Posted on 10/14/2004 11:48:35 AM PDT by areafiftyone
One local business has decided to pull its ads from WMSN/Channel 47 in the wake of the station's decision to air an anti-John Kerry documentary next week.
The owners of the Paisan's and Porta Bella restaurants said that after receiving about a dozen complaints about the program, "we just decided that we didn't want to jeopardize losing any customers over this," said owner Jerry Meier.
He was among several business owners who said they have received numerous calls from patrons upset that they advertise on Channel 47.
Channel 47 is one of 62 stations nationwide owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. that are being forced to pre-empt regular programming to air "Stolen Honor: Wounds that Never Heal." The show will air here on Oct. 22.
A Web site for the documentary states that it shows how American prisoners of war in Vietnam suffered because of Kerry's 1971 congressional testimony opposing the war.
But Sinclair, on its Web site, said that the program, which it described as a "special news event ... has not been videotaped and the exact format of this unscripted event has not been finalized. Characterizations regarding the content are premature and are based on ill-informed sources."
A grassroots network has sprung up to protest the broadcast, and several Web sites provide lists of major advertisers on each for each local Sinclair station. The state Democratic Party is helping to organize local opposition here.
Meier said his restaurants began receiving calls on Tuesday and the volume picked up on Wednesday.
"I took most of the calls, and the people were very polite and well-behaved," said Meier. "But most of them said they were long-time customers and they weren't going to come in as long as we continued to advertise on Channel 47."
Meier said he and fellow owners Walter Borowski and Ed Shinnick decided to drop the ads, which he said they had begun sponsoring on a trial basis.
Other businesses also reported a steady stream of calls, but some owners said the callers weren't so polite.
"There's a lot of hostility out there," said John Cannarella, owner of A-1 Furniture in Madison. "People are very upset with what's taking place."
Cannarella, who said his store has received more than 30 calls, said there was one polite caller, "and the rest were very negative. One lady threatened me, 'If you don't get off the air on Channel 47, I'm going to tell all my friends never to shop at A-1 again.'"
Cannarella said this was the first time in his store's 25 years that he's encountered such protests. He noted that A-1 advertises more heavily on Madison's other three broadcast stations.
But he said the store has no intention of pulling its ads from Channel 47, which like other Sinclair stations is reportedly airing the controversial program commercial-free.
"It's not like we're sponsoring this program," he said. "But this is almost like force overcoming rational thinking."
He suggested that instead of attacking local businesses, "people should put their energy into contacting the general public and convincing them not to watch the show."
Two other major advertisers - American TV of Madison and Madison-based American Family Insurance - each reported getting more than two dozen phone calls and several e-mails on Wednesday.
A company spokesman for American TV said the retailer has not yet decided what, if anything, to do about its ads on Channel 47.
American Family spokesman Steve Witmer said the insurance company advertises on local newscasts on nine Sinclair stations around the country, including Channel 47.
He said the company would consider pulling its ads "if a local station is providing what we consider to be unbalanced reporting" in its newscasts, but Witmer added that in this case, "we are going to continue with our current advertising commitments."
He said the company is taking no position on the program and has not endorsed either Kerry or President Bush in this year's presidential race.
"We would not be involved in this program if we were asked to sponsor it," he said, but "sponsoring a local newscast on a station carrying this program is another matter."
Channel 47 officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.
E-mail: dcallender@madison.com
This is in Madison Wisconsin...home of the CPUSA. It would have been wasted on them anyway.
Didn't know that was a Sinclair station - will definitely record that program!
I knew it. I speculated earlier today that Fox was getting pressure from their advertisers.
Ah, the party of Free Speech. (Getting more and more like TROP)
What happens is that business owners suddenly find their UNIONIZED workers do not show up for work. THAT is how the Kennedy's kept CHAPPAQUIDDICK TED in office so long.
They're getting desperate... we know the damage the Swifties did back in August. Ketchup Boy can't afford another hit to his capsizing Swift Boat. (laughing)
Whoa...... Sinclair Broadcasting is NOT Fox. This David Callender is a bonehead.
Making a list and checking it twice.
Freepers who live in Madison should boycott this restaurant! Hit them in their pocketbook like the Dems are trying to hit Sinclair!
"we just decided that we didn't want to jeopardize losing any customers over this,"
Well, they have lost one.
So what else is new? The Democrats had their responses to the debates ready days before the debates took place. They don't want the public to know the truth about thier candidate, because truth to them is whatever they get enough people to agree it is.
Anyone in the area want to call these two restaurants to let them know that because they pulled their ads you won't be patronizing them??? So what if a bunch of college kids with computers won't go there anymore - how much could they possibly have to spend anyway???
I would call but my Joisey accent gets me caught every time :-)
When they see their ratings they will wish they had advertised.
Fight Fire with MORE Fire.
Any company that acquieses to the idiots on the left, loses all business from those of us on the right. And since ours is not the party of welfare rolls, we have more economic clout. So there.
Hey I have a New YAWWWWWK City Accent which is worse! Fugetaboudit!
Their reasoning in cancelling advertising was pretty dumb.
Who in Madison eats out at restaurants more often? Republicans.
Who in Madison sits around a poorly lit smelly room eating granola bars from the food co-op? Democrats.
Sinclair Broadcasting owns Fox, WB, ABC and NBC stations around the country
It only took TWELVE whiny assed 'Rats for them to cave? If that is true, they were Kerry supporters anyway.
Madison's stations serve a lot of outlying areas. From the article, looks like the ads are getting pulled, but not the broadcast of the program.
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