ABCs Nightline Program 'The Fallen' not to be aired in several markets

[WestOgma]

It deeply disturbs me that this is not going to be shown in some markets. Granted the light it will be shown in will not be one that 'celebrates' the nature of the conflict in iraq, as some might wish it to be, but it is to honor those who have fallen. How can one justify not airing such a program to honor those who have died for their country? It appears that the big wigs at sinclair broadcast group are being swayed by their own political ideologies in not airing this for the public to see. What is being presented shouldn't be looked upon as controversial, but instead as being the truth of the men and women who have fallen. For those who wish not to view it they can always change the channel instead of taking it off the market where some people, like myself, would tune in to put faces to the valor and sacrifice that have been made durring this war. It disgusts me that this is even happening. How would you feel if someone you knew was being honored on this program but you lived in a market where it was not being shown, not being able to witness a tribute to your own son or daughter because some big wig didn’t like the way it conflicted with their own held political beliefs? I think to stop showing a program like this for political motivations, which undoubtedly are behind this, is a foul and vile act by the sinclair broadcast group. It is shame that such motivations could sway these individuals when it comes to something as important as honoring the dead that have fought valiantly for this country.

 

[buckiprof]

unless of course the owners of said station are benefitting from their political support in some way or another... hmm i wonder..

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040430/tv_nm/media_nightline_dc

This line within the above Reuters article

"Sinclair executives have donated more than $130,000 to President Bush (news - web sites) and his political allies since 2000."

tends to make one wonder even more.

There should be limits to how many station/outlets one company can control when it comes to the media. Too much control by one company can lead to this type of censorship and this type of censorship is not good.

Sinclair's boycott drew a sharp rebuke from U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a New York Democrat and leading congressional critic of newly relaxed media ownership regulations adopted last year by the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites).



"The decision by Sinclair ... to keep this program off its stations is being made by a corporation with a political agenda without regard to the wants or needs of its viewers," Hinchey said. "This move may be providing a chilling look into the future if we allow media ownership to be consolidated into fewer and fewer hands."

And who is in charge of the FCC?!?!