Sinclair’s “Full Measure” Hits Full Stride

What started as investigative longform journalism and one of Sinclair39s first moves into national programming has evolved into what executive producer Batt Humphreys pictured below labels quotaccountability reportingquot which viewers appreciate in growing numbers amp160Cumulative audience is up substantially yeartoyear in part because among the company39s 162 stations in 74 markets are playingamp160Full Measure amp160And a growing number are now doublerunning each episode on Sunday mornings then again later in the dayamp160 Increasingly that second run happens in primetime or following the station39s late local newscast amp160Examples include CBS affiliate WRGB in Albany New York 1030 pm Fox station WUTV in Buffalo New York 10 pm ABC affiliate KDNL in St Louis Missouri 10 pm and The CW39s WUFL in Raleigh North Carolina 11 pm amp160Separately the program is also streamed nationally at 930 am ETThe audience surge quothas transcended and surprised all of usquot Humphreys acknowledges amp160quotWhen we started this venture it was about giving perspective to investigative stories based in Washington DC with a somewhat jaded eye amp160I think we39ve developed a program content and an audience for journalism that holds government accountable that looks at us with the same eye and level of comparison as they would foramp16060 Minutesamp160 That39s a huge complimentquotJust likeamp16060 Minutesamp160Full Measureamp160leads off with an extended cover story which brings an aspect of government accountability or lack of it to light For example its Memorial Day weekend edition led with amp8220The Price of Powerquot reported by anchorperson Sharyl Attkisson and explored the effort by members of Congress to obtain committee and subcommittee roles by raising money for both major political parties amp160Often that money is generated through special interest lobbyists related to issues covered by those committees and subcommittees One observer of this practice interviewed oncamera called it quotborderline extortionmoney over meritquot amp160Other segments covered how Birmingham England deals with the threat of terrorism and whether President Donald Trump has followed up his campaign promise to transform China39s trade policy amp160Some episodes wrap with a quotFollow the Moneyquot feature pointing out examples of irresponsible government spending updates on recent stories or viewer feedbackSo faramp160Full Measureamp160has operated without corporate or outside interference amp160quotThere39s an absolute fire wall here unlike some places in my pastquot Humphreys says amp160quotI39ve never felt any push or pull from anyone who may or may not have issues with any reporting we do amp160One very positive thing about our engagement with Sinclair is that we have not had any pushpull influence from them over what we report and how we go about reportingquot amp160What has been a boon was starting as Sinclairamp8217s first national content creation platform launched as a amp8220device or model for what it could beamp8221 Humphreys continued amp160amp8220Itamp8217s been a good process in developing in essence a network inside of Sinclair with its distribution sales and multiplatform promotionamp8221Howamp160Full Measureamp160goes about its business from here is likely to expand in advance of starting its third year and its anticipated 100th episode this October amp160Humphreys Attkisson and Sinclair news director Scott Livingston will participate in a quotHearts ampamp Mindsquot tour of key company affiliates this summer checking out potential journalistic and promotional synergies to leverage Sinclairamp8217s local at scale opportunities amp160With the number of stations playingamp160Full Measure Sunday nights internal conversation on a special primetime episode has come up However no decision has yet been made on thatOf more consequence this fall Sinclair could expand the program39s reach to New York Los Angeles and Chicago the nation39s top three TV markets by finalizing its acquisition of Tribune Media owners of WPIXNew York WGNChicago and KTLALos Angeles amp160That in turn gives Sinclair the option to attract national advertisingamp160foramp160Full Measure especially if all three stations and many of 40 other Tribuneowned stations add a second run Sunday nightsClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

Sinclair’s “Full Measure” Hits Full Stride

Author

Publish date

Channel

Simon Applebaum

We Are the Outliers - By Jack Myers

More Videos:

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

Sinclair’s “Full Measure” Hits Full Stride

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Simon Applebaum

We Are the Outliers - By Jack Myers

Cookies