[Vision2020] Sinclair Broadcasting

[Tbertruss at aol.com]

Oct 11, 2004
Sinclair Broadcasting Group

The Sinclair Broadcasting Group is a conservative broadcasting network that 
controls television airwaves in dozens of major television markets, including 
markets in battleground states such as Florida and Ohio. Recently, it has 
banned shows that are critical of the war on terror, ordered its stations not to 
air a tribute to our fallen U.S. soldiers, and now plans to air an anti-Kerry 
movie days before election day. The Sinclair Broadcasting Group has historically 
contributed thousands of dollars to Republican causes and its CEO also 
contributed the maximum to Bush-Cheney. 

"Sinclair—They're Big Supporters of the Bush Administration" [Chicago Sun 
Times, 5/3/04]

Sinclair Broadcasting Group: Consistent Anti-Kerry, Pro-Bush Programming 

Sinclair Broadcasting Group Ordered Preemptions To Air Anti-Kerry Program 
Days Before Election. According to the Los Angeles Times, "The 
conservative-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group, whose television outlets reach nearly a quarter 
of the nation's homes with TV, is ordering its stations to preempt regular 
programming just days before the Nov. 2 election to air a film that attacks Sen. 
John F. Kerry's activism against the Vietnam War, network and station 
executives familiar with the plan said Friday." [Los Angeles Times, 10/9/04]

The Show Will Be Aired In Swing States Around The Country. Sinclair 
Broadcasting has ordered stations in swing states like Ohio and Florida to "air 'Stolen 
Honor: Wounds That Never Heal,' sources said. The film, funded by 
Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, 
features former POWs accusing Kerry — a decorated Navy veteran turned war 
protester — of worsening their ordeal by prolonging the war. Sinclair will preempt 
regular prime-time programming from the networks to show the film, which may be 
classified as news programming, according to TV executives familiar with the 
plan." [Los Angeles Times, 10/9/04]

Previously, Sinclair Group Ordered Its ABC Stations Not To Air American 
Soldier Tribute. While millions of viewers across the country watched a moving ABC 
special honoring the 500 U.S. soldiers who had died in Iraq at the time, the 
Sinclair Group forced its ABC affiliates to not show the program. [CNN, 
4/30/04]

Senator John McCain Criticized Sinclair's Decision. "Your decision to deny 
your viewers an opportunity to be reminded of war's terrible costs, in all their 
heartbreaking detail, is a gross disservice to the public, and to the men and 
women of the United States Armed Forces," McCain, a Vietnam veteran, wrote in 
a letter to David Smith, president and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group. "It 
is, in short, sir, unpatriotic. I hope it meets with the public opprobrium it 
most certainly deserves." [CNN, 4/30/04]

Previously, Sinclair Broadcasting Ran Misleading Medicare Advertisements. In 
May, the General Accounting Office (GAO) found that fake news segments 
produced to promote the administration's Medicare law violated federal laws against 
producing propaganda. The video news releases were distributed to local 
television sessions to be run as part of the stations' news programs. One of the 
broadcasters that ran these misleading and illegal advertisements was the Sinclair 
Broadcasting group, owned by David Sinclair, a major bush donor. [Pittsburgh 
Post-Gazette, 3/20/04; GAO, Decision in Matter of Center for Medicaid & 
Medicare Services - Video News Release, 5/19/04]

Previously, Sinclair-Owned Station Refused to Air DNC Ad. Sinclair 
Broadcasting decided not to air a DNC ad criticizing George Bush. "While three Madison 
TV stations are airing an ad this week from the Democratic National Committee c
riticizing President Bush for his Iraq war policies, one station — Fox 47 — 
is taking heat for deciding not to air the ad. The 30-second spot, which is now 
only being aired in the Madison market, includes a clip of Bush's State of 
the Union address regarding Iraq's acquisition of uranium from Africa. 
Executives of the Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, the parent company of Fox 
47, did not return phone calls." [Madison Capital Times, 7/24/03]

Previously, Sinclair Forced Stations to "Broadcast Spots Declaring Support 
for President Bush and Other Government Leaders." "Sinclair Broadcast Group 
directed its more than 60 stations, including WBFF-TV and WNUV-TV in Baltimore, to 
broadcast spots declaring support for the efforts of President Bush and other 
government leaders. The spots direct viewers to log on at 
www.supportournation.com or to call a 900 number to register their views. (Officials said the 
50-cent fee for each call simply covered its costs.) At WBFF, anchors were 
drafted to tape the messages in support of the White House, stirring internal fears 
they were compromising their professional objectivity." [Baltimore Sun, 
9/19/01]

