Did anyone notice KOVR-TV (Channel 13 / Sacramento) 10PM news hour last night - Monday, January 27th?

At 10:40PM the anchors teased to a break by leading into a commentary called "The Point". My friend - and frequent guest on "The Hogue Show" - Mark Hyman, who is VP of Media Relations for Sinclair Broadcasting (current ownership of KOVR-TV) is the host of the commentary feature for Sinclair's affiliate TV stations.

As the commentary began, it was Hyman discussing 'media news stories' of 2004. Hyman lead into his year end commentary by saying, "...offering this year's worst news job is Dan Rather and CBS News." Hyman's commentary was poking some fun at Rather's 'memogate' and awarding the retiring Rather with this year's "Worst News Story".

Hyman's commentary offered a sarcastic comparison of Rather's memo toward Bush and the National Guard, to blaming George W. Bush for the kidnapping of the "Lindberg Baby"...due to a letter/email that was signed by Bush addressed to "Bruno", the charged assailant of the kidnapping and crime.

(In 1934, Bruno Hauptmann was tried and convicted of kidnapping and murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in 1935 after a series of delays, in the electric chair.)

As the commentary continued Hyman tossed to a graphic showing the CBS News logo; the feed was suddenly put into digital reverse...then stopped all together. KOVR had a moment of 'dead air' and 'black screen', then running to the commercial break as if nothing ever happened.

When the anchors returned from the break, they went into the weather and the rest of the programming and the commentary was never mentioned. Considering that Sinclair Broadcasting has sold KOVR-TV to CBS, is this a revelation of some sensitivity by the management at KOVR?

Did they censor a political commentary because it was 'negative' on Rather and CBS?

Is this the first of many programming events where CBS will begin to censor their news content on KOVR in Sacramento?

Do we have new GM's and OM's who are preparing for the 'mainstream media news' rules?

It's worth the investigation...We'll have Mark Hyman on the show when I get back to the studio next week. We'll let you know what is to come of KOVR and the TV News of Sacramento with CBS arriving in the Capitol.

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