Sinclair Corp. Relations VP Hyman calls allegations "absolutely absurd."

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041011/ap_en_tv/kerry_film&cid=494&ncid=2043

The Democratic National Committee planned to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission contending that Sinclair's airing of the film should be considered an illegal in-kind contribution to President Bush campaign.

Also, 18 Democratic senators sent a letter to the Federal Communication Commission on Monday asking that it investigate whether Sinclair's plan was an improper use of public airwaves.

"To allow a broadcasting company to air such a blatantly partisan attack in lieu of regular programming, and to classify that attack as 'news programming' as has been suggested, would violate the spirit, and we think the text, of current law and regulation," the letter said.

Hyman called the allegation "absolutely absurd. Would they suggest that our reporting a car bomb in Iraq is an in-kind contribution to the Kerry campaign? Would they suggest that our reporting on job losses is an in-kind contribution to the Kerry campaign?" he said. "It's the news. It is what it is. We're reporting the news."

[aden_nak]

1. News Flash: Satan begins construction of 10th Circle of Hell for PR Reps!

[The Chronicler]

2. No commercials?

Explain THAT one to me......

[Inland]

14. Well, nobody would buy commericials except MoveOn and the DNC.

Sure they would make money, but then they would dilute the partisan message.

[cthrumatrix]

3. it's from the "earth is flat" Cheney playbook.... up is down

[Roland99]

4. Movie = news?

"Would they suggest that our reporting a car bomb in Iraq (news - web sites) is an in-kind contribution to the Kerry campaign? Would they suggest that our reporting on job losses is an in-kind contribution to the Kerry campaign?" he said. "It's the news. It is what it is. We're reporting the news."


Well, then I guess they won't mind showing 9/11 In Plane Site...or 9/11 - The Road to Tyranny...or Fahrenheit 9/11 immediately following this. I mean...when reporting the "news", isn't it normal to report both sides' views?

[Inland]

6. And F/911 is big, big news, isn't it? Huge sales, oscar nod

Wonder why that didn't get the commericial free air time?

[Inland]

5. I see. Reporting on war or economy is anti-Bush.

And they don't provide opposing views. And they spend three hour, commercial free programming to their news. Digusting pig.

[cheezus]

7. The counterexamples he give are very telling

It's sickly partisan to say car bombings and job losses are good for a particular candidate.

[Inland]

10. Well, he implies that reporting on them is anti Bush, and therefore

he needs to extend equal time to whatever slanders a pro Bush operative dreams up. Amazing to equate truth with lies, public good with sneering smears.

[high density]

8. Reporting the news?

Then air Going Upriver! That's just as newsworthy.

This is disgusting.

[NVMojo]

9. in case you missed it on another link

visit this site and be counted and then pass it on!

http://www.stopsinclair.org/index.php

[sherilocks]

16. Done

Have you posted this as a separate topic?

[jerryster]

26. Done

[nofurylike]

11. mark (gag) hyman, news that happens to demonstrate how wrong

and dangerous * is, just **coincidentally** supports Kerry's more-Thinking positions, but it is still news.

what you are doing is donating an hour - at least half of that in add-free time given - of editotial opinion. that IS an in-kind contribution.



peace

[mitchum]

12. FUCK YOU, MARKY! Too bad you weren't taken out in some wetwork...

when you were a CIA spook

I wish that cocksucker would keel over

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Propaganda isn't news, but don't expect Hyman to know that

[ibegurpard]

19. He knows

He's trying to rile up the idiots who don't.

[GimmeDANEger]

15. Motherfuckers are hurting already....

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=SBGI&t=1d&c=

[uhhuh]

34. Here's a lovely chart from MSN

on their performance over the last year:

http://data.moneycentral.msn.com/scripts/chrtsrv.dll?Symbol=SBGI&C1=0&C2=1&C9=2&CA=1&CB=1&CC=1&CD=1&CF=0&E1=0

Who wouldn't want to invest in this controversial dog???

[PROGRESSIVE1]

17. Can Mr. Hyman spell "B-O-Y-C-O-T-T"?

[bush equals idiot]

20. Can he spell b-a-n-k-r-u-p-t-c-y ?

[LittleClarkie]

21. Can he wave bye bye to half his viewership

Buh bye Channels 18 and 24 in Milwaukee. If you do not at least show "Going Upriver" as a counterpoint to your "news" special, I will never watch you again.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

18. Sinclair contact info from Air America's "Unfiltered"

CALL!!!! SINCLAIR STATIONS IN SWING STATES:


Bay Television, Inc.
7622 Bald Cypress Place
Tampa, FL 33614
[phone]

1731 Soldiers Home Road
Dayton, OH 45418
[phone]
[phone]

4023 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50231
[phone]

7847 Big Sky Dr.
Madison, WI 53719
[phone]

David D. Smith
President and Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: [e-mail]

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030
410-568-1500 (Main Telephone)
410-568-1533 (Main Fax)

[LittleClarkie]

27. Thanks for the email link -- I wrote him

Here's my letter. Tell me what you think. I tried to be professional at least, and stick to the point. I figure, as Kerry did in 71, that a reasoned response will be most effective. I hope so, anyway.



