Sinclair Stock Price, News & Analysis

Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley has congratulated Commissioner Brendan Carr on his appointment as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Ripley expressed the company's intention to collaborate with Carr to enhance local broadcasting by promoting fair competition and eliminating unnecessary regulatory barriers that impede investment and innovation.

Sinclair Inc (SBGI) and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on wireless broadcast technology development, focusing on ATSC 3.0 standard enhancements for Broadcast-to-Everything (B2X) applications. The partnership aims to advance capabilities in traffic management, 5G network integration, spectrum utilization, and low-latency datacasting. With India's large mobile and TV market, B2X technology promises to address network congestion and improve service quality. The collaboration will contribute to emergency management, remote education, agricultural techniques, and AI-based broadcasting applications.

Sinclair (Nasdaq: SBGI) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on both Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend will be paid on December 16, 2024, to shareholders of record as of December 2, 2024. Sinclair operates 185 television stations across 86 markets, owns Tennis Channel, and several multicast networks including Comet, CHARGE!, TBD., and The Nest. The company delivers content through multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and NewsON.

Sinclair (Nasdaq: SBGI) reported its Q3 2024 financial results, showing a 20% increase in total revenues to $917 million compared to the prior year. Media revenues also rose by 20% to $908 million. Total advertising revenues surged by 42% to $433 million, with core advertising revenues growing by 1% year-over-year to $295 million. Political advertising revenues reached $138 million, a 31% increase over 2020. Distribution revenues rose by 5% to $434 million.

The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $249 million, up 72% from the previous year. Operating income increased to $179 million from $37 million, while net income attributable to Sinclair was $94 million, reversing a net loss of $46 million in the prior year. Diluted EPS was $1.43, up from a loss of $0.74 per share.

For the first nine months of 2024, total revenues increased by 10% to $2.544 billion, with adjusted EBITDA up 45% to $546 million. The company expects full-year adjusted EBITDA to increase by 54% to 56% year-over-year.

Tennis Channel is launching a direct-to-consumer streaming service on November 12, combining its 24-hour network with extensive live and on-demand content. The service will be available nationwide for $109.99 annually or $9.99 monthly through the Tennis Channel app and website. The platform will offer over 10,000 hours of tennis content, including live matches from over 100 tournaments, replays, highlights, and exclusive commentary. Current subscribers will receive the flagship channel at no extra charge, while cable and satellite customers will get authenticated access to enhanced content. The service covers ATP, WTA, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, and Laver Cup events.

NewsON, a leading local news streaming service, has launched its free app on VIZIO TVs. The ad-supported platform provides access to over 285 trusted TV stations across 135+ markets, covering 90% of the U.S. The service includes live newscasts, on-demand content, and 190+ local stations offering FAST channels. Features include weather forecasts, breaking news, and trending stories through What'sON. The expansion aims to enhance local news accessibility, particularly during critical events like elections and severe weather.

Sinclair is expanding its podcast division with the launch of 'Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard' on November 12. The show features U.S. soccer legends sharing insights, analysis, and stories about MLS, English Premier League, Champions League, and international competitions. The multi-platform program will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms, with content distributed across various social media channels. This launch follows the success of Sinclair's existing podcasts 'The Triple Option' and 'Throwbacks', with new episodes releasing every Tuesday.

Sinclair subsidiary ONE Media Technologies has appointed Matthew Goldman as Vice President of Strategic and Technical Initiatives. In this new role, Goldman will lead advanced operational technologies implementation, including High Dynamic Range Video (HDR) and ATSC 3.0 NextGen Broadcasting initiatives. Goldman, who joined Sinclair in 2021, brings over 30 years of digital television systems experience, including significant contributions to MPEG-2 Systems standards and ATSC protocols. He holds multiple Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards and will report to Mark Aitken, SVP of Advanced Technology at Sinclair and President of ONE Media Technologies.

Sinclair has announced that Lucy Rutishauser, the company's EVP and CFO, has been appointed to the Business Advisory Council of ATSC, the broadcast Standards Association. As a council member, Rutishauser will provide strategic insights to connect business and technology sectors, expanding ATSC standards across industries and regions.

ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV in the US and DTV+ in Brazil, is designed to enhance over-the-air TV with improved video quality, interactive features, and internet integration. It offers benefits such as:

• Enhanced public safety through advanced emergency alert systems
• Broadcast Positioning System as a complement to GPS
• Improved viewer experience with 4K, HDR, and immersive audio
• New revenue opportunities for broadcasters, including targeted advertising

Rutishauser expressed excitement about joining the council during this transformative period for the broadcast industry, highlighting ATSC 3.0's potential across various sectors.