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Fresno broadcaster Pappas Telecasting donates $325,000 in free air time to GOP committees
One of the state's biggest broadcasters has given 13 Republican county committees $325,000 worth of free air time to promote candidates on its radio and television stations that serve communities from Sacramento to San Diego.
Pappas Telecasting Cos., which calls itself the largest privately held broadcast firm in the nation, made the donations earlier this month. While it is unclear how much of the time has actually been taken, Democrats complain the offer unfairly benefits GOP candidates in violation of federal law.
Pappas Telecasting Cos., which calls itself the largest privately held broadcast firm in the nation, made the donations earlier this month. While it is unclear how much of the time has actually been taken, Democrats complain the offer unfairly benefits GOP candidates in violation of federal law.
...
The company owns 28 stations in 11 states and operates in most of California's major markets including Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Francisco, Modesto and Los Angeles, according to the company's Web site.
The $25,000 donations went to GOP central committees in Fresno, Imperial, Kings, Madera, Merced, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and Tulare counties.
more
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/counties/alameda_county/10013424.htm?1c
Attempting to boost Republican Party prospects, the owner of a chain of Central Valley television and radio stations has donated $325,000 in airtime for GOP candidates in many of the state's hottest legislative elections.
The contribution by Harry J. Pappas comes in the final days of campaigning, and those involved in the campaigns couldn't recall another instance in which a California media mogul donated time on public airwaves for advertisements to benefit one party over another.
...
"They're the public's airwaves," said attorney Karen Getman, who represents the Assembly Democratic Caucus and formerly served as chairwoman of the state's Fair Political Practices Commission. "You're not free to give them to one side in a partisan debate."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11220115p-12135910c.html
Pappas Telecasting Companies is the largest privately held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States in terms of US Household coverage as defined by Nielsen Media Research. The Company operates market-leading FOX, WB, ABC, CBS, UPN and Azteca America affiliates in all regions of the United States. According to statistics from Nielsen, Pappas Telecasting television stations serve over 15% of all US television households. In addition, the company operates television stations in markets reaching more than 32% of US Hispanic households and more than 35% of all US Hispanic persons age 2+.
http://www.pappastv.com/
The company owns 28 stations in 11 states and operates in most of California's major markets including Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Francisco, Modesto and Los Angeles, according to the company's Web site.
The $25,000 donations went to GOP central committees in Fresno, Imperial, Kings, Madera, Merced, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and Tulare counties.
more
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/counties/alameda_county/10013424.htm?1c
Attempting to boost Republican Party prospects, the owner of a chain of Central Valley television and radio stations has donated $325,000 in airtime for GOP candidates in many of the state's hottest legislative elections.
The contribution by Harry J. Pappas comes in the final days of campaigning, and those involved in the campaigns couldn't recall another instance in which a California media mogul donated time on public airwaves for advertisements to benefit one party over another.
...
"They're the public's airwaves," said attorney Karen Getman, who represents the Assembly Democratic Caucus and formerly served as chairwoman of the state's Fair Political Practices Commission. "You're not free to give them to one side in a partisan debate."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11220115p-12135910c.html
Pappas Telecasting Companies is the largest privately held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States in terms of US Household coverage as defined by Nielsen Media Research. The Company operates market-leading FOX, WB, ABC, CBS, UPN and Azteca America affiliates in all regions of the United States. According to statistics from Nielsen, Pappas Telecasting television stations serve over 15% of all US television households. In addition, the company operates television stations in markets reaching more than 32% of US Hispanic households and more than 35% of all US Hispanic persons age 2+.
http://www.pappastv.com/
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This is great. And I say "tough shit" to anyone who disagrees. Who is the government to say who can give what to whom? Any regulation of an individual's gifts is commonly referred to as "socialism" or "communism". This is a free country.
If Pappas wants to give press to the GOP, then I applaud him. If Pappas wants to give press to the Democrats, then I applaud him. Taking such an active role in politics as to give of one's own wealth should be UNRESTRICTABLE by government.
What's the difference between this and campaign contributions? As I see it, there is none. Otherwise, the governement should require that ALL campaign contributions be split evenly between the parties. And for that matter, between ALL ballot parties. Otherwise, if the split is simply between the Democrats and Republicans, it is simply another form of government-imposed discrimination, like affirmative action.
If Pappas wants to give press to the GOP, then I applaud him. If Pappas wants to give press to the Democrats, then I applaud him. Taking such an active role in politics as to give of one's own wealth should be UNRESTRICTABLE by government.
