GOP Allied Media Group Orders Affiliates To Preempt 'Nightline' Show Honoring Slain U.S. Troops

[hoyt fay]

Friday, April 30th, 2004

On ABC News today, Nightline anchorman Ted Koppel will read aloud the names of more than 500 U.S. service men and women killed in combat in Iraq. In total, over 730 US soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the invasion. A corresponding photo will appear on the screen of the slain soldiers along with their name, military branch, rank, age and hometown. The entire broadcast will be devoted to reading the names.

But not all ABC viewers will be watching today's program.

Earlier this week, the Baltimore-based media company Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. ordered its ABC affiliates to preempt the Nightline broadcast saying the program is "motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq."

Sinclair holdings include 62 local TV stations in 39 markets affiliated with ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, WB and UPN.

Political motivations of Sinclair executives appears to have played a part in the company's decision to block the popular ABC news program. According to The Center for Responsive Politics, 98 percent of Sinclair's political contributions in 2004 have gone to Republican candidates.


Go to www.democracynow.org to hear the whole story, then moveon.org has started a letter writing campaign!!