Residents "Tricked" Into Thinking They Are Watching Local News. Sinclair 
Broadcasting tapes a daily half hour session of conservative news at their 
corporate headquarters in Baltimore. Sinclair then transmits the conservative news 
segment to coincide with the half hour of local news aired by its affiliates, 
creating a one hour news segment. Mark Hyman, Vice President of Corporate 
Relations for Sinclair, appears on the air and gives a daily conservative commentary 
named "The Point." Hyman portrays animal activists as "wackos" and denounces 
the "leftist agenda." According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Critics 
say viewers are tricked into thinking they're watching an all-local newscast 
when, in fact, much of it is being piped in." [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 
11/24/03]

"The Point" and Sinclair Executive Mark Hyman's Refrain: Attack John Kerry 

Hyman Claimed Kerry Joined Navy Because It Was The "Least Likely" To Go To 
Vietnam. In his daily commentary program "The Point," on 9/19/04, Sinclair VP 
Mark Hyman said that Kerry dodged the Army draft by enlisting in the Navy. "The 
reality is Kerry joined the Navy because it was the military branch least 
likely to involve assignment to Vietnam — in order to avoid being drafted into the 
Army." [The Point, 9/19/04]

Hyman Accused Kerry of Falsifying Military Records. In his commentary on 
9/27/04, Hyman accused John Kerry of "Gun Decking". According to Hyman "'Gun 
decking' is the falsifying of official records and reports, usually to cover-up a 
wrong doing or to make one look better than he is." Hyman continued in his 
commentary to state that, "Extensive records review shows Kerry guilty of 'gun 
decking' his military career." [The Point, 9/27/04]

Hyman Claimed Kerry Supported Communists. In his commentary on 9/22/04, Hyman 
argued that Kerry supported Communist regimes. "Kerry has a lifetime of 
experience in foreign policy. Unfortunately, it is a lifetime of supporting 
Communist forces opposed to the U.S. in Vietnam, in Nicaragua…." [The Point, 9/22/04]

Sinclair Broadcasting Group, CEO and Other Executives are Longtime Republican 
Donors.

Sinclair CEO Is A Maxed-Out Bush Donor. David Smith, CEO of Sinclair 
Broadcasting Group, gave the maximum to Bush-Cheney 2004, contributing the legal limit 
of $2,000. [FEC]

Sinclair Vice President Donated $175,000 to RNC and Maxed Out To Bush-Cheney. 
Frederick Smith, Vice President of The Sinclair Broadcasting Group, has 
donated $175,000 to the Republican National Committee since 1999 and contributed 
the legal limit to Bush-Cheney 2004 and 2000. [FEC]

Other Sinclair Executives Maxed Out to Bush-Cheney 04. Julian D Smith, Vice 
President and Secretary of the Sinclair Broadcasting Group, and Robert Smith, 
an analyst with SBG, both maxed out the legal spending limit to Bush-Cheney 
2004. [FEC]

Sinclair VP Mark Hyman Donated To the Maryland Republican Party. Mark Hyman 
donated $2,061 to the Republican State Central Committee of Maryland in 2000. 
[FEC, tray.com]

Sinclair Broadcasting Group Has Affiliates Around The Country. Below is a 
list of cities where Sinclair owns at least one major news affiliate: 

· WTTA - Tampa 
· KMWB - Minneapolis 
· WPGH & WCWB - Pittsburgh 
· KOVR - Sacramento 
· KDNL - St. Louis 
· WBFF & WNUV - Baltimore 
· WLFL & WRDC - Raleigh - Durham, NC 
· WZTV & WUXP - Nashville 
· WCGV & WVTV - Milwaukee 
· WSTR - Cincinnati 
· KSMO - Kansas City, MO 
· WTTE & WSYX - Columbus, OH 
· WFBC & WLOS - Asheville, NC 
· KABB & KRRT - San Antonio 
· WTTO & WABM & WDBB - Birmingham, AL 
· WTVZ - Norfolk, VA 
· WUTV - Buffalo, NY 
· KOCB & KOKH - Oklahoma City 
· WXLV & WUPN - Greensboro, NC 
· WKEF & WRGT - Dayton, OH 
· KVWB & KFBT - Las Vegas 
· WCHS & WVAH - Charleston, WV 
· WRLH - Richmond, VA 
· WEAR & WFGX - Mobile, AL 
· WSMH - Flint, MI 
· WDKY - Lexington, KY 
· KDSM - Des Moines 
· WSYT & WNYS - Syracuse 
· KBSI & WDKA - Paducah, KY 
· WUHF - Rochester, NY 
· WGME - Portland, ME 
· WMSN - Madison, WI 
· WEMT - Tri-Cities, TN 
· WGGB - Springfield, MA 
· WYZZ - Peoria, IL 
· WTWC - Tallahassee, FL 
· WMMP & WTAT - Charleston, SC 
· WICS & WICD — Springfield, IL 
· KGAN — Cedar Rapids, IA

http://www.democrats.org/news/200410110001.html

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V2020 Post by Ted Moffett
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