Rather Follow-up

Read below if you haven't heard how my station wasn't going to air the Rather special. But, as it turns out, we did indeed air the special. Why??? I think, and this is just a fairly educated guess, it's because CBS threatened a massive lawsuit and possibly revoking our network affiliation.

Why do I think that? Just read the press release our station put out on Wednesday afternoon.

At WWTV-WWUP/TV, 9&10 News, we believe that the role of a local television broadcaster is to serve our local community. We offered our online poll concerning the airing of the Dan Rather special as a way to let our Northern Michigan viewers voice their opinion.

Unfortunately, this simple act of broadcasting localism has been grossly misinterpreted. We were simply trying to maintain the great tradition of local viewer input that is the foundation of our modern day broadcasting system. It was never our intent to embarrass Mr. Rather or the CBS Network.

We have always valued our over 50 year relationship with the CBS network and look forward to many more years of our affiliation.

Therefore we have suspended the poll and will broadcast the program in its entirety.

We apologize for any misunderstandings our actions may have caused.

William E. Kring
General Manager

If that isn't the most concilitory press release I've ever read, I don't know what is. But in any case, I don't think my station's getting a Christmas card from CBS this year.

Bieke