Dear Mr. Smith,

First of all, sir, there are two sides to every story.

If you believe it is right to show "Stolen Honor" so close to the election, then I beseech you to also show "Going Upriver," the documentary now in theaters that will be released on DVD in mid-October.

In my opinion, "Stolen Honor" is less "news" and more "op/ed," rather in the same vein as Farenheit 9/11. If you are interested in the news, or at least in being fair and balanced, then the alternate view should also be presented.

Some consider John Kerry to be a hero, some consider him to be a villan. Please present both sides in this election year, or I will be forced to conclude that you are indeed trying to affect the election in violation of FEC regulations. I will in that case cease to watch either Channel 18 or 24, or buy products that are advertised on those stations.

Do you really intend to offend at least half of your viewership with this program? Is that really good business, sir? I should think not.

Please consider what I have said sir. Free speech is a right. That is truth. But as has been pointed out by those boycotting Linda Rondstadt and the Dixie Chicks, those who oppose your viewpoint also have a right to speak, with our pocketbooks if necessary.

Thank you for your time, sir.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

28. You expressed your opinion and you didn't personally attack him: good job!

:toast:

[LittleClarkie]

29. Damn thing bounced

I'll have to send it to the affiliates instead.

Bastard must have shut down his email address.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

30. I knew that would happen as soon as messages started coming in

But that's OK, the formal complaint is in the hands of the FEC and the story is all over the media. I don't think this one is going to just fade away. Plus, there's a floodgate of bad PR for every affiliate and advertiser associated with them. As soon as they yank the program, they can do damage control. As long as they choose to air it, the damage will continue. Broadcasters can't broadcast without sponsors.

Plus, I'm sure that every new "opportunity" to contact them will get posted here on DU.

:toast:

[CAcyclist]

33. good letter - just a couple things

I would put your last paragraph first - it's your strongest statement. Also, remember to check for misspellings.

[auburngrad82]

22. That's ok. I've been watching their stock tank all day.

Someone should also investigate the Smith family for insider trading. It seems that they all sold a bunch of company stock right before it bottomed out.

[KharmaTrain]

23. Stupid Moron...Look At What This Investor Says To Him...

http://finance.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?.mm=FN&action=m&board=7083976&tid=sbgi&sid=7083976&mid=1521


Mark Hyman, a vice president of corporate relations for Sinclair, said Monday Also, 1
Hyman called the allegation "absolutely absurd."

"Would they suggest that our reporting a car bomb in Iraq is an in-kind contribution to the Kerry campaign? Would they suggest that our reporting on job losses is an in-kind contribution to the Kerry campaign?" he said. "It's the news. It is what it is. We're reporting the news." (:puke:)

Unfortunately, for Sinclair, the "it's just news" argument won't fly. The problem is that earlier mentioned decision by them to yank the Nightline episode where the names of all the American servicepeople killed in Iraq were read. When that is combined with the current move, the clear bias inherent in Mr Hyman's defense and Sinclair's actions is obvious. Sinclair yanked another news porogram because they disagreed editorially with its potential political effect, now they are trying to portray the latest anti-Kerry piece as non-partisan news programming, and to say that as a public broadcast network they have a responsibility to simply run unbiased news coverage. As my daddy might say: "that dog won't hunt, boy."

If all else fails, look at the stock's fundamentals, It has been a dog on P/E and Market Cap for months. The only thing I can venture is that Smith et al may have been planning to or needing to sell some options (or increase Market Cap briefly for another reason) and he somehow thought that this move would give them a short-term uptick through publicity and availing themselves of some of the innate underlying conservative loyalty in the financial markets.

Unfortunately, it now looks like that was about as wise a move as David Smith's driving repeatedly around the same block in Baltimore with a company-owned Mercedes while he was being serviced by a prostitute. He made a wrong turn, and that's going to hurt his professional stature and SBGI immeasurably.

There is NOW, NO potential upside at all for SBGI in this. I'm telling every client and reader I have to SELL.


We couldn't have gotten a better present...I knew someone would overplay here, but not on this scale!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

24. That's right. They did pull the Nightline with the names of dead soldiers

great point.

[Justice]

32. Maybe Sinclair Thinks (knows) He will be rewarded with something after

the election.

Why fall on your sword otherwise?

[evilqueen]

36. That's what I was thinking...

He doesn't care about the advertisers or the stock, he probably has a nice deal going on and the payoff is after the election.

[Bandit]

25. The definition of NEWS by Websters

1. New information 2. Recent happenings 3. Reports of such events

[MoonRiver]

31. Of course he claims that! Lies and the lying liars who tell them

well represents that scum. Meanwhile, I am so proud that the DNC has gotten off its apathetic arse and is fighting back!!! :kick::bounce::toast::bounce::bounce::bounce::toast::bounce::kick:

[LynnTheDem]

35. "NEWS"???

Pre-empting ALL PROGRAMS to run a faked-up piece of bullshit about Kerry from the VIETNAM ERA???

This is "NEWS"???? THAT is absurd.