Texsox Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Link April 29 (Bloomberg) -- Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. ordered its ABC affiliates to preempt tomorrow's broadcast of ``Nightline,'' which will air the names and photos of U.S. military personnel who have died in combat in Iraq, saying the move is politically motivated. ``Despite the denials by a spokeswoman for the show, the action appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq,'' the company said in a faxed statement. Sinclair, which owns 62 U.S. television stations, said ABC is disguising political statements as news content. Nightline anchor Ted Koppel will read the names of the more than 500 members of the U.S. armed forces killed in Iraq as their photos air in pairs, the network has said. Their names, ranks, branches of service, hometowns and ages will be listed under the photos. The entire broadcast will be devoted to reading the names. The 30-minute program airs at 11:35 p.m. New York time on ABC, a unit of the Walt Disney Co. It will include those certified as killed in action by the Pentagon between March 19, 2003, and the date of the broadcast. Because of the list's size, Nightline will only be able to devote seconds to each casualty, executive producer Leroy Sievers said Tuesday. Sinclair owns stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, WB and UPN in 39 markets. In an e-mailed statement, ABC said the broadcast ``is an expression of respect which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country.'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 It's their way of showing "the coffins coming back from Iraq". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controlled Chaos Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 I don't like the way your poll is worded. I mean what is your question? tribute or slam? When you add in (We do not need to hear the names) it kinda changes the poll. Do you want to know If I think it's political? Yes. But that doesn't mean I don't want to see the names. I am well aware of how many people have died. They say it every single day. I think most people who watch the news know the number. I just think it's kind of hypocritical for ABC...who has had the worst war coverage of all, to show these names and pictures. If this show was on FOX NEWS I would fully support it. Fox has shown some of the good that has come from this war and I think when they show a picture of a solider it is more for honor than shock value. ABC has focused on all the most negative aspects and now they want to display the names and pictures of our soldiers, not because they deserve to be honored, but because it might have shock value with the masses. If they cared about our soldiers, if they cared about what they are doing over there....they would show it once in awhile. That's my opinion anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zach61 Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Didn't ABC also show the pictures and names of the victims from the WTC on the 1 year anniversary? I don't remember anybody complaining about that saying it was political. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Didn't ABC also show the pictures and names of the victims from the WTC on the 1 year anniversary? I don't remember anybody complaining about that saying it was political. Agreed. I think it's a good idea personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 i originally voted 'huh?' but after watching the news i do think it's politically motivated on koppels part--1) it just happens to be anniversary of bush saying major fighting has ended and 2) koppel was on air america radio bashing pres for not admitting 'mistakes' (i think they said he was on today)--but i think it's good for us to remember the war dead and this is a good way of doing it even though it might be politically motivated... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controlled Chaos Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 i originally voted 'huh?' but after watching the news i do think it's politically motivated on koppels part--1) it just happens to be anniversary of bush saying major fighting has ended and 2) koppel was on air america radio bashing pres for not admitting 'mistakes' (i think they said he was on today)--but i think it's good for us to remember the war dead and this is a good way of doing it even though it might be politically motivated... That was part of my point about the poll....it's kinda misleading....cause YES I do think it's politcally motiviated. However, I also think it's a good idea to remember the dead. I just hate to see Koppel do it. It's a disgrace to show these people who sacrificed their lives on a network that has yet to show what these men have accomplished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 That was part of my point about the poll....it's kinda misleading....cause YES I do think it's politcally motiviated. However, I also think it's a good idea to remember the dead. I just hate to see Koppel do it. It's a disgrace to show these people who sacrificed their lives on a network that has yet to show what these men have accomplished. To determine the true motivation, you have to consider the source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted May 1, 2004 Author Share Posted May 1, 2004 Everything in the media can be shown to have a politican context. Show a majot crime in Dallas, that could have political undertones. Any coverage of the war can be considered political. Point a camera at a corpse and that gives one view, point it towards a smiling Iraqi is another view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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