own areal.

One legal and reasonable thing to do is to mail the LOCAL advertisers on Sinclair affiliate stations in your area, and tell them that you are upset about this matter. National advertisers don't respond to pressure without a lot of mail. However, your local car dealer or plastic surgeon does listen to individuals, pretty intensely in fact.

Write them or call them (try to get to the head guy) and tell them that you are very upset that this propaganda ploy is happening. Even though they are not putting commercials in this show, they are putting commercials AROUND the show - before and after it - that will reflect badly on them. They'll be lumped in with this ugly show, like it or not.

This requires research on your part. You'll have to find out who is the Sinclair broadcaster in your area. You'll actually have to watch them to see who advertises on their station - especially in the prime-time hours of 8 PM - 11 PM. You'll have to look up the advertisers' mailing addresses, write a letter that is NOT a form letter, and mail it to them.

So this isn't easy and simple. It's what will work, and it won't have Federal marshalls busting down your door - unless Bush is elected for another term, that is.

[tomreedtoon]

11. Don't bother with E-mail or internet, either.

There are a lot of idiots on the Internet, and it's very easy to send an e-mail or visit a web site. The advertisers know this. They ignore most internet-spawned response.

Getting a real, physical letter - original and stamped and addressed personally to the head of the advertising company by name - that is far less likely to be ignored. Because the advertiser KNOWS what effort it is to write and mail a letter, how it costs your time, money and sweat, and therefore you must be FURIOUS about this issue.

And by the way, when you write your ORIGINAL letter, explain how upset you are, but NEVER use obscenity or curse words. Keep your anger fierce, but intellectual and focussed on the wrongness of the issue.

And to that writer who suggested killing the power box at the station - that will get you arrested by the Feds as surely as jamming the transmitter. Do you really want to be in prison during a Bush second term?

[Texas_Dem]

8. Do you own Sinclair stock?

you many not think so, but check your 401K, your pension, or other investment accounts. If you do, you have the right to determine what and who you invest your money with. $$$ always speaks louder than words, so speak with your investment money. SBGI is their stock symbol. Do what you feel you should.

[AntiFascist]

9. Focus on boycotting Taco Bell......

Don't drive thru, drive by. Then let them know you are boycotting and why at www.tacobell.com, click on Contact, and make sure you enter a valid age otherwise you get a cookie that indicates you aren't old enough.

[CheshireCat]

12. What's the Taco Bell connection?

[AntiFascist]

20. They're listed as one of the Sinclair advertisers......

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/10/10/19162/939

I agree that big corps like the Bell advertise everywhere, but if you let them know specifically why you are boycotting I can almost guarantee it would have an effect. Fast food profit margins are typically very thin and they wouldn't want anything to disrupt their sales. Also, lots of dems (like me) and younger voters probably enjoy their food.

[Crunchy Frog]

22. I think that KFC is another one.

The Pepsi company is as well. I could very easily boycott Taco Bell, KFC and Pepsi, and let them all know about it. Maybe we could pick a small number of easily targeted companies like those and just slam them.

[ewagner]

10. Multiple approaches

Federal Elections Commission arguing that this is a campaign contribution to the Bush Campaign and that Sinclair is an unregistered 527.

FCC, violations of Fairness Doctrine.

Boycotts of Advertisers where and when appropriate.

E-mails to managers of local affiliates

Letters-to-the Editors whereever possible

DU coordination with MoveOn, and Soro's organization to counter with ad placement or, even better, purchase of time on major network to show Going Up River or F9/11

Recognize that all this combined might not stop Sinclair but the trick would be to give the showing so much public halitosis that the only people who will watch it are the bushbots/true believers/Young Republican clubs.

[mindfulNJ]

14. How about a live Springsteen concert

in the same time slot on a competing network:)?

