12-10-2004 05:27									#1
	Sinclair to air anti-Kerry special Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: New York, NY, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A conservative U.S. broadcaster whose outlets reach one-quarter of the nation's TV viewers is airing a film that attacks John Kerry just before the election. Sinclair Broadcast Group has ordered its 62 stations to preempt regular programming during primetime to air "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. The film, funded by Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, features former POWs accusing Kerry -- a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who later protested the war -- of worsening their ordeal by prolonging the conflict. The Kerry campaign blasted Sinclair for what it says is strongarming its stations into broadcasting lies to influence the political process, the Times said. "It's beyond yellow journalism," said Kerry spokesman David Wade. "It's a smear bankrolled by Republican money, and I don't think Americans will stand for it." The one-hour special, which will be aired between Oct. 21 and Oct. 24 depending on the city, will be followed by a panel discussion to which Kerry will be invited, potentially satisfying fairness regulations, the Times reported.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-brea...60025-2603r.htm

Sinclair media.... where have I heard that name before? Oh yeah, that's right:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/01/abc.nightline/

quote: Republican senator and Vietnam veteran John McCain lambasted the Sinclair Broadcast Group Friday for insisting its ABC stations not air the program, calling the move "deeply offensive."

So, I suppose that forcing all these stations to air pro-Bush propaganda is "not offensive" then? Shouldn't this be illegal under campaign contribution law (essentially giving a gift to the Bush campaign that has an airtime value of well over $2000)?

Discuss.

	12-10-2004 05:31									#2
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CNN is reporting that this film may trigger the equal-time requirement. Sinclair would poop if it then had to put on an equal amount of pro-Kerry propaganda.

	12-10-2004 05:47									#3
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quote: The film, funded by Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, features former POWs accusing Kerry -- a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who later protested the war -- of worsening their ordeal by prolonging the conflict.

I believe voting for pro-war Presidents prolonged the war... How did the protestors prolong the war? That sounds like one of those oxy-morons, if Americans were fully supporting the policy, would it have ended earlier?
How? Complete victory? There was no such thing because of Cold War concerns...

	12-10-2004 05:52									#4
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theres nothing special about being anti kerry

	12-10-2004 05:57									#5
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And this is different than a feature film how?

One person providing his point of view vs a corporation doing the same... different how?

People can watch or not, just like they could go to a movie. I don't see how anybody should be more outraged with a movie vs a TV show...

The equal time laws... now that's a different story

	12-10-2004 05:58									#6
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quote: CNN is reporting that this film may trigger the equal-time requirement. Sinclair would poop if it then had to put on an equal amount of pro-Kerry propaganda.

Farhenheit 911

	12-10-2004 06:00									#7
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quote: And this is different than a feature film how?

You don't have to pay for it or go to a theatre to see it, and it replaces normal primetime TV lineups.

	12-10-2004 06:17									#8
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quote: Originally posted by Ming And this is different than a feature film how?

The airwaves are public property.

I see no legal way that the stations could not be required to air a pro-Kerry film, such as Going Upriver.

	12-10-2004 08:09									#9
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quote: Originally posted by Ramo quote: And this is different than a feature film how? You don't have to pay for it or go to a theatre to see it, and it replaces normal primetime TV lineups.

What is "normal" is determined by the corporate owners... If you don't want to watch it, you don't have to.

	12-10-2004 08:11									#10
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quote: Originally posted by Guynemer The airwaves are public property. I see no legal way that the stations could not be required to air a pro-Kerry film, such as Going Upriver.

Now that's a matter of the "equal time" laws... up to the courts.

As far as the owners of the stations wanting to run what they want, they can as long as it doesn't violate any laws... no different than a person distributing a movie.

Hell, Moore wants to run it again right before the election on PAY TV...

	12-10-2004 08:11									#11
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It still constitutes a political donation.

	12-10-2004 08:16									#12
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That's up to the lawyers... not my field of expertise...

One could argue it doesn't... (I wouldn't )

	12-10-2004 08:17									#13
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Pay-per-view cable TV is legally different from broadcast TV.

	12-10-2004 08:19									#14
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I don't argue that... there is a big legal difference.
As I said, I think it's crap that somebody might be outraged that a corporation would be doing the same thing an individual did, and that they weren't outraged about.

Egual time laws are a whole different matter

	12-10-2004 08:25									#15
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It's an outrage that a corporate entity is forcing its free broadcast stations it owns to show a political campaign tool without equal time to other side.

Legally and morally different than a pay-per-view cable station or a theatrical showing of a movie.

	12-10-2004 08:31									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Ming Hell, Moore wants to run it again right before the election on PAY TV...

