Tell the CW Network not to do Business with Right-wing Propagandists

On January 24, 2006, CBS corporation and Time Warner announced they were merging UPN and the WB networks to create a new, larger TV network, "The CW." This merger means that the media companies that control local broadcast stations will have a larger audience if they are selected to be affiliates for the new CW network.

The company we are concerned about is Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair is the company that pre-empted Nightline's episode that read the names of those killed in Iraq, that planned an hour-long propaganda attack on John Kerry two weeks before the 2004 election, and that continues to air right-wing commentary with no ideological balance.

The CW could mean two things for Sinclair: (1) its UPN and WB affiliates could be picked up by the new network, giving Sinclair even more power to distort the news; or (2) the new CW network could realize that doing business with Sinclair is bad for business.

Help us convince The CW network to not sign affliliate agreements with Sinclair. Take action now by sending a message to the CW network management below.

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What is Sinclair Broadcast Group?
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., is one of the largest television broadcasters in the country. By its own count, Sinclair owns, operates, or services 62 local television stations in 39 markets - reaching 24% of television households in the United States.
Source: Sinclair Broadcast Group, www.sbgi.net.

How might Sinclair benefit or be hurt by the new CW network?
Sinclair owns or controls 18 WB affiliates and 6 UPN affiliates. If most of these Sinclair affiliates are picked up by The CW network, then Sinclair will benefit and the viewing public will suffer. If instead The CW pick the non-Sinclair option in these markets, then fewer people will be exposed to the unbalanced ideological tirades that Sinclair Broadcasting calls news.

Here are the current Sinclair WB and UPN affiliates:


WB-38 Tampa
WB-23 Minneapolis
WB-22 Pittsburgh
WB-54 Baltimore
WB-22 Raleigh
WB-58 Nashville
WB-18 Milwaukee
WB-40 Asheville / Spartenburg
WB-35 San Antonio
WB-21 Birmingham
WB-33 Norfolk
WB-34 Oklahoma City
WB-21 Las Vegas
WB-49 Buffalo
WB-43 Syracuse
WB-49 Paducah
UPN-28 Raleigh
UPN-30 Nashville
UPN-24 Milwaukee
UPN-68 Birmingham
UPN-48 Greensboro
UPN-36 Charleston

What is Sinclair's History of Biased News Coverage?
In April 2004, Sinclair ordered seven of its stations not to air Ted Koppel's Nightline broadcast featuring a roll call of the 700 U.S. troops who had died in Iraq. Republican Sen. John McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, was among the many who criticized Sinclair's action. In October 2004, Sinclair planned to air "Stolen Honor" an hour-long attack film about John Kerry. Only a concerted effort by the public Stopped Sinclair then. Sinclair also regularly airs right-wing commentary on its local news without and moderate or progressive counterbalance.
Sources: PBS, 10/12/04, "Sinclair Under Fire for Decision to Air Anti-Kerry Film"; Media Matters for America's description of Sinclair's The Point.

Why else might we think Sinclair is biased?
In the 2004 political cycle, executives from Sinclair gave $78,540 in political contributions: 95% of that went to Republicans. We just report, you decide.
Source: The Center for Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org