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FCC Hits Sinclair With $13 Million Fine Over Ads (axios.com)

Posted by msmash on from the paying-the-price dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: The FCC plans to fine Sinclair Broadcasting group more than $13 million for failing to make the required disclosures related to programming sponsored by a third party. It's the largest fine the FCC has ever proposed for violation of its ad disclosure rules, which require broadcasters to disclose who is paying for sponsored programming.

19 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I work for Sinclair. by Kenja · · Score: 2

    I'm hourly and I hope this doesn't affect my bonus.

    Well... if tax breaks create jobs, it's only logical that fines destroy them. So you'll be fired.

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    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  2. A blow against fake news by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 3, Interesting

    From the linked article:

    The FCC's Enforcement Bureau found that Sinclair aired stories paid for by the Huntsman Cancer Foundation without disclosing that they were paid programming. The programming was made to look like independent news coverage.

    This is a blow against "fake" news.

    On a related note, Facebook is dumping it's fake news flagging system (the "disputed" flag), because studies show that flagging something as fake makes people more likely to share it!

    (Snicker.... snort... chuckle... BWA HA HA HAH HAH!)

    1. Re:A blow against fake news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Why the quotes around "fake?"

    2. Re:A blow against fake news by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      Because it's not REAL fake news. Duh.

      Everyone knows it's not bona fide fake news unless it is news that is unfavorable to the GOP's political agenda.

  3. Misleading headline by Stormwatch · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As this is a site of "news for nerds", most readers will probably assume the headline refers to computer maker Sinclair Research, which is completely unrelated to media company Sinclair Broadcast Group.

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    Circumcision is child abuse.
    1. Re:Misleading headline by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      The only confusion I have is in how this relates to Apple or a blockchain.

  4. SInclair by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    is a rightwing outfit. How long before Trump makes that fine go away?

  5. Re:I work for Sinclair. by interkin3tic · · Score: 2

    Ah, but deregulation creates jobs, and Sinclair managed the herculean task of convincing Ajit Pai to not do his job in regulating them to keep them from taking over a majority of television sets of old voters.

    Naturally, Sinclair lying to the FCC about this matter won't cause the deregulation decision to continue. It was surely an honest mistake and Sinclair is going to be more forthright about who is paying for the right-wing propaganda they will run in the middle of your uncle's local news program.

  6. That's greaaaat by easyTree · · Score: 2

    PopQuiz: How do we hit the FCC with a fine for ruining the internet for the whole world?

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    Requiem for the American Dream
    1. Re:That's greaaaat by HiThere · · Score: 1

      Well, the first step is to get the government's permission to sue it. It's perfectly alright to sue the federal government, but you need their permission.

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      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    2. Re:That's greaaaat by rtb61 · · Score: 2

      Well for a start three of them voted for it, how about name and shame them all, not just the only idiot who was willing to promote that scam. Just looking at that guy and the idiocy he comes up with and you know, you just know he was the only one stupid enough to destroy his public image for the rest of his life, all the others chickened out and with good reason. There are at least two others skulking in the background https://www.fcc.gov/about/lead..., wish them a merry fucking christmas.

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      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    3. Re:That's greaaaat by tepples · · Score: 1

      There are a few ways to go about it. The Congress has agreed to allow suits pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946 (28 USC 1346(b), 2671 et seq). For others, particularly cases involving an unconstitutional statute, the common legal fiction is to sue the Attorney General for an injunction against asserting the statute.

    4. Re:That's greaaaat by cpurdy · · Score: 2
      Oh for sanity's sake, stop the whining!

      Ajit, is that you posting as AC again?

      One of the rarest things ever just happened, almost as rare as bottled unicorn farts, a federal government agency actually gave back some of the scope-creep it was handed and chose to forego increasing their fiefdom in favor of allowing Congress to write laws to address the issues like things are supposed to be done

      An agency doing its job does not prevent Congress from doing its job. Your statement makes no sense.

    5. Re:That's greaaaat by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      you just know he was the only one stupid enough to destroy his public image for the rest of his life

      In fairness, he didn't destroy so ,much as sell.

      So, less stupid, more evil.

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      Your ad here. Ask me how!
  7. Re:I work for Sinclair. by FormOfActionBanana · · Score: 1

    What is "Sinclair"?

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    Take off every 'sig' !!
  8. Re:I work for Sinclair. by mikeiver1 · · Score: 1

    He doesn't have to worry at all. Sinclair is a right wing religious broadcasting company and they are not going to have to pay the fine. It will be quietly reduced to nothing later. They are a part of team "Shit Show" ruining the country right now. Sorry, meant to say "Running"... Or did I?

  9. FCC ruining the whole world by FeelGood314 · · Score: 1

    PopQuiz: How do we hit the FCC with a fine for ruining the internet for the whole world?

    I disagree. The USA's new operating policy is to be an example to the rest of the world. If the rest of the world can learn from your mistakes instead of f*#king things up in our own countries I for one am grateful.

  10. Smart move by Dripdry · · Score: 1

    Get them now with a smaller fine so later they can't be hit with a huge one.
    Smart, FCC, since you're the ones helping them consolidate and grow.

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  11. Re:I work for Sinclair. by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

    No, not really, that was sarcasm. Ajit Pai is guilty of bribery on top of cult-like devotion to licking the boots of big corporations screwing over the country. Pai and the executive board of Sinclair and others should be jailed for this.