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SouthBayDem

(32,918 posts)

18. Echoes of what they did to Ted Koppel back in '04

Thu Sep 18, 2025, 12:33 AM

Sep 18

Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the largest owners of local television stations, will pre-empt tonight's [4/30/2004] edition of the ABC News program "Nightline," saying the program's plan to have Ted Koppel read aloud the names of every member of the armed forces killed in action in Iraq was motivated by an antiwar agenda and threatened to undermine American efforts there.

The decision means viewers in eight cities, including St. Louis, Jacksonville, Fla., and Columbus, Ohio, will not see "Nightline."

ABC News disputed that the program carried a political message, calling it in a statement "an expression of respect which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for their country."

NY Times archive link (no paywall)

Even John McCain wrote to Sinclair in defense of Nightline.

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iemanja SunSeeker LeftInTX wolfie001 Bengus81

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Highlight:

'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Replaced With Charlie Kirk Tribute on Sinclair's ABC Stations; Company Demands Kimmel Apologize and [View all] iemanja Sep 17 OP

What the fuck would he have to apologize for? D. Spaulding Sep 17 #1

Sinclair is a right-wing media conglomerate that, among other things, owns many ABC affiliates PSPS Sep 18 #14

I wish we had some of those oldmanlynn Sep 18 #15

Time to move on, Jimmy BeyondGeography Sep 17 #2

Drunk on christo-fascism nt wolfie001 Sep 18 #31

Sounds like they'd like to work something out, but bet Kimmel won't make it easy. Silent Type Sep 17 #3

I just cancelled Disney, Hulu, and blocked ABC Meadowoak Sep 18 #27

Work something out means neutering Kimmel to making jokes about the weather Bengus81 Sep 19 #55

FTS Omaha Steve Sep 17 #4

I never apologize for my foul language on DU. LeftInTX Sep 18 #24

Fuckin' A! sheshe2 Sep 18 #52

I hope Kimmel tells them to fuck right off. Ocelot II Sep 17 #5

Freedom of speech is dead anymore in this here country Blues Heron Sep 17 #6

Really? Oeditpus Rex Sep 18 #46

Do have any idea how many have lost their jobs over this insane spasm of censorship? Yes free speech is dead. Blues Heron Sep 18 #47

How many times has The Felon been called a pedophile Oeditpus Rex Sep 18 #53

WTF?! sheshe2 Sep 17 #7

What would you expect from the network (ABC/Disney/ESPN) that DJ Synikus Makisimus Sep 17 #8

the deal requires the $700 to air until Jesus comes back pstokely Sep 18 #38

So dark the con of man. DJ Synikus Makisimus Sep 18 #44

id love apple tv or netflix to pick him up moonshinegnomie Sep 18 #9

Apple wouldn't do it iemanja Sep 18 #10

im not so sure of that moonshinegnomie Sep 18 #11

I agree about Netflix iemanja Sep 18 #12

Stop buying his fucking iphones by the millions and Cook might have a come to Jesus moment..... Bengus81 Sep 18 #48

it would have to be a different format pstokely Sep 18 #39

Many ABC OTA radio and TV affiliates are now owned by Sinclair. PSPS Sep 18 #13

List of stations owned by Sinclair iemanja Sep 18 #17

The local Nexstar ABC station is airing doc03 Sep 18 #16

Echoes of what they did to Ted Koppel back in '04 SouthBayDem Sep 18 #18

Well at least ABC didn't fire Ted Koppel. They defended him. LeftInTX Sep 18 #25

Back then the FCC was targeting raunch not politics SouthBayDem Sep 18 #40

If we are ever able to get the U.S. back to reality, history will not be kind to the trump humpers. C Moon Sep 18 #19

I will remove ABC from my channel list. I watch via antenna anyway. CentralMass Sep 18 #20

same here lostincalifornia Sep 18 #22

And...me too! Superior pic compared to cable and some streaming Bengus81 Sep 18 #49

F**K THEM. I really hope Kimmel is offered an opportunity with a cable/Satellite program, Comedy Channel, or an lostincalifornia Sep 18 #21

Cable TV is almost dead,he doesn't need to land on something like that Bengus81 Sep 18 #50

Sinclair practices Tr*mp's shakedown method. sinkingfeeling Sep 18 #23

The Friday Night Death Slot! BidenRocks Sep 18 #26

This message was self-deleted by its author MrWowWow Sep 18 #28

Start the Tribute With This Touching Clip MrWowWow Sep 18 #29

The munchkins were little perverts. They wouldn't leave Dorothy alone. twodogsbarking Sep 18 #34

"conservative tilt" William Seger Sep 18 #30

Chuck KKKirk wolfie001 Sep 18 #32

pravda programming. nt Javaman Sep 18 #33

It is refreshing to know that Charlie Jerk was the only gun killing in the US in eight days. twodogsbarking Sep 18 #35

Suggested Kimmel apology.... Gary 50 Sep 18 #36

best apology ever... keroro gunsou Sep 19 #54

Does Sinclair think they have that many deplorable viewers? mdbl Sep 18 #37

They just lost two in our house RainCaster Sep 18 #41

Good Idea since DirecTV and other streaming services pay sinclair for every viewer. mdbl Sep 18 #42

This is fucking sadistic. Fuck Sinclair! Initech Sep 18 #43

Too bad Leni Riefenstahl is dead Danmel Sep 18 #45

Comrade Withers Replaced with Comrade Ogilvy Tribute in 'The Times'; MiniTrue makes no demands of unperson Withers muriel_volestrangler Sep 18 #51