Is there a list of the advertisers who have pulled Sinclair ad dollars?

[funkybutt]

I've heard that Silvan Learning Center and a few smaller local companies. Any others? Please list all that you know here.

[crispini]

1. Tyson

My friend got this email from them:

The recent Tyson Foods advertising buy has included network buys on CBS, ABC,and Fox. It has not included any direct spot buys from the Sinclair Network, which is comprised of affiliate stations from these networks. Any Tyson advertising which might have run on Sinclair affiliates, would have been generated from the national networks from whom our buys have been made.

In order for our company to discontinue our spots from running on Sinclair-owned stations, we would have to completely discontinue our
network television advertising.

Notwithstanding, our ad campaign is scheduled to be temporarily
suspended after this Friday.

The site http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/default.aspx has been contacted, and has removed our company's name. If you were informed of this matter from another source, I would be very interested in contacting them to set the record straight. Thanks for allowing us to respond,

Ed Nicholson

[colonel odis]

6. that's a very weasel-y response that probably isn't true.

"In order for our company to discontinue our spots from running on Sinclair-owned stations, we would have to completely discontinue our
network television advertising."


if all their buys are on network, then yes. that would also mean their spots only run during network shows and not daytime syndicated shows, local news, or local breaks during network shows.

but there's a chance that a lot of tyson spots are "wild buys," where they spend the money directly with the station. if they buy "ellen," the 6 o'clock news, the morning wake up show, judge judy, etc. plus, a lot of sincliar stations are wb and upn network affiliates, which means they only show network shows 2-3 hours at night. the rest of the time it's syndicated crap.

plus, if tyson were serious about it, one phone call could have something pulled from a particular station (with the exception of something that runs during a network show) that day. right then and there, it could be pulled off the logs.

i work in the advertising business and my girlfriend worked in traffic for a network for 19 years.

personally, i think tyson is lying.

[crispini]

2. Sylvan

Here's the link to the Sylvan thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1043987

[crispini]

3. Anonymous Furniture Company

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1043323

[HootieMcBoob]

4. Here's a little list

http://www.unfilteredradio.com/

[crispini]

5. I only see advertisers to boycott,

Not advertisers who have pulled their ads. Is the "success" list on that page?

[HootieMcBoob]

8. oops you're right - sorry

:dunce:

[belle]

14. I've been writing to those advertisers, trying to personalize a bit

For instance:

To Whom It May Concern,

I have been enjoying the delicious hamburgers and Awesome Blossoms at Chili's restaurant chain for years and years.

However, it pains me to say, I will never again eat at one of your restaurants if your company goes ahead and sponsors the anti-John Kerry documentary that the Sinclair Broadcast group plans to air just prior to the November elections. The stakes are just too high, and the ethical violations are just too gross.

Furthermore, I will urge family, friends, and colleagues, as well as every recipient of every mailing list and networking association I belong to, to do likewise--if Sinclair airs the smear piece and you still continue to advertise on its stations.

I hope that you will take my views into consideration. And I hope that I will be able to continue to patronize Chili's in the future.

Sincerely,

Barbara Labinger

***

Same with the others ("A Corona with lime has always been one of my favorite ways to unwind at night" "I have long preferred 7-Up to Sprite, and i love your funny commercials...")

I don't know why, I just have a feeling that advertising people are even more likely to take your complaint seriously if you can do something like that. 1) it shows you're not just pasting and spamming 2) it shows you *really have been* using and liking their products and 3) it's in language that will resonate with them. The flattery may or may not help, but I bet it doesn't hurt.

From there, the standard "...but, I'm sorry to say, I can no longer use your product (drink 7-Up, patronize Applebee's) if your company continues to advertise with Sinclair Broadcasting and if they go ahead and air the anti-Kerry documentary. (Another sentence or two about the ethical violations of Sinclair doing this and how outraged it makes me).

I hope you will take my views into consideration, and I hope I can continue to (eat at Chili's, fly Jet Blue) in the future.

Yours, etc.

[BuelahWitch]

7. A bank in the KC area has agreed to remove local ads

Got the info from our Dem headquarters last night.

[crispini]

9. Red Bull

We appreciate the time you took to share your concern with us.

Please be assured that Red Bull will not be running any commercials or sponsoring the Sinclair Group's presentation of the John Kerry program.

In addition, Red Bull would not run commercials or sponsor programming that would seek to denigrate our President, Ralph Nader or any other candidate for our national office.

Thank you again for contacting us.

With kind regards,

[Tesibria]

11. Red Bull ducks the question - DO NOT CONSIDER A SUCCESS!

Sinclair has ALREADY said that the program will run w/o interruption/advertising, so Red Bull missed the point. They need to commit not to advertise at ALL on that TV station.

[KharmaTrain]

10. I Haven't Heard/Seen A Cancellation Yet

We probably won't. Companies that are upset at Sinclair aren't mad because of the partisan message, just the controversy. If they're gonna pull their ads, they'll do so quietly.

Without the ability to presently have Sinclair show their advertizing revenues (gone with deregulation) we also won't see if there was any losses at specific stations.

But, we will start seeing the overall results after the election by watching the company's stock price and how they attempt to wiggle their way out of this firestorm and the massive financial trouble, which I firmly believe precipitated this move, this company is having.

[NightOwwl]

12. We should put together a list of those who have refused,

and put the screws to them. Here's one I know of:

24 Hour Fitness [phone]. Advertise on Sacramento affiliate, KOVR.

I spoke to someone in the advertising department, but all she could say was that "Stolen Honor" is a legit news show, so the company will continue advertising as usual. (I hope) she was just parroting what the higher ups have told her to say.

If anyone has a contact number/email for 24 Hour Fitness VP, President, CEO or CIO we should contact them instead.

[goodboy]

13. my company did yesterday, and I cannot reveal our name for fear

of lurking freepers. You can't put anything past them.