The Sinclair Broadcast Group, the right-leaning television broadcasting behemoth which owns more than stations in its chain, has been forcing local news stations under its umbrella to air attacks on the Southern Poverty Law Center, Media Matters reports.
Sinclair owns KATV, Channel 7, in Little Rock, as well as KFSM-5 and KXNW-34 in Fort Smith, and WREG, a Memphis station with Arkansas coverage.
At the New York Times reported earlier this year, Sinclair produces “must-run” video segments that station managers are required to include in local broadcasts. These segments tend to look more like right-wing propaganda than news. Sinclair has recently engaged in a crusade against SPLC, including on KATV in Little Rock, Media Matters reports:
Conservative local TV news giant Sinclair Broadcast Group has produced two “must-run” segments misrepresenting the work of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and casting doubt on its “hate group” designations. Sinclair is known for requiring its local news stations to air “must-run” segments that often look like right-wing propaganda. These must-runs come as hate groups and other right-wing organizations have ramped up their years-long campaign against SPLC in 2017.
SPLC has called the claims made in Sinclair’s segments “inaccurate, defamatory, and irresponsible.”