Sinclair/Tribune Purchase

[wiffleball 4,629]

John Oliver did a good bit on a seriously underreported news story - about the news.

Sinclair may be the biggest news company no ones ever heard of.

They own a crapload of local TV stations around the country.

Now, they're buying Tribune. - Pretty big on their own.

All Totalled, Sinclair will be in 2.2 Million Households. Think about that.

 

A lot of people say "I can't trust the national media - I only watch local news".

Apparently, someone figured that out. - Very Murdoch-ian kind of thing.

"Well, it's local news. It's not like they can control THAT!"

Yeah, except they can - and do. They have "must airs" - segments

produced by Sinclair and sent off to all their stations.

And these segments are incredibly Fox-ish - and VERY Pro-Trump.

 

This part wasn't covered by Oliver:

Where's the FCC in all this you ask? See, there are rules that prevent this kind of thing. (or used to be).

To prevent having something like this , there was a long-standing rule that a company could own no more than 39% potential viewership - This merger puts Sinclair in 70%.

 

And... While key spots all over the Federal Government have not been filled, Trump made sure to place his buddy in at the FCC - who bypassed that rule. And Jared is on tape during the campaign saying they secured a sweeheart deal with Sinclair if they would provide more favorable coverage.

 

Interesting story if you care to research it. But you probably won't.

For those whining about how 'the news media' is SOOO libruhl, I'll remind you that the #1 National News Channel is Fox and now, 70% have "Fox 2" streaming into their local station too.

 

Hey, works for putin...

[fandandy 3,311]

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6

 

This article is 5 years old, so it's prolly even worse now. Sad.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

It's the same in food and most other industries too. We may as well repeal the antitrust laws and disband the FEC and federal trade commission. What's the point of pretending anymore?

[wiffleball 4,629]

Sounds like there might finally be some interest.

 

All it takes is an apathetic public for the avarice of a few to take hold.

 

 

When they talk about the price of Freedom being constant vigilance? They're not always talking about terrorist sneaking up to our borders.

[EternalShinyAndChrome 2,486]

Where have all you guys been for the last f#####g 30+ years when the MSM was inundated and overtaken by liberals, pushing their propaganda?

 

Seems a bit hypocritical of you guys to complain about this.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,559]

Where have all you guys been for the last 30+ years when the MSM was inundated and overtaken by liberals, pushing their propaganda?

 

Seems a bit hypocritical of you guys to complain about this.

That would require self awareness. That's the first thing to go when you join the ranks of the libtarded.

[wiffleball 4,629]

Sounds like there might finally be some interest.

 

All it takes is an apathetic public for the avarice of a few to take hold.

 

 

When they talk about the price of Freedom being constant vigilance? They're not always talking about terrorist sneaking up to our borders.

[Cdub100 3,366]

Nobody gave a sh!t about this back in August. Do liberals live in a bubble and only care about something when the Democrats whip them? Y'all need to wake the fock up.

 

http://www.fftodayforums.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=467652&hl=media

[lickin_starfish 1,477]

 

Liberals only care about liberal things.

 

Conservatives only care about conservative things.

 

The Swamp knows this, and use their respective media arms to leave the public hoodwinked.

[Cdub100 3,366]

Nobody gave a sh!t about this back in August. Do liberals live in a bubble and only care about something when the Democrats whip them? Y'all need to wake the fock up.

 

[url=http://www.fftodayforums.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=467652&hl=media]http://www.

Liberals only care about liberal things.

 

Conservatives only care about conservative things.

 

The Swamp knows this, and use their respective media arms to leave the public hoodwinked.

 

Good point. NOBODY on either side gave two sh1ts.

[wiffleball 4,629]

Where have all you guys been for the last f#####g 30+ years when the MSM was inundated and overtaken by liberals, pushing their propaganda?

 

Seems a bit hypocritical of you guys to complain about this.

Actually, Fox been the ratings leader for several years running.

[EternalShinyAndChrome 2,486]

Actually, Fox been the ratings leader for several years running.

 

And yet you've somehow managed to NOT answer the question.

[wiffleball 4,629]

Nobody gave a sh!t about this back in August. Do liberals live in a bubble and only care about something when the Democrats whip them? Y'all need to wake the fock up.

