Sinclair Broadcast Group: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Summary

The script discusses the impact of Sinclair Broadcast Group's potential acquisition of Tribune Media on local news. Sinclair, known for conservative-leaning content, could reach 2.2 million households with the merger. The script highlights Sinclair's practice of injecting political commentary into local news segments and their 'must-run' segments, which sometimes include misleading or unverified information. It also showcases local stations' resistance to Sinclair's content and raises concerns about the erosion of local news integrity.

Takeaways

• 📢 Local news is often more trusted than national news due to its community focus and relatability.
• 🚔 A humorous approach can be used by local news to draw attention to serious stories, such as crime reports.
• 🐻 Local news covers a wide range of topics, from serious incidents like black bears in backyards to human interest stories.
• 📺 Sinclair Broadcast Group is a significant, yet lesser-known, media company with a large influence over local TV stations.
• 💸 Sinclair's proposed acquisition of Tribune Media for around $4 billion could significantly increase its reach and influence.
• 👮‍♂️ Sinclair is known for injecting conservative viewpoints into local news segments, which may not reflect the diversity of local opinions.
• 🎙️ Commentary segments from figures like Mark Hyman and Boris Epstein are must-runs on Sinclair-affiliated stations, indicating a slant towards conservative views.
• 📰 Sinclair's local news content sometimes includes misleading or unverified information, which can compromise journalistic integrity.
• 🗳️ The company has been known to influence local news content, even dictating the scripts that local news anchors use.
• 📈 Sinclair's 'must-run' segments include recurring features that may sometimes present biased or leading questions to viewers.
• 🚨 The 'terrorism alert desk' segment reports on terrorism daily, sometimes including minor or unrelated incidents, which could skew public perception.

Q & A

What is the main concern discussed in the script about local news?

The main concern is the potential problems arising from corporate consolidation of local news, particularly the influence of Sinclair Broadcast Group which could expand significantly if their acquisition of Tribune Media is approved.

How does the script describe the typical content of local news?

Local news is described as having to do a lot more with a lot less compared to national news, often covering a mix of serious stories, human interest pieces, and sometimes silly or sensational segments to capture viewers' attention.

What is the significance of Sinclair Broadcast Group's potential acquisition of Tribune Media?

If approved, Sinclair's acquisition of Tribune Media would make them the largest owner of local TV stations in the U.S., significantly increasing their reach and influence over local news content.

What is the script's view on Sinclair's political leanings?

The script suggests that Sinclair has a noticeable conservative tilt, producing and distributing commentary segments that align with hard-right opinions, which are then aired on their local stations.

How does Sinclair's content differ from other local news stations?

Sinclair differs by producing its own commentary segments and sometimes dictating the content of local newscasts, including 'must-run' segments that affiliates are directed to air.

What is the 'terrorism alert desk' mentioned in the script?

The 'terrorism alert desk' is a daily must-run segment produced by Sinclair that reports on terrorism, regardless of whether there is significant news to report, sometimes including minor or unverified incidents.

What is the script's critique of the 'terrorism alert desk' segment?

The script criticizes the 'terrorism alert desk' for sometimes reporting on minor or unverified incidents, and for potentially sensationalizing or misrepresenting events as terrorism to create a narrative.

How does the script suggest viewers should respond to Sinclair's influence on local news?

The script encourages viewers to find out who owns their local stations and to be aware of the content they are watching, suggesting that local news should be about community-focused stories rather than political agendas.

What examples does the script provide of Sinclair's influence on local news content?

The script provides examples such as Sinclair-produced segments by conservative commentators Mark Hyman and Boris Epstein, as well as 'must-run' segments that are directed to be aired by Sinclair-affiliated stations.

What is the script's stance on the importance of local news?

The script acknowledges the importance of local news for filling gaps missed by national news and for being a trusted source of information for communities, but it also expresses concern over the potential loss of local integrity and diversity in news coverage due to corporate consolidation.

How does the script characterize the role of local news anchors in Sinclair stations?

The script characterizes local news anchors at Sinclair stations as sometimes being used to deliver content that may not reflect their own views or local news values, as they are required to present Sinclair-produced segments and scripts.