# WTF? Sinclair Group! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655 "2018-04-02T18:32:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/81 "2018-04-05T02:56:07Z")
I’m proud to say that the co-anchors at one of our local stations, KVAL, [refused to read the statement](http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/36618555-75/kval-morning-co-anchors-refuse-to-read-controversial-script.html.csp). I can’t tell from the story if they will be fired, but they seem prepared to accept the consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/82 "2018-04-05T13:01:30Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The “good ole’boys network with little diversity”. Hmmm? What does that sound like? Seems familiar. When agents of the Sinclair Group start going around and destroying rival stations, then you might have a barely significant point. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/83 "2018-04-05T13:40:05Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > When agents of the Sinclair Group start going around and destroying rival stations, then you might have a barely significant point. Nonsense. Broadcast licenses are a limited resource, and those who already have power in the industry are more likely to get one. The internet is seriously challenging the information stranglehold that large media companies used to enjoy, but the airwaves are still a source of great power. Given the inroads this administration has made into allowing internet providers to quash access to unfriendly sites, broadcast licenses may regain some power in the near future. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/84 "2018-04-05T14:11:57Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Given the inroads this administration has made into allowing internet providers to quash access to unfriendly sites, broadcast licenses may regain some power in the near future. Sure. But even that doesn’t stand up to comparisons to Nazi Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/85 "2018-04-05T16:51:46Z")
Hitler sold the average German citizen a bill of goods. They drank the koolaid wanting better jobs and a great economy. And a good future for their children. I doubt many thought a genocide of a whole peoples was even considered in those early years. Even after it was happening, they talked themselves into thinking it would all be fine. These things start small, and then escalate. If we have compromised news broadcasts what is next? Banning certain books? Teaching only certain subjects in schools? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/86 "2018-04-05T16:57:17Z")
Dogs and cats living together? Mass hysteria? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/87 "2018-04-05T18:05:06Z")
Here is a very interesting article written anonymously by a Sinclair anchor. > **["We’re journalists at a Sinclair news station. We’re pissed."](https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/first-person/2018/4/5/17202336/sinclair-broadcasting-promo-deadspin)** > > Some of us wish we could quit — but our hands are tied. The fallout is getting bigger and bigger. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/88 "2018-04-05T18:22:50Z")
^^thanks for that link. Very interesting. I am glad some anchors at local stations realize this is just not right. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/89 "2018-04-05T18:25:50Z")
Why would someone sign a contract that doesn’t allow them to quit the job without paying money that they haven’t even received yet? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/90 "2018-04-05T18:29:01Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Why would someone sign a contract that doesn’t allow them to quit the job without paying money that they haven’t even received yet? When the market is as tight as an elephant in a size 6 leotard and your station is sold off to a company like Sinclair, your options are limited. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/91 "2018-04-05T18:54:40Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Why would someone sign a contract that doesn’t allow them to quit the job without paying money that they haven’t even received yet? I read in a different article that it’s standard in the industry. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/92 "2018-04-05T20:41:49Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > So is this Sinclair stuff cable like Fox? How can I find out if there are any of these propaganda pushers in my neck of the airwaves? A link from hajario linked to this page > **[Sinclair’s pro-Trump news is taking over local TV. See if they own your station.](https://www.vox.com/2018/4/4/17190240/sinclair-local-tv-map-data)** > > This map says it all. which was quite helpful. (Thanks to the others that also answered my question!) At this page I was quite happy to find: “In the Chicago market, the Sinclair Broadcast Group owns no stations” So I’ve got that going for me. But I think I also saw elsewhere some news about Sinclair’s intentions to buy into more markets, and that the current administration would be encouraging of that, from a regulatory point of view. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/93 "2018-04-05T20:44:13Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > A link from hajario linked to this page > [Sinclair’s pro-Trump news is taking over local TV. See if they own your station. | Vox](https://www.vox.com/2018/4/4/17190240/sinclair-local-tv-map-data) > which was quite helpful. (Thanks to the others that also answered my question!) > At this page I was quite happy to find: > > “In the Chicago market, the Sinclair Broadcast Group owns no stations” > > So I’ve got that going for me. But I think I also saw elsewhere some news about Sinclair’s intentions to buy into more markets, and that the current administration would be encouraging of that, from a regulatory point of view. See if you have any Tribune stations-that’s what Sinclair is trying to swallow next. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/94 "2018-04-05T20:47:57Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > At this page I was quite happy to find: > > “In the Chicago market, the Sinclair Broadcast Group owns no stations” > > So I’ve got that going for me. But I think I also saw some news about Sinclair’s intentions to buy into more markets, and that the current administration would be encouraging of that, from a regulatory point of view. [Sinclair is currently trying to purchase Tribune Broadcasting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_acquisition_of_Tribune_Media_by_Sinclair_Broadcast_Group), which would give them control of WGN here in Chicago. However, it looks like[they might then divest WGN](http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sinclair-tribune-wgn-sale-20180221-story.html), among other stations, as they try to get under the “reach cap” (see my earlier post). That said, there are questions about whether [the method by which they would divest those stations would still allow Sinclair some control over them](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/business/sinclair-tribune-merger-antitrust.html). ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/95 "2018-04-05T20:52:52Z")
That sucks about Tribune, but thanks for the info. The nasty thing about this old-fashioned media propaganda is that it works. I’ve got some more reading to do. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/96 "2018-04-05T23:05:49Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > That sucks about Tribune, but thanks for the info. The nasty thing about this old-fashioned media propaganda is that it works. I’ve got some more reading to do. You probably know this, but others might not: The Chicago Tribune newspaper is owned by _ **tronc** _ (with a lower case _t_) and not by Tribune Media. I point this out because many people on the internet are saying that the newspaper is being bought by Sinclair. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/97 "2018-04-05T23:10:25Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > You probably know this, but others might not: The Chicago Tribune newspaper is owned by _ **tronc** _ (with a lower case _t_) and not by Tribune Media. > > I point this out because many people on the internet are saying that the newspaper is being bought by Sinclair. You are absolutely correct, but to be fair, tronc was known as Tribune Publishing until 2016, and was part of Tribune Media (which is what Sinclair is trying to buy) until 2014. So, confusion is understandable. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/98 "2018-04-05T23:35:53Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > The nasty thing about this old-fashioned media propaganda is that it works. I’ve got some more reading to do. And Russia perfected it domestically before going on to eventually take advantage of their dominance on a new global battlefield ironically originated in the US Department of Defense effort to build a communication system that would survive a nuclear attack by the USSR. Here’s some reading for you, sounds like an interesting book: > **[How Russia pioneered “fake news”](https://www.vox.com/world/2018/4/5/17172754/russia-fake-news-trump-america-timothy-snyder)** > > And then used it to sow chaos in America. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/99 "2018-08-09T15:31:31Z")
Hey!!! A [win](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-ma/tribune-media-files-suit-terminates-sinclair-merger-deal-idUSKBN1KU18Z?il=0)!!! (Reuters) > [@](#): > > Tribune Media Co (TRCO.N) said on Thursday it had terminated a $3.9 billion deal to be acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI.O) and was suing Sinclair for breach of contract, after regulators objected to the acquisition that was supported by U.S. President Donald Trump. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655/100 "2018-08-09T15:40:02Z")
I was just going to post this. You beat me to it. This is very good news! Now I’m wondering what the potential impact would be on Sinclair if Tribune were to win the lawsuit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-sinclair-group/811655.md?page=6)