FTVLive

View Original

EXCLUSIVE: Sinclair Stations to Say Sorry to Viewers for the Next Month

Sorry seems to be the hardest word, especially when you have to do it for a month straight. 

Back in August FTVLive told you FIRST and EXCLUSIVELY Sinclair was facing huge fines from the FCC after they failed to disclose pay for play stories running in their stations newscasts.  

Sinclair was running what amounted to paid commercials during their stations newscasts and never told the viewers as much. 

Well, after getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar, the FCC started investigating and the company faced huge fines. 

Yesterday, FTVLive told you that the Sinclair stations started apologizing on air for the mistake. But, now FTVLive has learned that this is not a one off apology.

The Sinclair stations will be taking almost a minute out of their newscasts for the next month to say they are sorry for running paid content in their newscasts and not telling viewers. The company hopes that the month long apology will get the FCC to go easy on them. 

Here is the internal email sent to the Sinclair stations and obtained EXCLUSIVELY by FTVLive: 

Date: October 3, 2016 at 10:40:16 AM CDT
To: News - News Directors All SBG
Cc: Scott Livingston
Subject: HUNTSMAN IMPORTANT!

Hi Everyone-
 
 For the next 5 weeks the Huntsman story requires an additional disclaimer.    We have included this in the turn-key package but I wanted to make you aware this will increase the TRT for the stories.

Attached is a copy of the script.    **PLEASE NOTE, THIS WILL ADD APPROXIMATELY :40 ADDITIONAL TO THE STORY LENGTH***

We will air this disclaimer from now until Monday, October 31st.   

On Monday, November 7, 2016, we will return to the :90 length.
 
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Jen
 
Jennifer Dahl
West Coast Group News Director
Sinclair Broadcast Group