# So couldn't someone sue to stop Sinclair **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 19, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120 "2004-10-19T21:55:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/41 "2004-10-20T18:18:01Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > No they haven’t. They offered a couple of minutes at the end of the show for a “response.” Obviously, a two minute response can hardly be called “equal time.” Got a cite that only 2 minutes was offered? I don’t have a cite as to how much time was actually offered, just what I’ve heard from interviews of Sinclair executives on Harball, when they said they were prepared to offer Kerry a full hour if he so desired. You might argue that the offer was not in good faith, but it was made nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/42 "2004-10-20T18:18:34Z")
Educate me here: How influential is Sinclair? Their closest local affiliate to here, WBFF in Baltimore, is a low-rated UHF station. Are there parts of the country where lots of people rely on a Sinclair-owned station for their news? I rely on WBFF for _Friends_ reruns and not much else. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/43 "2004-10-20T18:19:33Z")
Let me clarfiy what I meant by “not in good faith”. I think they made the offer knowing Kerry wouldn’t accept. But that didn’t stop Kerry from calling their bluff. I did not mean to imply that they would have withdrawn the offer if Kerry did in fact accept it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/44 "2004-10-20T18:19:48Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Similarly, if you actually look at what Sinclair is planning to air (as oppsoed to what people THINK they are going to air), one key thrust of the show will be how the mainstream news media generally ignored the claims of the Swifties: Well, that would have some real editorial news value. But they should balance it by airing some expose of conservative media bias – say, _Outfoxed!_😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/45 "2004-10-20T18:32:14Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Got a cite that only 2 minutes was offered? I don’t have a cite as to how much time was actually offered, just what I’ve heard from interviews of Sinclair executives on Harball, when they said they were prepared to offer Kerry a full hour if he so desired. You might argue that the offer was not in good faith, but it was made nonetheless. I was going off the initial story when it was linked on Drudge. If they changed the ofer to an hour then I didn’t know that and I stand corrected. Did Kerry really call their bluff and did they rescind the offer? I guess it’s moot point now since they aren;'t going to be airing he movie. Are they offering Kerry any time on their “news special” friday? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/46 "2004-10-20T18:40:04Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Are they offering Kerry any time on their “news special” friday? The problem I have with this new item is that the story keeps changing. My newspaper today reported that a Kerry supporter is trying to buy some “equal time”, but I don’t know if they’ve been successful or not. I can’t even confrm that it’s actually being shown this Friday. I get a bizillion cable channels, and I can’t find it being aired on any of them on Friday. At any rate, I think charges of falsehoods or libel should come only AFTER we’ve had a chance to see the “news special”. It sure sounds like a highly politcized effort, but I’ll wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/47 "2004-10-20T18:49:28Z")
The movie’s been out since september. The Media Matters stuff is based on an actual viewing of the film. I wouldn’t expect to see the special listed in any of the schedules, btw. They intend to preempt regular programming. It’s not part of the regular schedule. Are you sure you even have access to a Sinclair affiliate? They cover less than a quarter of the audience. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/48 "2004-10-20T19:05:34Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Are you sure you even have access to a Sinclair affiliate? They cover less than a quarter of the audience. I don’t know. I live in the SF Bay area, so I just assume I must be able to get it on some channel. I’ll have to do some digging to find out. Normally, I wouldn’t bother watching something like this, but now I feel like I have to. I’ve already sent in my absentee ballot, so it won’t make any difference in my decision anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/49 "2004-10-20T19:11:51Z")
I also just realized that, if it’s this Friday, it might conflict with the Vulcan Wedding on _Enterpise_. I only have 1 VCR, and am not usually home Friday night, so T’Pol is going to get preference over Kerry. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/50 "2004-10-20T19:12:28Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Educate me here: How influential is Sinclair? Their closest local affiliate to here, WBFF in Baltimore, is a low-rated UHF station. Are there parts of the country where lots of people rely on a Sinclair-owned station for their news? I rely on WBFF for _Friends_ reruns and not much else. KDNL Channel 30 in St Louis is a fine example of Sinclair’s commitment to the news: [b/no local news programming at all\*\*. The station dropped local news a couple years ago, IIRC. As an ABC affiliate they do show _Nightline_, however. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/51 "2004-10-20T19:13:19Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I guess it’s moot point now since they aren;'t going to be airing he movie. 😕 When did that happen? You mean Sinclair is **not** going to broadcast _Stolen Honors_ on its affiliates after all? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/52 "2004-10-20T19:16:22Z")