 

http://www.fftodayforums.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=467652&hl=media

You mean other than the guy who posted in July? Or the news stations that covered the story in the first place? But if by nobody, you mean the general public, yeah I absolutely agree.

 

Sort of how like one of the first pieces of legislation was allowing companies to buy our personal data off the internet. Nobody gave a back in the day. The day be about a year ago. And look how that's blowing up now.

[wiffleball 4,629]

 

And yet you've somehow managed to NOT answer the questions.

...which are?..

[wiffleball 4,629]

Let's face it, when the intelligent few were trying to ring the bell on this whole scam. How Trump totally changed the ownership rules for media? The right was screaming nothing Burger nothing Burger! And the idiots on the left or too worried about finding pink hats that match their shoes.

[EternalShinyAndChrome 2,486]

...which are?..

 

Reread the post, Einstein. Questions in the written word end with this character: "?" (without quotes).

 

Let's see if you can figure it out.

[Cdub100 3,366]

Let's face it, when the intelligent few were trying to ring the bell on this whole scam. How Trump totally changed the ownership rules for media? The right was screaming nothing Burger nothing Burger! And the idiots on the left or too worried about finding pink hats that match their shoes.

 

Stop it this is the culmination of the bill Clinton signed in the 90's. Trump has nothing to do with this Democrats and idiot RINOs did this.

[wiffleball 4,629]

 

Stop it this is the culmination of the bill Clinton signed in the 90's. Trump has nothing to do with this Democrats and idiot RINOs did this.

Are you stupid? This isn't even worth responding to. There was a fixed percentage that anyone company or organization could own in terms of market share. Trump brought guy to radically change that percentage. It's a fact. It doesn't get any simpler than that. Bill Clinton hasn't president in 20 f years.

[wiffleball 4,629]

See, there are rules that prevent this kind of thing. (or used to be).

To prevent having something like this , there was a long-standing rule that a company could own no more than 39% potential viewership - This merger puts Sinclair in 70%.

 

And... While key spots all over the Federal Government have not been filled, Trump made sure to place his buddy in at the FCC - who bypassed that rule. And Jared is on tape during the campaign saying they secured a sweeheart deal with Sinclair if they would provide more favorable coveragcoverage..

 

_--------

 

Geesus...

[fandandy 3,311]

Liberals only care about liberal things.

 

Conservatives only care about conservative things.

 

The Swamp knows this, and use their respective media arms to leave the public hoodwinked.

Sadly this is prolly spot on.

[wiffleball 4,629]

Here's a really simple video to explain things.

 

 

 

[EternalShinyAndChrome 2,486]

Here's a really simple video to explain things.

 

 

 

 

Again, where have you been the last 30+ years waving the OUTRAGE!!! flag as the media became overwhelmingly liberal and pushed their propaganda?

 

I"ll hang up and listen to your answer.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,559]

Here's a really simple video to explain things.

 

 

 

 

It's not your fault

[wiffleball 4,629]

The change will allow Sinclair — a company known for injecting "must run" conservative segments into its local programming — to reach 72 percent of U.S. households after buying Tribune’s stations. That’s nearly double the congressionally imposed nationwide audience cap of 39 percent.

 

The FCC and the company both say the agency wasn’t giving Sinclair any special favors by reviving the loophole, known as the “UHF discount,” which has long been considered technologically obsolete. But the Tribune deal would not have been viable if not for Pai’s (whom Trump earlier promoted to the position of FCC Chairman) intervention: Sinclair already reaches an estimated 38 percent of U.S. households without the discount, leaving it almost no room for growth.

 

...

That followed POLITICO's reporting on a boast by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner that the president's campaign had struck a deal with the broadcast group for better media coverage.

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/06/trump-fcc-sinclair-broadcast-expansion-241337

 

___________________________________________

 

So, not only does the Trump campaign admit to promoting the guy who bypassed the % rule, they focking BRAGGED about it.

 

....But yeah, but but but Clinton!!!!

[EternalShinyAndChrome 2,486]

The change will allow Sinclair — a company known for injecting "must run" conservative segments into its local programming — to reach 72 percent of U.S. households after buying Tribune’s stations. That’s nearly double the congressionally imposed nationwide audience cap of 39 percent.

