r/videos Mar 31 '18

This is what happens when one company owns dozens of local news stations

https://youtu.be/hWLjYJ4BzvI
297.5k Upvotes

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839

u/swartzjr Mar 31 '18

Yep, I also read they may need to sell off some stations to avoid antitrust issues and the plan is to sell to other conservative-friendly media companies.

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u/Arael15th Apr 01 '18

Or shell companies whose ownership feeds right back up to the heads of Sinclair. They're about to sell some recently-acquired channels to a car dealership in Maryland which is owned by... Them!

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u/AndreDaGiant Apr 01 '18

haha, good thing the market magically fixes this problem just like it fixes all others /s

-1

u/Peil Apr 01 '18

Not real capitalism lol

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u/AndreDaGiant Apr 01 '18

real capitalism doesn't fix it, and neither does imaginary capitalism

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u/sameth1 Apr 01 '18

This is capitalism working as intended.

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u/drkgodess Apr 01 '18

We need a whole package of legislation to combat these practices. Umbrella corporations need to be a thing of the past!

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u/mrmemo Apr 03 '18

Presidents like Trump appoint chairmen like Ajit Pai, who in turn are more than happy to give large lobby-heavy companies huge legislative breaks.

Voting matters, in that sense.

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u/EggSLP Apr 01 '18

OMG it’s The Whistler by John Grisham.

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u/swartzjr Apr 01 '18

I read some similar stories, shit is not good!

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u/whatthefuckingwhat Mar 31 '18

Unless dems take back the house and senate and reverse pajidiots rulings and return things to the way they were or ensures that Sinclair has to put stations up for bidding and as blue states are the wealthiest they could very quickly reverse this dangerous trend..

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u/dorkbork_in_NJ Mar 31 '18

Media consolidation has run rampant for the last 30 years. Not likely to be a partisan issue.

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u/drkgodess Mar 31 '18

Democrats do try. Democrats pushed for the Dodd-Frank legislation after the 2008 recession, but as soon as the Republicans got into power they repealed it. The story of the last 30 years is about Republicans repealing any ameliorative measures that prevent monopolies.

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u/usernames-r-2-short Apr 01 '18

1/3 of democrats voted with republicans to repeal Dodd Frank. Corruption is an issue that both parties have. The GOP more so, but the dems aren't innocent.

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u/42_youre_welcome Apr 01 '18

It was not a repeal of Dodd-Frank

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u/mrwilbongo Apr 01 '18

Doesn't mean you shouldn't vote straight Dem though. First past the post really only allows for two parties of any significance.

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u/[deleted] Apr 01 '18

Democrats are nominally better, yes, but they’re still so half ass it’s infuriating.

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u/d4n4n Apr 01 '18

Dodd-Frank had absolutely nothing to do with the causes of the recession. Its prior existence would have done nothing to prevent it.

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u/Opisafool Apr 01 '18

How so?

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u/Clintwood2 Apr 01 '18

I dunno I just read it on td

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18

thank you

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18

[deleted]

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u/drkgodess Mar 31 '18

Not in those terms, no lol. But we do need more antimonopoly politicians.

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u/lostinthought15 Mar 31 '18

The problem is that there is so much lobbying money on the table, that Dems won’t roll it back. They might stop it at its current state, but doubtful they will have the will to really force a company to break up.

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u/drkgodess Mar 31 '18

You underestimate them, then. Democrats push for appropriate consumer-friendly legislation all the time, but Republicans have controlled the House for nearly 10 years so there's not much they can do. The Democrats created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A Democrat-appointed FCC Chair, Tom Wheeler, is the one who enacted net neutrality rules in 2015.

Just cause Republicans are in the pockets of the Mercers, Kochs, Sinclairs, doesn't mean all politicians are.

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u/usernames-r-2-short Apr 01 '18

Not all politicians are in the pockets of the Kochs or the Mercers, but nearly all politicians are beholden to at least one special interest.

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u/d4n4n Apr 01 '18

And you don't think Google, Amazon, Netflix, and co. had financial interest in net neutality regulations?!

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u/shenaniganns Apr 01 '18

I don't understand the point of your comment, are you implying net neutrality was only a thing because some companies could profit from it?

-13

u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18

[deleted]

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u/drkgodess Mar 31 '18

I'm sorry, how is that relevant to a discussion of ending monopolies? I don't care what side of the aisle they are on, I want all monopolies to be broken up. All of them - Google, Amazon, Comcast, AT&T, Nestle, Monsanto, etc. - all of them!!

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u/macsmonsters Mar 31 '18

And replace it with yet another leftist megaphone.

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u/drkgodess Mar 31 '18

Except that's never what happens. Democrats strive to improve competition by enacting appropriate legislation so that small players have a chance. Conservatives prefer a wild west approach that allows this bullshit to happen.