What's the difference between this and campaign contributions? As I see it, there is none. Otherwise, the governement should require that ALL campaign contributions be split evenly between the parties. And for that matter, between ALL ballot parties. Otherwise, if the split is simply between the Democrats and Republicans, it is simply another form of government-imposed discrimination, like affirmative action.
ACTION ALERT
Dear friend of Media Alliance,
We've just learned that media giant Pappas Telecasting
is donating $325,000 of free air time on their California
TV and radio stations for GOP candidates in some of our
state's tightest elections, from Sacramento to San Diego.
(See article http://www.media-alliance.org/medianews)
This is the first time we know of - in the entire country -
that a media giant has given free airtime for partisan ads.
This is not about Democrat vs. Republican. Pappas is
abusing its access to the airwaves - your airwaves-
to sway close state level and congressional elections.
Big Media is abusing the public trust to advance their
own political objectives - again.
PLEASE Take Action Today with our Action Steps below.
Together we stopped Sinclair. Together let's hold Pappas
accountable and continue building the momentum for
greater media accountability and media regime change!
For media justice,
Jeff Perlstein
Media Alliance
ACTION STEPS: Call and Email Pappas Today !
1) Call Pappas HQ in Visalia, CA: (559) 733-7800
2) Email/call the nearest station, others if you can
3) BCC us at TelltheFCC [at] media-alliance.org
Ask for the general manager or public affairs director -
and of course, please be polite.
What to Say/Write:
Pappas stations use the public airwaves free of charge
and are required by law to provide equal time for the
opposing candidates. Giving away airtime to one side
is illegal and is an abuse of the public trust.
I strongly object to this unfair practice and want you to
include this complaint in your Public File. I will follow
up with the FCC and will remember this violation when
it comes time for license renewals. Thank you.
Station Contact Info:
SF Bay Area/Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto
KTNC 42 Azteca America (925) 686-4242
LJN [at] PAPPASTV.COM
Los Angeles
KAZA 54 Azteca America (818) 241-5400
(ask for email of General Manager)
Fresno/Visalia
KMPH Fox 26 559-453-8820
cpfaff [at] kmph.com
KMPH 107.5 FM 559-584-1951
programming [at] kmph.com
Dear friend of Media Alliance,
We've just learned that media giant Pappas Telecasting
is donating $325,000 of free air time on their California
TV and radio stations for GOP candidates in some of our
state's tightest elections, from Sacramento to San Diego.
(See article http://www.media-alliance.org/medianews)
This is the first time we know of - in the entire country -
that a media giant has given free airtime for partisan ads.
This is not about Democrat vs. Republican. Pappas is
abusing its access to the airwaves - your airwaves-
to sway close state level and congressional elections.
Big Media is abusing the public trust to advance their
own political objectives - again.
PLEASE Take Action Today with our Action Steps below.
Together we stopped Sinclair. Together let's hold Pappas
accountable and continue building the momentum for
greater media accountability and media regime change!
For media justice,
Jeff Perlstein
Media Alliance
ACTION STEPS: Call and Email Pappas Today !
1) Call Pappas HQ in Visalia, CA: (559) 733-7800
2) Email/call the nearest station, others if you can
3) BCC us at TelltheFCC [at] media-alliance.org
Ask for the general manager or public affairs director -
and of course, please be polite.
What to Say/Write:
Pappas stations use the public airwaves free of charge
and are required by law to provide equal time for the
opposing candidates. Giving away airtime to one side
is illegal and is an abuse of the public trust.
I strongly object to this unfair practice and want you to
include this complaint in your Public File. I will follow
up with the FCC and will remember this violation when
it comes time for license renewals. Thank you.
Station Contact Info:
SF Bay Area/Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto
KTNC 42 Azteca America (925) 686-4242
LJN [at] PAPPASTV.COM
Los Angeles
KAZA 54 Azteca America (818) 241-5400
(ask for email of General Manager)
Fresno/Visalia
KMPH Fox 26 559-453-8820
cpfaff [at] kmph.com
KMPH 107.5 FM 559-584-1951
programming [at] kmph.com
For more information:
http://www.media-alliance.org/
Pappas has no right to "gift" the public airwaves to one political party over another. He owns his building, his equipment, maybe the land they sit on -- but he does NOT "own" his FCC license to broadcast, nor does he "own" the very public airwaves he broadcasts on. He is a trustee of a public resource, and part of it belongs to ME. This is abuse of the public trust, pure and simple.
He can hang GOP banners on his front door till the cows come home. When he gives them free AIR time and denies it to all others, he's stealing FROM ME and from YOU, TOO.
He can hang GOP banners on his front door till the cows come home. When he gives them free AIR time and denies it to all others, he's stealing FROM ME and from YOU, TOO.
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