He wants to run a produced and distributed movie on pay-per-view around the time that it comes out for purchase and rental? THE CAD!

	12-10-2004 09:24									#17
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quote: Originally posted by Guynemer Legally and morally different than a pay-per-view cable station or a theatrical showing of a movie.

Morally?

	12-10-2004 09:29									#18
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Um, yeah, morally. A 'network' should not, morally, show blatently political movies/documentaries on the air. The public airways should not be for political propoganda. The only way it may be justified if equal time is given for the other side.

	12-10-2004 09:33									#19
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui Um, yeah, morally. A 'network' should not, morally, show blatently political movies/documentaries on the air. The public airways should not be for political propoganda. The only way it may be justified if equal time is given for the other side.

Please spare me morality. Morality is easily disposed with by both sides but I'm sure the dems are as pure as the driven snow. All of this mock outrage is a bit much from a group of people that surely have followed politics for more than the past year.

	12-10-2004 09:34									#20
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui Um, yeah, morally. A 'network' should not, morally, show blatently political movies/documentaries on the air. The public airways should not be for political propoganda. The only way it may be justified if equal time is given for the other side.

I agree.

Much as I decry media bias in favor of Kerry this IMO has a stench about it.

	12-10-2004 09:36									#21
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quote: Originally posted by Guynemer Pay-per-view cable TV is legally different from broadcast TV.

Not for much longer. Because of the near ubiquity of it on American homes, Congress is considering expanding the "morality" rules to cover cable networks. Interestingly, according to a Supreem Court ruling in the late '70s, the current rules on morality for regular network tv may no longer be valid, as SCOTUS said the only reason the Feds could regulate the networks was because airwaves were a scarce network. Problem is, with digital broadcasting, that's no longer true.

	12-10-2004 09:37									#22
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Republicans got a lot of milage out of the lies told by "the swift boat veterens for truth". By the time journalists figured out the SBVfT were full of **** and funded by the Republican party they had almost knocked Kerry out of the race. It seems the Republicans have learned... It's ok to lie and make propaganda pieces but do it right before people vote so that when they are caught it is to late.

	12-10-2004 09:38									#23
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quote: Please spare me morality. Morality is easily disposed with by both sides but I'm sure the dems are as pure as the driven snow.

That has what to do with the point that the networks should, morally, not show political propaganda on the public airwaves? Oh yeah, it doesn't.

	12-10-2004 09:39									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui quote: Please spare me morality. Morality is easily disposed with by both sides but I'm sure the dems are as pure as the driven snow. That has what to do with the point that the networks should, morally, not show political propaganda on the public airwaves? Oh yeah, it doesn't.

now now young man don't you roll your eyes at me

	12-10-2004 09:40									#25
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui quote: Please spare me morality. Morality is easily disposed with by both sides but I'm sure the dems are as pure as the driven snow. That has what to do with the point that the networks should, morally, not show political propaganda on the public airwaves? Oh yeah, it doesn't.

Since when does a topic of a thread mean anything here.

	12-10-2004 09:42									#26
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Some of you are missing Guynemer's point.

Broadcast airwaves are OWNED by the public. They are licenced to companies so those companies have the priviledge of airing shows on the public's airwaves. As such there is an inherent requirement for broadcast companies to pay attention to the public good.

Running a blatantly biased political program and trying to pass it off as "news" so you can avoid the equal time laws is not in the public's interest. I am pretty confident this will get sorted out though.

The above is also how it is different from a movie; It's a biased political statement on one of the candidates only a couple weeks before the election.

-Drachasor

	12-10-2004 09:43									#27
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Hell, not even FOX would touch it!

	12-10-2004 09:47									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Drachasor Running a blatantly biased political program and trying to pass it off as "news" so you can avoid the equal time laws is not in the public's interest.

That's irrelevent. The "public interest" stuff is barely bothered with these days, although some public interest groups have started trying to get companies licenses revoked on the argment the various stations aren't serving the PI. Haven't heard whether they've been successful, but with Powell as Fed chief, I doubt it.

The problem for Sinclair is that the movie can be effectively considered a political donation, which will greatly exceed the amount maximum allowed. I'm sure this is the tack the DNC will take in order to stop Sinclair.

	12-10-2004 09:47									#29
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quote: Originally posted by Drachasor Some of you are missing Guynemer's point.

The point is that after nearly two years some people no longer care to be outraged.

	12-10-2004 09:50									#30
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quote: Originally posted by Ming That's up to the lawyers... not my field of expertise... One could argue it doesn't... (I wouldn't )

If the Congress can pass laws regulating campaign contributions, when and where ads can be placed, who can place those ads, and a whole lot else then why shouldn't this type of political ad also fall under the same rules?