Candidate buys ads on Sinclair TV stations to blast company

[swag]

Source: Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Democratic candidate for Montana’s U.S. House seat is using Sinclair Broadcast Group’s own television stations to blast the company for forcing its reporters to read the conservative-leaning corporation’s statements on air.

John Heenan bought airtime starting Monday for an ad on Sinclair-owned stations KECI-TV in Missoula and KTVM-TV in Bozeman and Butte. In it, he calls Sinclair “a corporation using its power to take advantage of journalists, our democracy and the people of Montana.”

“This station is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, a powerful corporation that forces its journalists to read corporate talking points on the air,” Heenan says in the ad.

KECI general manager Tamy Wagner said her station received the ad Friday morning and that it would run as scheduled.

The candidate, one of four Democrats competing for the chance to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, was referencing a script read by news anchors on Sinclair stations across the country that expressed concern about “one-sided news stories plaguing the country.”

Read more: https://www.apnews.com/faea5518fbea4483bd4d1ac2de897cb6

[turbinetree]

1. Touche......................

[appalachiablue]

2. K & R Good for the MT Dem. candidate.

[dameatball]

3. That is a great idea. I would kick in a few bucks if others wanted to do the same.

Not sure if TV stations can refuse paid air time for political affiliation.

[swag]

4. Yeah, me too.

Would be great to get ads on all the Sinclair outles.

[Qutzupalotl]

5. Gianforte is the nut who roughed up a reporter.

Whoever wins this primary should make it a point to tie him to Sinclair's (and Trump's) assault on the free press.

[Delmette2.0]

6. I get to vote for John Heenan!!

Montana has about a million citizens so in some ways we are a small city. I have personally shook the hands of all the Democrats in the primary race against Gianaforte.

Sinclair is using years long trusted, familiar local news people to parrot their RW message. If they don't say the words these local broadcasters will lose their jobs.

[swag]

7. Where do you live

I was born in Glasgow, went to hd in Havre, and college in Missoula. I still drive back to Havre twice a year from Portland to visit the fam.

[Delmette2.0]

8. Helena.

I would guess that you take Hwy 200 straight to Great Falls.

If you ever want to detour through Helena, I'll buy a meal for you.
I like meeting fellow DUers

[paleotn]

9. And Joe Goebbels TV

can't do a damn thing about it.

[SoCalMusicLover]

10. While I Like The Idea

The reality is that this is contributing revenue to the station by buying ad time. Of course the repubs are all about $$$$, so they're taking it and airing the ads.

But Sinclair is all about making money, so this will only enrich their bottom line.