[progressivebydesign]

15. Check out this thread.. it's another avenue:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1024263&mesg_id=1024263


Someone with time to dig more.. can probably find out WHY this Sherwood dude has gotten apparently millions to do a website for Homeland Security, that has yet to be completed. It's months and month past when it should have been online. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1024263&mesg_id=1024263

Did Homeland Security money go to this man to produce the film? Pay off people involved? Hmmm... that would be treasonous!

[funky_bug]

16. Yahoo is one

If they air it, cancel your Yahoo accounts. I've got free Google gmail account invitations for anyone who posts a copy of their cancellation from Yahoo!

[WVRevy]

17. WEST VIRGINIA ACTIVISM

I have already contacted WCHS TV in Charleston and warned them of an impending boycott, and I would urge all of you in the West Virginia / Ohio / Kentucky area to do the same. If we can flood the affiliates with warnings and get them to understand the consequences, maybe that will help getting things back up the chain of command. The only thing these asswipes understand is the almighty dollar, so if we threaten to hit them there it can only help.

Also, you MUST attack this from the affiliate level, as well at the top. There is simply no chance the people that run Sinclair are going to be receptive, so we HAVE to hit the local level.

[newyawker99]

24. Hi WVRevy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[harpo]

18. ALL execs at Sinclair...

http://forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=sbgi

This is only part of the list, the link above has the rest...

Amy, David B. Chief Financial Officer at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Bochenek, David R. Chief Accounting Officer at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Butler, M. William Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
DeFeo, Joe Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Faber, Barry M. Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Fiorino, Lawrence Corporate Executive at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Keith, Daniel C. Director at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Leader, Martin R. Director at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Marks, Steven M. Chief Operating Officer/Television at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
McCanna, Lawrence E. Director at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Ostroff, Leonard Chief Operating Officer of Sinclair Ventures at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Ostroff, Nat Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Parks, III, Delbert R. Vice President-Operations at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Rutishauser, Lucy A. Vice President-Finance at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Shapiro, Darren J. Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Siegel, Gregg L. Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Sleete, Jeffrey W. Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Smith, David D. Chairman at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Smith, Frederick G. Director at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Smith, J. Duncan Director at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Smith, Robert E. Director at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Thomas, Beverly B. Director at Apria Healthcare Group Inc.
Director at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Thompson, Donald H. Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Waters, III, Thomas I. Vice President at Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

[Contrary1]

19. Getting the Advertiser's Attention

Here's a message I snagged from the Yahoo Board:

SC Johnson Possible Pullout
by: daiggymonster
Long-Term Sentiment: Strong Sell 10/11/04 01:31 pm
Msg: 1408 of 1415

I just got off the phone with an SC Johnson national advertising rep and after she patiently listened to all the details, asked many questions, and voiced her concerns.... she said that she would be speaking to their Sinclair contact to verify the statements that have been made. She stated that if the facts are correct that I portrayed to her (which they were) this would be against their company policies to be involved in a partisan financial event in this manner specifically.

Sinclair is about to bite the big one.

[harpo]

21. Institutional Ownership...

Contact these people and tell them to pull out of Sinclair...

http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/ownership/ownership.asp?Symbol=SBGI

Earnest Partners 4,946,278
Gabelli Asset Management Co (gamco) 3,640,000
Westfield Capital Management Co 2,616,950
Morgan Stanley Investment Management 2,526,303
Neuberger Berman 2,266,809
Putnam Investment Mgmt 2,081,861
Perry Corp 1,911,452
Barclays Global Investors Intl 1,801,161
Blackrock Inc / Ny 1,428,435
Janus Capital Corp 1,417,887
Invesco Global Asset Management 1,220,678
Vanguard Group 1,146,836
Columbia Management Advisors (boston)/fleetboston 1,094,830
Jp Morgan Chase (us) 837,256
State Street Global Advisors 678,530

[harpo]

23. San Antonio sales folks...

'[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'

I emailed them and let them know I would be contacting their advertisers and investors if they allow that show to be broadcast on public airwaves so close to the election.