Mad at ABC? Screw the boycot, let's get'm where it really hurts...

[LeftCoast]

Every time their broadcast license comes up for renewal, let's challenge it. Normally, these go unchallenged and are approved with barely any notice, but if they're challenged ABC will have to hire lawyers at several hundred dollars per hour to handle the process. Ultimately, they would probably be successful but this gets them the only place they feel it - in their wallet.

I've not done this before, but I remember people starting this process with Sinclair and it really seemed to make a difference then. :shrug:

[MadMaddie]

1. Good Idea...do you know when the renewal comes up?

[LeftCoast]

2. Not sure, I believe it's different for each local station

I bet someone reading this knows though! DUers rock! :)

[liberaldemocrat7]

16. Do both! continue the boycott of ABC, Wendy's, Red Lobster

the national ABC advertisers and go to the hearings of renewal of their many many licenses. Each tv station as a license renewal process. Will you go after everyone of over 1,000 stations in the ABC network?

[puerco-bellies]

3. How does one go about challenging thier broadcast license?

When does it come up?

[LeftCoast]

5. Here's an FCC page that has lots of interesting info

I just found it and am still going through it, but it looks like the answer may be here.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/renewal.html

[Brian Stevens]

13. Won't work.

It only deals with the affiliates.

[question everything]

17. So? Remember some affiliates would not carry Nightline

when Koppel just read the name of the troops killed in Iraq?

And now I've heard that some CBS affiliates do not want to carry a 9/11 documentary that was aired previously.

How many times we get post from angry DUers living in the south, or Texas, who cannot get the network program because the local affiliate chooses something redder?

[Warpy]

8. you can write a letter of complaint to the FCC

The station is required by law to post the information when their license is up for renewal.

[pooja]

4. How about even better.. boycott everything disney.. the parks and

merchandise and movies.

[LeftCoast]

6. They don't have to lawyer up with a boycott, but I don't buy any Disney

crap anyway. :)

I suppose a boycott in addition couldn't hurt. :hi:

[bliss_eternal]

14. A boycott WILL hurt them...

Disneyland in CA was on very shaky ground prior to their 50th celebration which started last year, and will end this year. The man that was at the helm for that very successful event is no longer with the company.

Disneyland resort gets spanked every year by Universal Studios Hollywood and even Knotts to a degree. Prior to the release of the first installment of Pirates of the Carribbean the company was not doing very well. The films and the 50th helped them considerably.

Katrina and the other storms really hurt the Florida resort. They were practically giving away vacations to WDW after that for families of four. They even offered a summer deal which was ridiculously inexpensive.

Anytime people put their money where their ideals are a difference can be made.

[niallmac]

7. Aren't their national advertisers closer to their wallet?

If their big bucks sponsors get letters describing a national boycott of their products then perhaps
this would hit even harder.

[RollergirlVT]

23. ratings, ratings, ratings

that is the TV biz. Simply blocking all ABC/Disney channels from your TV will drive down their ratings and ad rates with them. Use parental control so you don't accidentally get drawn into a program you won't see the commercials for shows that you might like to catch and before you know it, you'll forget there are ABC/Disney channels.

[Redstone]

9. I'm on it. Excellent suggestion, indeed.

Redstone

[lonestarnot]

10. Fun. Great idea!

[ThoughtCriminal]

11. What would really scare them

Broadcast telecommunications law written to serve the public interest instead of their parent company.

[PoiBoy]

12. Great idea...

we can challenge the network and the affiliates licenses... don't know how yet, but I'm gonna figure this out... plus this Scholastic Books proposal of distributing this gop.u.drama to the schools with lesson plans... :wtf: ..is alarming.. how can they get away with this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2066166

[proud patriot]

15. he he he , this is why I love you and your carnivorous plants

:loveya:

[LeftCoast]

19. I'm quirky, but at least I'm useful sometimes. :)

:hug:

[EFerrari]

18. onenote knows this stuff cold. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

20. Got An Unlimited Fortune?

First...a license challenge is a long and expensive process. You have to show cause as to why the licensee shouldn't be renewed and then hang on for dear life. A challenge will take years and thousands of dollars...and that's if you have a good lawyer who can keep the case going that long.

It's been decades since I've known of a successful license challenge...and then it took nearly a decade to resolve those challenges. Ya think anyone's gonna remember one TV "movie" as a way to "get 'em"?

I've seen lots of threats and screaming on here...not one person have I heard ready to use some shoe leather and let them see who we are. A crowd of a hundred or so friendly DU types in front of ABC studios with picket signs would do as much to give the stations a black eye as any "boycott" or other action.

BTW...in the Sinclair situation, there were several people who knew how to mess around with the company's stock price and reach investors...and since Sinclair was a small company...was able to manipulate the stock prices around and gave company big shots a scare. They didn't back down...just toned things down...and they're still out there spreading their bullshit. Disney isn't a small company like Sinclair...that trick doesn't work.

I've long had Disney on my shit list. We cancelled a Disneyworld vacation to Florida following the 2002 elections and then again plans to go to Disneyland two years later. First time was to avoid vacationing and spending any money in a red state (that boycott is still very much in effect) and then for Disney's poor customer service and poor business practices. I'm sure my $3,000 vacation won't bankrupt the company, but it felt good to vote with my checkbook.

Cheers...

[Swamp Rat]

21. Whatever works

It can't hurt to try it, plus boycotts, calling/writing sponsors, etc.

:patriot:

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

22. I was hoping you were going to dynamite some transmitters

nm

[samsingh]

24. good idea