 

The FCC and the company both say the agency wasn’t giving Sinclair any special favors by reviving the loophole, known as the “UHF discount,” which has long been considered technologically obsolete. But the Tribune deal would not have been viable if not for Pai’s (whom Trump earlier promoted to the position of FCC Chairman) intervention: Sinclair already reaches an estimated 38 percent of U.S. households without the discount, leaving it almost no room for growth.

 

...

That followed POLITICO's reporting on a boast by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner that the president's campaign had struck a deal with the broadcast group for better media coverage.

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/06/trump-fcc-sinclair-broadcast-expansion-241337

 

___________________________________________

 

So, not only does the Trump campaign admit to promoting the guy who bypassed the % rule, they focking BRAGGED about it.

 

....But yeah, but but but Clinton!!!!

 

Once again, where has your outrage been the last 30+ years as it's been nothing but liberal propaganda? You keep evading the question as if this Sinclair thing is something new. It's not - it's been with us this entire time except it's been done by the left. Why is your outrage only happening now?

[Hardcore troubadour 12,559]

The change will allow Sinclair a company known for injecting "must run" conservative segments into its local programming to reach 72 percent of U.S. households after buying Tribunes stations. Thats nearly double the congressionally imposed nationwide audience cap of 39 percent.

 

The FCC and the company both say the agency wasnt giving Sinclair any special favors by reviving the loophole, known as the UHF discount, which has long been considered technologically obsolete. But the Tribune deal would not have been viable if not for Pais (whom Trump earlier promoted to the position of FCC Chairman) intervention: Sinclair already reaches an estimated 38 percent of U.S. households without the discount, leaving it almost no room for growth.

 

...

That followed POLITICO's reporting on a boast by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner that the president's campaign had struck a deal with the broadcast group for better media coverage.

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/06/trump-fcc-sinclair-broadcast-expansion-241337

 

___________________________________________

 

So, not only does the Trump campaign admit to promoting the guy who bypassed the % rule, they focking BRAGGED about it.

 

....But yeah, but but but Clinton!!!!

It's not your fault

[drobeski 3,061]

Good job its about time we see some counter balance.

[SUXBNME 1,318]

Here's a really simple video to explain things.

 

 

 

The first 2.28 was hillarious

[drobeski 3,061]

Over 90% of trump coverage is negative.

 

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/12/media-bias-continues-90-of-trump-coverage-in-last-/

 

 

The America hating scumbags won't be happy unless it's 100% ?

 

Suck it crybabies!

[wiffleball 4,629]

The New York Times reported in August that Sinclair's chairman had discussed relaxing regulations on television advertising with Ajit Pai, who became the Federal Communications Commission chairman soon after.

 

During Pai's first 10 days on the job, he rolled back the Obama-era restriction on sharing ad revenue and other resources among television stations, according to records of the exchange.

 

 

Yep. Nothing shady there...

[Hardcore troubadour 12,559]

The New York Times reported in August that Sinclair's chairman had discussed relaxing regulations on television advertising with Ajit Pai, who became the Federal Communications Commission chairman soon after.

 

During Pai's first 10 days on the job, he rolled back the Obama-era restriction on sharing ad revenue and other resources among television stations, according to records of the exchange.

 

 

Yep. Nothing shady there...

It's not your fault

[wiffleball 4,629]

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/02/598794433/video-reveals-power-of-sinclair-as-local-news-anchors-recite-script-in-unison

[wiffleball 4,629]

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Trump-appointed Republican, for supporting TV ownership rule changes that would make it easier for the merger to pass regulatory scrutiny. After their requests, the FCC Inspector General began in investigation into whether Pai has acted inappropriately in assisting Sinclair.

[Cdub100 3,366]

Are you ###### stupid? This isn't even worth responding to. There was a fixed percentage that anyone company or organization could own in terms of market share. Trump brought guy to radically change that percentage. It's a ###### fact. It doesn't get any simpler than that. Bill Clinton hasn't president in 20 f years.

1996 telecommunications act. Trump's fault amirte?

[wiffleball 4,629]

Nothing like seeing 60 or so so called local news anchors literally parroting the exact same words.

 

How America's largest local TV owner turned its news anchors into soldiers in Trump's war on the media: https://t.co/NklkTQBV7O

 

Sharp work on the part of Deadspin.

[wiffleball 4,629]

Excellent. Sounds like this deal shiit the bed. - mostly out of their own arrogance.

 

this was such a bad deal for America. Even Trumps own hand picked puppet saw that.

 

Good.