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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

It appears that WHNT channel 19 in Huntsville Alabama decided not to broadcast the 60 minutes exposé alleging misconduct in the prosecution of former Alabama governor Don Siegelman.

Scott Horton reports

Off the Air in Alabama
I am now hearing from readers all across Northern Alabama—from Decatur to Huntsville and considerably on down—that a mysterious “service interruption” blocked the broadcast of only the Siegelman segment of 60 Minutes this evening. The broadcaster is Channel 19 WHNT, which serves Northern Alabama and Southern Tennessee. This station was noteworthy for its hostility to Siegelman and support for his Republican adversary. The station ran a trailer stating “We apologize that you missed the first segment of 60 Minutes tonight featuring ‘The Prosecution of Don Siegelman.’ It was a techincal problem with CBS out of New York.” I contacted CBS News in New York and was told that “There were no transmission difficulties. The problems were peculiar to Channel 19, which had the signal and had functioning transmitters.” Channel 19 is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners, who can be contacted through Rhonda Barnat, 212-371-5999 or rb@abmac.com. Oak Hill Partners represents interests of the Bass family, which contribute heavily to the Republican Party. Viewers displeased about the channel’s decision to censor the broadcast should express their views directly to the station management or to the owners.


His article is generally excellent, but it is silly to complain to the station or the owners. The episode with Sinclair broadcasting shows it only works to complain to advertisers. Fortunately WHNT makes this very easy with clickable ads on their web page

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/02/hbc-90002487

Advertisers include

Dunagan, Yates & Alison Plastic Surgery Center
303 Williams Avenue, Suite 1421
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-536-4448
askthedoctor@dunaganyates.com

Huntsville/Madison Co. Builders Assn.
2804 Bob Wallace Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35805
256-536-2602

Morris, Conchin and King

129 Washington Street
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-536-0588
Toll Free: 888-321-8353

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 248
Huntsville, AL 35804

I think it would be especially nice to complain to Morris, Conchin and King, lawyers who are sending money to a TV station which suppressed information on prosecutorial misconduct.

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