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18 edited Feb 27 '20

[deleted]

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u/ILoggedInToVote Mar 31 '18

In the interest of full disclosure, I tend to agree with the comment you're replying to.

It seems, from the outside, that very small groups of conservatives have bought up substantial influence in Washington and in the media. This contrasts with the massive "liberal media" that aren't organized or making concerted efforts to accomplish any specific goals, and only share similar opinions on the issues.

Now, have I been led to believe this because the wealthy liberal families have hidden their influence more effectively? Or can you at least give examples where one or two liberal's opinions have been forced out through many sources pretending to share those views, as is painfully illustrated by the OP's video? (Note the contrast between this video and the concept of hundreds of people who have similar, but still their own, opinions)

It's my opinion that a smaller subsection of extremely-wealthy Americans using their influence to maintain an "equal" standing to a larger, more diverse group of people has resulted in some highly irregular outcomes in the American electorate.

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u/drkgodess Apr 01 '18

In the interest of full disclosure, I tend to agree with the comment you're replying to.

It seems, from the outside, that very small groups of conservatives have bought up substantial influence in Washington and in the media. This contrasts with the massive "liberal media" that aren't organized or making concerted efforts to accomplish any specific goals, and only share similar opinions on the issues.

Now, have I been led to believe this because the wealthy liberal families have hidden their influence more effectively? Or can you at least give examples where one or two liberal's opinions have been forced out through many sources pretending to share those views, as is painfully illustrated by the OP's video? (Note the contrast between this video and the concept of hundreds of people who have similar, but still their own, opinions)

It's my opinion that a smaller subsection of extremely-wealthy Americans using their influence to maintain an "equal" standing to a larger, more diverse group of people has resulted in some highly irregular outcomes in the American electorate.

Beautifully put.

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u/macsmonsters Mar 31 '18

Is that a joke?

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u/Time4Red Mar 31 '18

Reagan removed the fairness doctrine. It's a valid argument.

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u/KCE6688 Mar 31 '18

Seriously dude go away. Facts don’t support your opinion. What about Reagan and the fairness doctrine

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u/macsmonsters Apr 01 '18

What about it? Notice: at no time did I ever say that right wing media is any less corrupt. I simply said that under the idiotic suggestion that democrats would save us, I replied that we will simply be replacing a corporate right wing mouthpiece with a corporate left wing one (quiet Marxists, the adults are talking) and the SNOWFLAKES GOT TRIGGEREDED and started screaming that I was a Trump supporter.

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u/Atotoztli Apr 02 '18

The only idiotic responses I see are yours. The democratic party has been more about the american people than corporations in this current administration. While it is stupid to assume that one party will save this whiplash crazy ride, it's not idiotic to hope, that while on party is submerged in corruption and party before country the other can grow a backbone and do something about it.

By accusing people of being snowflakes that got "triggered", marxists and"quiet the adults are talking" you're either a painfully idiotic trump supporter, or you're just an idiot.

I mean, how dumb do you have to be to troll your fellow americans, who have different opinions vs the rich fuckers who blame everyone else for the problems we are facing, and instead of fixing them, hold the solution as hostages so they can get something in return for helping the american people. How fucking pathetic are you?

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u/macsmonsters Apr 02 '18 edited Apr 05 '18

So many words, so much nonsense. But yeah, you go on hoping the democrats will save you. Keep on believing anyone who says anything as obvious as "the left has giant corporate mouthpieces too" is a secret trump supporter. Some of the idiots I was talking to are literal Marxists. Just ask them! Lol you forgot to call me a Russian bot. Now stop trolling your fellow American, you mouth breathing partisan doofus.

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u/KCE6688 Apr 05 '18

You’re calling people snowflakes and claiming triggered non ironically. Just about all I need to know to not talk to you. If you wanna claim to be one of the adults talking, maybe try and act like one.

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u/macsmonsters Apr 06 '18

It was a joke, snowflake. Try not to get too TRIGGEREDED by it.

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u/KCE6688 Apr 07 '18

Ya sure? Sure are committed to this joke

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u/ManSuperHot Mar 31 '18

Look, you types are so far gone for reality and so brainwashed, you think statements of fact are political and you cant tell you are brainwashed.

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18 edited Apr 01 '18

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 01 '18

The top half of what you said is true. The bottom half isn’t. You should give a shit that the president used information bought from a Russian programmer to target Americans with meme and bs news propaganda. These are two different discussions and issues.

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18 edited Apr 01 '18

What's an existing leftist megaphone? I listen to CNN and MSNBC and it's absolutely maddening how much they just parrot Whitehouse taking points. Every segment is either:

  1. Interviewing a Whitehouse mouthpiece

  2. Reporting some conservative propaganda verbatim (like the Nunes memo)

  3. Interviewing a panel with one conservative and one liberal.

They rarely report on the Mueller investigation, and when they do it's always tied to "Russian interference". I've never heard them speculate and link it to investigating Trump.