Interesting. [KMWB 23](http://www.kmwb23.com/minneapolis_mn/) in the Twin Cities (where I am) seems to be showing this thing tonight. I wonder if this a national airing or just some weird local airing. If they’re showing it tonight, I’m glad. They’re putting it up against game 7 of Red Sox-Yankees in one of the most intriguing post season sports series in years. No one is going to watch this Kerry thing over the ALCS. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/53 "2004-10-20T19:18:32Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 When did that happen? You mean Sinclair is **not** going to broadcast _Stolen Honors_ on its affiliates after all? The current plan, as I understand it, is to air some part of it as an overall program that focusses on the Swifties claims and the lack of mainstream news coverage they’ve gotten. But it sounds like the plans are not finalized. They’ve been getting some flack from investors about this-- their stock is down somethink like 15% recetnly-- so I think they’re scrambling a bit. Go the the SJ Merc cite from one of my earlier posts today. There’s more detail there. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/54 "2004-10-20T19:24:02Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I don’t know. I live in the SF Bay area, so I just assume I must be able to get it on some channel. I’ll have to do some digging to find out. Normally, I wouldn’t bother watching something like this, but now I feel like I have to. > > I’ve already sent in my absentee ballot, so it won’t make any difference in my decision anyway. 🙂 Makes no difference, looks like the closest Sinclair station to the Bay area is in [Sacramento](http://sbgweb2.sbgnet.com/business/markets/sacramento.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/55 "2004-10-20T19:25:40Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 When did that happen? You mean Sinclair is **not** going to broadcast _Stolen Honors_ on its affiliates after all? > **[Breaking International News & Views](https://www.reuters.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/56 "2004-10-20T19:31:16Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > Makes no difference, looks like the closest Sinclair station to the Bay area is in [Sacramento](http://sbgweb2.sbgnet.com/business/markets/sacramento.shtml) Thanks. We’re not used to be deprived of anything here in the Bay area. 🙂 I’m sure it’ll be downloadable from the web somewhere. Here’s their own [press release.](http://sbgweb2.sbgnet.com/press/release_20041019_87.shtml) It looks like it will be even broader in scope than I thought: > [@](#): > > The news special will focus in part on the use of documentaries and > other media to influence voting, which emerged during the 2004 political > campaigns, as well as on the content of certain of these documentaries. > The program will also examine the role of the media in filtering the > information contained in these documentaries, allegations of media bias by > media organizations that ignore or filter legitimate news and the attempts > by candidates and other organizations to influence media coverage. > > ``` > Contrary to numerous inaccurate political and press accounts, the > > ``` > > Sinclair stations will not be airing the documentary “Stolen Honor” in its > entirety. At no time did Sinclair ever publicly announce that it intended > to do so. In fact, since the controversy began, Sinclair’s website has > prominently displayed the following statement: “The program has not been > videotaped and the exact format of this unscripted event has not been > finalized. Characterizations regarding the content are premature and are > based on ill-informed sources.” Also, the 8PM time slot DOES compete with Star Trek. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/57 "2004-10-20T19:40:06Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I don’t know. I live in the SF Bay area, so I just assume I must be able to get it on some channel. I’ll have to do some digging to find out. Normally, I wouldn’t bother watching something like this, but now I feel like I have to. Looks like you are SOL on seeing it in San Francisco. Need to drive to Sacramento if you want to catch it. > [@](#): > > Sinclair’s television group includes 20 FOX, 19 WB, 6 UPN, 8 ABC, 3 CBS, 4 NBC affiliates and 2 independent stations and reaches approximately 24% of all U.S. television households. To view information about stations in each of our markets, use the menu below. > > SOURCE: [Sinclair Broadcast Group](http://sbgweb2.sbgnet.com/business/television.shtml) > Note – This link gives you easy access to search for any of the stations they own. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/58 "2004-10-20T21:07:00Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > As an ABC affiliate they do show _Nightline_, however. Well, not always… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120/59 "2004-10-20T22:51:18Z")
> [@Sinclair Broadcasting Group](#): > > Contrary to numerous inaccurate political and press accounts, the Sinclair stations will not be airing the documentary “Stolen Honor” in its entirety. Yeah, it’s those biased lefty news rags, like **TV Guide** and [**Yahoo! TV,**](http://tv.yahoo.com/tvpdb?d=tvp&id=169071388&cf=0&lineup=us_KS57836d&channels=us_KSMO&chspid=166031795&chname=KSMO&title=Stolen+Honor%3a+Wounds+That+Never+HealStolen+Honor%3a+Wounds+That+Never+Heal&progutn=1098406800&.intl=us) that was slanting their program listings! :rolleyes: To steal from Josh Marshall, “what Sinclair now plans is an hourlong special which is based largely on the material from ‘Stolen Honor’ but also frames this in a larger ‘context’ of liberal media bias and how bad it is that all the other networks haven’t run ‘Stolen Honor’ and presumably what a rough shake Sinclair’s gotten for trying to run ‘Stolen Honor.’ That’s balance.” Boo, hoo, hoo, po’ persecuted Sinclair… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-couldnt-someone-sue-to-stop-sinclair/270120.md?page=2)