Company Description
Sinclair, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBGI) is a diversified media company in the communication services sector with a primary focus on broadcasting, local news, and sports. According to the company’s public disclosures, Sinclair owns, operates and/or provides services to a large portfolio of television stations across numerous U.S. markets and operates national media brands that span broadcast, cable, multicast networks, and digital content.
Sinclair states that it owns, operates and/or provides services to television stations in 81 markets across the United States, with affiliations across all major broadcast networks. This local media footprint underpins Sinclair’s role as a provider of local news and sports content in many communities. The company’s structure includes Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC as a wholly owned subsidiary whose financial results are consolidated into Sinclair, Inc., as described in its SEC filings.
Business segments and media assets
Sinclair’s operations, as outlined in its financial reporting, are organized around a Local Media segment, a Tennis segment, and an Other segment, with corporate and eliminations reported separately. The Local Media segment consists primarily of broadcast television stations that the company owns, operates, or to which it provides services, and also includes multicast networks and original content. This segment is a core part of Sinclair’s broadcasting activities and is associated with distribution revenue, core and political advertising revenue, and other media revenue.
The Tennis segment centers on Tennis Channel, which Sinclair describes as a cable network that includes coverage of many of tennis’ top tournaments and original professional sports and tennis lifestyle programming. The segment also includes the Tennis Channel International subscription and streaming service, the Tennis Channel streaming service, TennisChannel 2 (a free ad-supported streaming television channel), and Tennis.com. These assets illustrate Sinclair’s presence in sports media and subscription and ad-supported streaming offerings related to tennis.
The Other segment, as referenced in Sinclair’s financial disclosures, includes non-broadcast digital solutions such as Digital Remedy, technical services, and other non-media investments. This segment reflects Sinclair’s activities outside traditional broadcast and cable networks, including digital and technical services and investment-related operations.
Multicast networks and genre-focused programming
Sinclair highlights ownership of several multicast networks that are distributed free over-the-air and through various platforms. These include CHARGE, Comet, ROAR, and The Nest. Company news describes CHARGE as a network whose schedule is built around police procedurals and crime franchises, with programming such as Criminal Minds, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Homicide: Life on the Street driving viewership growth. Comet is described as a destination for fans of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the supernatural, featuring series and movie blocks aligned with those genres. ROAR is described as a multicast network dedicated to contemporary comedy, featuring shows such as America’s Funniest Home Videos, Weakest Link, Hollywood Game Night, and other comedy series.
Sinclair reports that these multicast networks have expanded their national footprint through upgraded broadcast positions, new multicast affiliations, and carriage on virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) such as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Company communications characterize this portfolio as focused on genre-driven programming strategies designed to attract specific audience segments across free broadcast and streaming environments.
Sports and AMP Media
Beyond traditional broadcasting, Sinclair emphasizes its role as a provider of sports content. The company owns Tennis Channel, which it describes as the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts, and it holds stakes in regional sports networks such as Marquee Sports Network and YES Network, according to the Polygon description. These interests extend Sinclair’s reach into professional and regional sports programming distributed to pay-TV and other distributors.
Sinclair also operates AMP Media and its division AMP Sports. AMP Media is described as producing a growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. AMP Sports, a division of AMP Media, connects brands to sports fans through original video podcasts and multiplatform sports programming. Company news highlights shows such as “Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard,” which offers analysis of global soccer storylines, and college football podcasts like “The Blue Print: A Podcast on The Michigan Wolverines” and “The Echoes: A Podcast on Notre Dame.” These programs are distributed across audio platforms and video platforms, and are supported by live fan events in partnership with organizations such as Athletes First.
Local news, community initiatives, and scholarships
Sinclair describes itself as a leading provider of local news and sports, with newsrooms that have received industry recognition. For example, the company has reported that its newsrooms have earned journalism awards, including regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, underscoring its focus on local news production. The Local Media segment’s activities include news programming and other content produced at its stations.
Community and educational initiatives are also part of Sinclair’s public profile. The company operates an annual Sinclair Scholarship program aimed at students pursuing careers in journalism, digital storytelling, and marketing. The scholarship is open to eligible college students at accredited four-year institutions in the United States and is described as part of Sinclair’s effort to invest in the future of the broadcast industry and support the next generation of media professionals.
Corporate structure, listings, and regulatory filings
Sinclair, Inc. is incorporated in Maryland, as indicated in its SEC filings, and its Class A common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the symbol SBGI. The company’s filings also reference Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC, another Maryland entity, whose financial results are consolidated into the parent company’s reporting.