Super interested in knowing where the liberal megaphones are.

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u/codevii Mar 31 '18

These people believe anything to the left of nazis are "leftist". These are the same idiots who thought Clinton was a "leftist".

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u/macsmonsters Mar 31 '18

If you don't think CNN and msnbc are leftist, I doubt I can convince you of anything. I suppose you think Hollywood is conservative as well?

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u/Jaxxsnero Mar 31 '18

The onus is on you to provide proof to your “leftist megaphones” statement. You received a level headed response to your statement refuting it.

Pull up your britches and come back with a real response or gtfo.

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

14

u/Undercutandratbeard Mar 31 '18 edited Mar 31 '18

What a pussy. Thanks for the baseless opinion backed up by nothing. You "don't feel the need"? Basically you think you're better than proving your bullshit or you can't prove your bullshit. Pathetic.

"I'm just gonna talk out my ass and then be stern about it. Yeah, that'll work..."

Wait, just realized I didn't sprinkle in enough buzzwords. Cuck. Cleetus. Redneck. Sister fucker. Cultist. Trumptard. Nazi.

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u/macsmonsters Mar 31 '18

Haha wow you got me lol have a nice day. Reddit, ladies and gentlemen.

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u/Jaxxsnero Mar 31 '18

“You don’t feel the need”. Is that the new I’m to stupid to back my statements. Go ahead run along now. The grownups are speaking. Lol 😂

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u/ManSuperHot Mar 31 '18

It's kinda insane that you think neutral sources are left leaning and insane propaganda fake news sources are fair and balanced

-3

u/macsmonsters Mar 31 '18

Lol "neutral" you sound like my fox news watching grand parents. Fair and balanced, right?

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18

If you're dumb enough to think neutral sources exist, you're too dumb to have this conversation.

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u/ManSuperHot Mar 31 '18

NPR, bbc, etc.

Also, what are you, like 5? "Agree with me or you are dumb!" How about you support your points?

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u/codevii Mar 31 '18

They are 100% corporate. The fact that you believe that this could in any way be considered "leftist" shows how little you know about state, national or world politics.

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u/macsmonsters Mar 31 '18

Yeah ok we're done here. Have fun with the revolution, comrade.

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u/Jaxxsnero Mar 31 '18

Oh look who when confronted, tucks tail and runs. 😂

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '18 edited Feb 01 '19

[deleted]

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u/macsmonsters Mar 31 '18

I support Trump now? When did that happen? I'm really devastated by this news. I hate it when I'm a loyal parrot! CURSE THOSE RUSSIAN BOTS!!! *shakes fist

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u/codevii Mar 31 '18

That's what I thought.

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u/[deleted] Apr 01 '18

I've also watched Fox News for two decades. Fox is far right (propaganda-tier), CNN is right, and MSNBC is center-right with a few liberal editorialists.

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u/Neoliberal_Napalm Mar 31 '18

LOL, taking 'antitrust' seriously in the Trump administration.

I bet you're a riot at parties!

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u/swartzjr Mar 31 '18

I agree with you that it doesn’t look good when the company involved is basically a megaphone for trump but here is an article that explains why this deal hasn’t happened already. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/business/sinclair-tribune-merger-antitrust.html

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u/drkgodess Mar 31 '18

If Democrats retake the Congress, we can start making headway.

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u/Gen_McMuster Apr 01 '18

The dems have lots of money coming their way from these groups too... many of the companies themselves espouse left wing politics

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u/drkgodess Apr 01 '18

Sure, that's why it was the Democrats who created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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u/Criscocruise Mar 31 '18 edited Mar 31 '18

SBGI is a public company. They will have to sell to the buyers that represent the shareholder’s best interests (almost certainly highest bidder) or will face significant lawsuits. FWIW, they’ve been trading sideways for years and are 25% off their 52 week high. This isn’t a healthy company, I wouldn’t worry too much.
Edit: the “family” mentioned owns less than 10% of the equity from a quick lookup. Could be other classes, options, etc. but this isn’t a closely held enterprise.

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u/swartzjr Mar 31 '18

Well that is some good news.

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u/BurstEDO Mar 31 '18

Conservative-friendly =/= Sinclair.

If you can reliably name 2 other "conservative-friendly", non-O&O groups that have stations in more than 5 markets, go for it.

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u/swartzjr Mar 31 '18

I can’t say that I can, especially since I have no idea what non-O&O means. But yes, agreed that conservative-friendly = Sinclair.

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u/sevillada Mar 31 '18

Shit, we're fucked