You can make a difference!
Because of Jimmy Kimmel’s mild critique of the MAGA response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, ABC, a division of Disney, canceled his show indefinitely, but due to the massive backlash from consumers canceling subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu (almost $4 billion in lost revenue, by some accounts), Kimmel was reinstated this past Tuesday. However, Nexstar and Sinclair station groups, which control many ABC affiliates across the US, are still refusing to air Kimmel’s show, mainly because both companies’ executives are extremely right-wing. So, what can you do?
1. (This action already was a success! Kimmel is back.) Cancel your Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions. When you are asked for the reason for cancellation, select “Other.” You can then type in the box your reason, such as “you bent the knee to fascism and attempted to silence free speech.”
NOW
2. Support PBS instead, as they need our help more than ever. For just $5 a month, you can have streaming access to their entire library of programming. Go to PBS SoCal Click HERE
3. Let advertisers know you won’t support them if they continue to advertise on Nexstar or Sinclair-owned stations. The only station in our area like that is KTLA, which is an affiliate of The CW (not ABC), but is Nexstar owned.
a. Watch the news on KTLA and write down the names of local advertisers. Why
the news? Because that is the most expensive programming in which to advertise.
b. Google the phone numbers and/or addresses of these advertisers.
c. Call, or even better, write a letter to the advertisers and let them know you will
not do business with them as long as they continue to advertise on KTLA. Be
polite but firm. A sample script and/or letter is below, but feel free to elaborate
or use your own words.
Dear [advertiser]—
I am a concerned American that cares about democracy and free speech. I see that you
advertise on KTLA, a station owned by Nexstar, one of the station groups that is still actively
silencing the speech of Jimmy Kimmel nationwide. They are doing so in a corrupt attempt to
placate the Trump administration in order to secure a hoped-for merger with Tegna, and they
are willing to sell out fundamental American values just to get rich. There are many other
stations in the L.A. market on which you can advertise, so as long as you continue to air your
commercials on KTLA, I will no longer do business with you, and will encourage all my friends and neighbors to boycott you as well. However, if you publicly denounce what Nexstar is doing, and stop advertising on KTLA, I will be happy to do business with you again.
Thank you for your consideration, and I strongly encourage you to do the right thing.
Sincerely,
[Your name and phone number]
By Chris H