Sinclair files periodic and current reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Recent Form 8-K filings have covered topics such as quarterly financial results, executive appointments and transitions, and amendments to executive employment agreements. These filings provide investors with information on the company’s financial condition, management changes, and other material events.
Financial reporting and revenue categories
In its financial disclosures, Sinclair breaks out revenue into categories such as distribution revenue, core advertising revenue, political advertising revenue, and other media revenue. The Local Media segment generates revenue from advertising and distribution arrangements related to its broadcast stations and multicast networks. The Tennis segment reports distribution and advertising revenue associated with Tennis Channel and related services, while the Other segment includes revenue from non-broadcast digital solutions and other non-media activities.
Sinclair also reports Adjusted EBITDA and provides segment-level metrics for Local Media, Tennis, and Other, along with corporate and eliminations. These disclosures illustrate how the company evaluates performance across its different lines of business, including media programming and production expenses, selling, general and administrative expenses, and non-media expenses.
Strategic activity and capital allocation
Company communications describe ongoing station portfolio optimization, including partner station acquisitions, station swaps, sales of stations, acquisitions of non-licensed assets in certain markets, and acquisition of network affiliations. Sinclair has also reported activity in its investment portfolio through Sinclair Ventures, LLC, which makes minority investments and receives distributions from existing holdings.
Sinclair’s board has authorized quarterly cash dividends on its Class A and Class B common stock, as reflected in company announcements. The company’s debt structure and liquidity, including cash balances and borrowing capacity under revolving credit facilities, are discussed in its financial results releases and related Form 8-K filings.
Position within broadcasting and media
Based on the company’s own descriptions and third-party data in the Polygon summary, Sinclair is the owner-operator of a large portfolio of television stations in the United States, with a substantial number of channels affiliated with major national broadcast networks such as Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, The CW, and MyNetworkTV. The company’s combination of local broadcast stations, national cable and multicast networks, sports media assets, and digital content and podcast production positions it as a diversified participant in the U.S. broadcasting and media landscape.
FAQs about Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI)
- What does Sinclair, Inc. do?
Sinclair, Inc. is a diversified media company that owns, operates and/or provides services to television stations in numerous U.S. markets, produces local news and sports programming, operates Tennis Channel and several multicast networks, and develops digital content and original podcasts through AMP Media. - How is Sinclair’s business organized?
Sinclair reports its operations through a Local Media segment focused on broadcast television stations and multicast networks, a Tennis segment centered on Tennis Channel and related services, and an Other segment that includes non-broadcast digital solutions, technical services, and other non-media investments. - What is Sinclair’s stock symbol and where is it listed?
Sinclair, Inc.’s Class A common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol SBGI, as disclosed in its SEC filings. - What types of television networks are associated with Sinclair?
Sinclair states that its television stations are affiliated with all major broadcast networks and that it owns multicast networks such as CHARGE, Comet, ROAR, and The Nest. It also owns Tennis Channel and holds interests in regional sports networks such as Marquee Sports Network and YES Network, according to the Polygon description. - What is Tennis Channel’s role within Sinclair?
Tennis Channel is part of Sinclair’s Tennis segment and is described as a cable network that covers many top tennis tournaments and produces original sports and lifestyle programming. The segment also includes international and domestic streaming services and related digital properties such as Tennis.com. - What is AMP Media and AMP Sports?
AMP Media is a Sinclair business that produces digital content and original podcasts. AMP Sports, a division of AMP Media, focuses on sports-related programming and video podcasts, partnering with well-known sports figures and hosting live fan events around major sports moments. - How does Sinclair describe its local news operations?
Sinclair describes itself as a leading provider of local news and sports, with newsrooms that have received industry awards, including regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. These news operations are part of the Local Media segment associated with its broadcast television stations. - Does Sinclair have any educational or scholarship programs?
Yes. Sinclair operates an annual scholarship program for college students in the United States who are pursuing careers in journalism, digital storytelling, and marketing. The company presents this program as part of its commitment to the future of the broadcast and media industry. - What regulatory filings does Sinclair make?
Sinclair files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 8-K that cover topics such as quarterly financial results, executive appointments and transitions, and amendments to executive employment agreements. These filings provide official information on material events and financial performance. - Is Sinclair involved in sports beyond Tennis Channel?
In addition to Tennis Channel, Sinclair has stakes in regional sports networks such as Marquee Sports Network and YES Network, as noted in the Polygon description, and produces sports-focused digital content and podcasts through AMP Sports.