[opendtv] News: Pappas Hammered for Election Ads

Pappas Hammered for Election Ads

By Bill McConnell -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/26/2004 6:49:00 PM

After beating up on Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. for the past two 
weeks, media activists are turning their attention to a new 
broadcast-group owner, California-based Pappas Telecasting Cos.

  Free Press complains that Pappas is giving $325,000 worth of airtime 
on seven TV and two radio stations to GOP candidates in many of the 
Golden State's closest legislative races. Free Press is demanding 
that equal treatment be given to Democrats.

The airtime targets contentious races such as Sen. Mike Machado and 
Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto in the 5th Senate District, and Assembly 
Member Nicole Parra (D-Hanford), running for re-election against Dean 
Gardner.

"This is yet another example of a huge media company abusing the 
public's airwaves to advance their own political agenda," said Free 
Press Executive Director Josh Silver. "Pappas is making a bogus claim 
that the ads are not contributions. This is nothing but smoke and 
mirrors to avoid what appears to be a violation of federal laws 
requiring equal time," he said.

  The TV stations are KMPH Fox 26 and KFRE 59, Fresno and Visalia; 
KTNC reaching the Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto and San Jose areas; 
KBFX Fox and KABZ, Bakersfield; KAZA, Los Angeles; and KSWT, El 
Centro.

  The radio stations are KMPH 107.5 FM in Fresno and Visalia and KTRB 
860 AM in the Stockton-Modesto areas. Pappas officials did not return 
phone calls seeking comment
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:

- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at 
FreeLists.org 

- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
unsubscribe in the subject line.

Other related posts: