Editing Sinclair Broadcast Group (section)

==History==

===Early roots===
The company's roots date back to the late 1950s, when electrical engineer [[Julian Sinclair Smith]] and his wife Carolyn B. Smith, owning 34.5% of the shares, along with a group of shareholders, formed the '''Commercial Radio Institute''', a broadcasting [[trade school]] in [[Baltimore]], Maryland. In March 1958, Commercial Radio Institute applied to build an [[FM radio]] station in Baltimore.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=For The Record {{!}} New Fm Stations {{!}} Applications |date=April 21, 1958 |magazine=[[Broadcasting (magazine)|Broadcasting]] |page=122 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-04-21-BC.pdf |access-date=March 31, 2024 |via=worldradiohistory.com |quote=Baltimore, Md—Commercial Radio Institute Inc., 93.1 mc, 19.55 kw unl… Owners are Julian S. and Carolyn B. Smith (34.5%) and several small stockholders.}}</ref> In April 1959, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) granted the [[Construction permit#Broadcasting|construction permit]]{{snd}}for the estimated  {{US$|25964|link=yes}} ({{Inflation|US|25964|1959|fmt=eq|r=-2}}) construction project{{snd}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=For The Record {{!}} New Fm Stations {{!}} Actions by FCC |date=April 6, 1959 |magazine=[[Broadcasting (magazine)|Broadcasting]] |page=102 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1959/1959-04-06-BC.pdf |access-date=March 31, 2024 |via=worldradiohistory.com |quote=Baltimore, Md—Commercial Radio Institute Inc. Granted… April 1… Estimated construction cost $25,964…}}</ref> Sinclair's first station, WFMM-FM (now [[WPOC]]), signed on the air in February 1960.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Facilities of AM/FM Radio {{!}} U. S. stations directory, including am/fm profiles {{!}} MARYLAND {{!}} Baltimore |date=September 1962 |magazine=[[Broadcasting (magazine)|Broadcasting]] |page=B-78 [PDF p. 266] |issue=1961–62 Yearbook Issue |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1961-62/1961-62-BC-YB.pdf |access-date=March 31, 2024 |via=worldradiohistory.com |quote=WFMM-FM (Feb. 4, 1960)… 44 W. Biddle St. … Julian Sinclair Smith, pres & gen mgr}}</ref>

In 1967, Smith, as Chesapeake Engineering Placement Service, partly owned by the name-shortened Commercial Radio Inc., applied for and was granted, a construction permit for a new [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] television station in Baltimore, expected to be operating by September 1968 on channel 45, no call sign yet assigned.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=New TV Stations |date=October 30, 1967 |magazine=[[Broadcasting (magazine)|Broadcasting]] |page=46 |volume=73 |issue=18 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1967/1967-10-30-BC.pdf |access-date=March 31, 2024 |via=worldradiohistory.com |quote=Channel 45, Baltimore, plans to go on air in September, 1968, with 243 kw visual, 48 kw aural from an antenna height of 552 feet above average terrain}}</ref>

===Chesapeake Television Corporation===

Channel 45, with the call sign [[WBFF]], joined on April 11, 1971. By that time, Chesapeake Engineering Placement Service had changed its name to '''Chesapeake Television Corporation'''. The Commercial Radio Institute, by then a division of Chesapeake Television Corporation, founded WPTT (now [[WPNT]]) in [[Pittsburgh]], in 1978, and [[WTTE]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]], in 1984. All three stations originally were [[independent station (North America)|independents]]. In 1986, WBFF and WTTE became charter affiliates of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] at its launch. The Fox affiliation in Pittsburgh went to higher-rated [[WPGH-TV]], which was purchased by Sinclair in 1990.

Chesapeake's first foray into [[local news]] came in the early 1980s when it launched a newscast on WPTT, a rarity at this time for stations not affiliated with the then-major networks ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[CBS]] and [[NBC]]). This newscast was called ''WPTT News''. In the opening segment, the letters "news" were formed from a [[compass]] indicating the four [[cardinal directions]]. This opening segment, featuring then-anchorman Kevin Evans, appeared briefly, and was audible, in the movie ''[[Flashdance]]'' during a scene where [[Jennifer Beals]]' character returns home and turns on the television. 

The presentation was relatively low-budget, with the anchor simply reading copy, with no field video shots other than the weather read over a stock video shot denoting the conditions outside. It was not a factor in taking ratings away from then-market laggard WIIC-TV, now [[WPXI]], much less solid runner-up [[WTAE-TV]] and then-locally owned [[Westinghouse Broadcasting|Group W]] powerhouse [[KDKA-TV]]. As WBFF did not air newscasts until 1991 and WTTE would not air any newscasts from its 1984 sign-on until Sinclair purchased ABC affiliate [[WSYX]] in 1996, this marked the company's only foray into local news for years, a genre it became much more involved in from the mid-1990s on.

===Sinclair Broadcast Group===
====1985–2010====
[[File:Sinclair Broadcast Group Logo.svg|thumb|Sinclair Broadcast Group logo (1985–2017)]]

Smith's son [[David D. Smith]] began taking a more active role in the company in the 1980s. In 1985, the Chesapeake Television Corporation changed its name to '''Sinclair Broadcast Group'''. In 1990, David and his three brothers bought their parents' remaining stock and went on a buying spree that eventually made it one of the largest station owners in the country, through the purchases of stations and of companies that owned groups of stations.

Sinclair pioneered the concept of the [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) in American television in 1991, when it sold WPTT to its [[general manager]] Eddie Edwards (founder of Glencairn, Ltd., the Sinclair-affiliated licensee that would eventually become [[Cunningham Broadcasting]]) in order to purchase fellow Pittsburgh station [[WPGH-TV]] to comply with FCC ownership rules of the time that prohibited [[Duopoly (broadcasting)|duopolies]], while agreeing to allow Sinclair to retain operational responsibilities for the station. However, while LMAs would become an integral part of the company's business model in subsequent years, Sinclair's plans to acquire [[KOKH-TV]] in [[Oklahoma City]] through Glencairn, which would subsequently attempt to sell five of its 11 existing LMA-operated stations to Sinclair outright in turn (with Sinclair stock included in the deal) was challenged by the [[Rainbow/PUSH]] coalition (headed by [[Jesse Jackson]]) to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) in 1998, citing concerns over a single company controlling two broadcast licenses in the same market in violation of FCC rules. The coalition argued that Glencairn passed itself off as a minority-owned company (Edwards is [[African American]]) which, since the Smith family controlled most of the company's stock, was technically a Sinclair arm that planned to use the LMA with KOKH to gain control of the station and create an illegal duopoly with [[KOCB]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=PUSH pushing FCC over Sinclair/Glencairn|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20938729.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610193409/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20938729.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=July 13, 1998|access-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Glencairn's dicey LMAs|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54266781.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610193407/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54266781.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=March 29, 1999|access-date=}}</ref> In 2001, the FCC levied a $40,000 fine against Sinclair for illegally controlling Glencairn.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=FCC fines Sinclair for Glencairn control|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/fcc-fines-sinclair-glencairn-control/90604 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=December 10, 2001}}</ref> Sinclair became a publicly listed company in 1995, raising $105 million in a sale of 5 million shares at its opening on [[NASDAQ]] on June 6.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McConnell |first=Bill |date=June 7, 1995 |title=Sinclair Broadcasting IPO does well |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/390110904 |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 9, 2024 |work=The Daily Record |location=Baltimore, MD |page=3 |id={{ProQuest|390110904}} |via=Proquest}}</ref> The Smith family retained a controlling interest.

In 1994, Sinclair signed a deal with Paramount and its [[UPN]] network, bringing five affiliates [[WPNT|WPTT-TV]] in Pittsburgh, [[WNUV|WNUV-TV]] in Baltimore, [[WVTV-DT2|WCGV-TV]] in Milwaukee, [[WSTR-TV]] in Cincinnati and [[KSMO-TV]] in Kansas City to the network.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=C|first=S|date=August 1, 1994|title=Paramount adds, Warner fight for affiliates |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]}}</ref> In 1996, Sinclair bought out Superior Communications for $63 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sinclair adding 2 TV stations Oklahoma and Kentucky deals make local group major independent force; Broadcasting|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-03-06-1996066007-story.html|access-date=November 27, 2021 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=March 6, 1996 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1997, Sinclair reached a deal with The WB to convert many of the UPN affiliates to The WB.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pope|first=Kyle |date=July 15, 1997|title=Time Warner Network Exults As Sinclair Moves 5 Affiliates|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB868923094169379500|access-date=April 28, 2021|issn=0099-9660|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Following the disputes, in August 1998, Sinclair and UPN signed a new agreement.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=UPN, Sinclair settle |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |last2=Hontz |first2=Jenny |date=August 3, 1998 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/1998/tv/news/upn-sinclair-settle-1117479049/ |access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref> 

In February 1998, Sinclair bought out Sullivan Broadcasting for $1 billion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sinclair to purchase Sullivan Deal could be worth $1 billion, gives firm 14 new TV stations; Most are Fox affiliates; Company continues to gain outlets in mid-size markets; Broadcasting|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1998-02-25-1998056040-story.html|access-date=November 27, 2021 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=February 25, 1998 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1998, Sinclair bought out Max Media Properties, for $252 million.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 7, 1998|title=Sinclair closes on Max Media acquisition|work=Business Journal of Baltimore|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=1998+sinclair+max+media|access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref> In November 2004, Sinclair sold off KSMO-TV in Kansas City to [[Meredith Corporation]] for $26.8 million.<ref>{{cite journal |title=KCTV owner pays $26.8M for WB affiliate's assets |journal=[[Kansas City Business Journal]] |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2004/11/08/daily44.html |access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref> In December 2004, Sinclair divested [[KOVR|KOVR-TV]] in Sacramento to [[Viacom (1952-2006)|Viacom]], now [[Paramount Global]], for $285 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baltimore Sun: Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/ |access-date=November 27, 2021 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In 2004, as a response when LIN Media signed [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliates [[WDTN]] and [[WAND (TV)|WAND]] to NBC, Sinclair Broadcast Group converted two of its [[NBC]] affiliates [[WICS]]/[[WICD (TV)|WICD]] and [[WKEF]] to [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stephens |first=Caleb |date=August 16, 2004 |title=Local TV affiliate switch could affect ad rates |journal=[[Dayton Business Journal]]|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2004/08/16/story7.html |access-date=November 24, 2023}}</ref>

In July 2009, in a filing with the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]], Sinclair stated that if the company could not refinance its $1.33 billion debt, or if Cunningham Broadcasting became insolvent due to nonpayment on a loan worth $33.5 million, Sinclair may be forced to file for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]].<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |title=Sinclair Broadcast warns of possible bankruptcy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sinclairbroadcastgroup-idUSBNG51304320090714 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=July 14, 2009}}</ref> The company seemingly recovered its financial fortunes enough, and began a major string of acquisitions involving television stations and other properties two years later.

====2011–2013====
The beginning of the 2010s saw Sinclair's acquisition strategy intensify. In May 2011, [[Ring of Honor]] (ROH), a [[professional wrestling promotion]], was purchased for an undisclosed amount.<ref name="Sinclair2">{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |date=May 21, 2011 |title=ROH Breaking News: Ring of Honor sold – ROH announces official sale of the promotion; new television distribution |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/ROH_News_29/article_50245.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524043416/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/ROH_News_29/article_50245.shtml |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |access-date=May 21, 2011 |work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> ROH's flagship program ''[[Ring of Honor Wrestling]]'' was added onto the schedules of many Sinclair-operated stations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Recent News |url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/ring-of-honor-announces-sale-to-sinclair-broadcast-group/ |publisher=ROH Wrestling |access-date=January 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114023928/http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/ring-of-honor-announces-sale-to-sinclair-broadcast-group |archive-date=November 14, 2013 }}</ref> In September 2011, [[Four Points Media Group]] was purchased for $200&nbsp;million, equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|200000000|2011}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}. Sinclair assumed managerial control of the stations from [[Nexstar Media Group|Nexstar Broadcasting Group]]. Four Points owner [[Cerberus Capital Management]] paid Nexstar cash compensation for the prematurely terminated time brokerage agreements.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Buys Four Points Media For $200M|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2011/09/08/53840/sinclair-buys-four-points-media-for-200m |website=tvnewscheck.com|date=September 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Sinclair Grabs Four Points Stations for $200 Mil|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/sinclair-grabs-four-points-stations-200-mil/43071 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=September 8, 2011}}</ref> In November 2011, Sinclair purchased [[Freedom Communications]]' television stations for $385&nbsp;million, equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|385000000|2011}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}, making Sinclair the ninth-largest broadcast group in the United States.<ref name="tvnewscheck-freedom">{{cite web |date=November 2, 2011 |title=Sinclair Buying Freedom For $385 Million |website=tvnewscheck.com |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/55148/sinclair-buying-freedom-for-385-million}}</ref><ref name="ocr-freedomsinclair">{{cite news |first=Mary Ann |last=Milbourn |date=November 2, 2011 |title=O.C. Register owner sells TV stations |newspaper=[[Orange County Register]] |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sinclair-324997-stations-company.html |access-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref>

At the same time, Sinclair purchased [[WWHO]], a CW affiliate in the [[Columbus, Ohio]], market, from [[LIN Media|LIN TV]]. Owing to Sinclair's existing Columbus duopoly of [[WSYX]] and [[WTTE]], WWHO was resold to Manhan Media, who entered into a shared services agreement with Sinclair.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/481548-Sinclair_Inks_Shared_Services_Deal_for_WWHO_Columbus.php |title=Sinclair Inks Shared Services Deal for WWHO Columbus |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |access-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> In May 2012, a groupwide affiliation renewal with Fox reached, included an option for Sinclair to purchase [[WUTB]], Baltimore's [[MyNetworkTV]] station, from [[Fox Television Stations]] before March 31, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sinclair Reups With Fox, Gets WUTB Option |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/59463/sinclair-reups-with-fox-gets-wutb-option |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=May 15, 2012}}</ref> Sinclair purchased WUTB and resold it to [[Deerfield Media]]—controlled by Manhan Media owner Stephen P. Mumblow—on November 26, 2012, pairing with WBFF and WNUV. Concurrently, Fox had an option to purchase up to any combination of six different MyNetworkTV and CW stations in four different markets from Sinclair, which it declined.<ref>{{cite web |last=Halonen |first=Doug |date=February 6, 2013 |title=Sinclair In An Acquisition State Of Mind |website=tvnewscheck.com |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/65306/sinclair-in-an-acquisition-state-of-mind |access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref>

On July 19, 2012, Sinclair acquired six stations from [[Newport Television]], along with existing operational agreements for two other stations, for $412.5&nbsp;million, equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|412500000|2012}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}, as part of a larger dispersal of Newport's 22-station portfolio.<ref name="tvnc-sinclairnexstar">{{cite web |title=Newport Sells 22 Stations For $1 Billion |date=July 19, 2012 |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/60876/newport-sells-22-stations-for-1-billion |website=tvnewscheck.com |access-date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> That same day, Sinclair purchased [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] station [[WTTA]] for $40&nbsp;million, equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|40000000|2012}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.<ref name="sinclair-newportacq" /> Two of Sinclair's existing stations in markets affected by the Newport deal, [[WSTR-TV]] and [[KMYS]], were sold to Deerfield Media.<ref name="sinclair-newportacq">{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast to buy 7 TV outlets for $452.5M|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sinclair-broadcast-to-buy-7-tv-outlets-for-4525m-2012-07-19|publisher=MarketWatch|date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> Deerfield also acquired [[KBTV-TV]], [[Beaumont, Texas]]'s Fox affiliate, from Nexstar, with Sinclair assuming operations and merging it into CBS affiliate [[KFDM]].<ref name=fcc-saletodeerfield>{{cite web|title=Application for consent to assignment of broadcast station construction permit or license|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1511825&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=61214|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=August 23, 2012}}</ref> The non-license assets of ABC affiliate [[WHAM-TV]] in [[Rochester, New York]], were sold by Newport to Sinclair, with Deerfield purchasing the station's license.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rbr.com/sinclairs-rochester-dealings-detailed/ |title=Sinclair's Rochester Dealings Detailed|date=December 10, 2012|publisher=Radio & Television Business Report|access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref>

In February 2013, [[Cox Media Group]] sold five television stations, their smallest by [[media market]] rankings, to Sinclair, with Deerfield Media assuming ownership of Cox-operated [[KNSN-TV|KAME-TV]] in Reno.<ref name="tvnc-kamedeerfield">{{cite web |title=Sinclair Buys Four Cox Stations |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/65729/sinclair-buys-four-cox-stations |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=February 25, 2013|access-date=February 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name="b&c-coxdeal">{{cite magazine |title=Sinclair to Acquire Five Cox Stations |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/492015-Sinclair_to_Acquire_Five_Cox_Stations.php |author=Michael Malone |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301044657/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/492015-Sinclair_to_Acquire_Five_Cox_Stations.php |archive-date=March 1, 2013 }}</ref> Sinclair purchased [[Schaumburg, Illinois]]–based [[Barrington Broadcasting]] on February 28, 2013, including six other stations operated by Barrington.<ref name="b&c-barringtondeal">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/sinclairs-chesapeake-tv-acquires-barrington-stations-370m/43929 |title=Sinclair's Chesapeake TV Acquires Barrington Stations |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=February 28, 2013 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref> The former Cox and Barrington stations are operated through subsidiary Chesapeake Television, focusing on smaller markets and with management separate from Sinclair proper.<ref name=tvnc-kamedeerfield/><ref name=bbj-chesapeaketv>{{cite journal |title=Sinclair to pay $99M for four Cox Media TV stations |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2013/02/25/sinclair-to-pay-99m-for-four-cox.html |last=Haber |first=Gary |journal=[[Baltimore Business Journal]] |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=February 26, 2013}}</ref> Two Barrington stations, along with the lease for a third, were initially set to be transferred to Cunningham Broadcasting,<ref name=b&c-barringtondeal/> but were ultimately sold to an affiliate of [[Northwest Broadcasting]] owner Brian Brady.<ref>{{cite web|title=Application For Consent To Assignment Of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101563583&formid=314&fac_num=40758|work=CDBS Public Access|date=August 9, 2013|access-date=August 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=FCC approves sales of three Syracuse TV stations|url=http://www.cnyradio.com/2013/11/19/fcc-approves-sales-of-three-syracuse-tv-stations/|work=cnyradio.com|date=November 19, 2013}}</ref>

Prevailing in a bidding war with LIN Media, Sinclair purchased [[Fisher Communications]] in April 2013, for $373.3&nbsp;million, equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|373300000|2013}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}, including 20 television stations in the western United States, operational control of one station, and three radio stations in [[Seattle]].<ref name="tvnc-fisherbuy">{{cite web |date=April 11, 2013 |title=Official: Sinclair Buys Fisher For $373.3M |website=tvnewscheck.com |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/66798/official-sinclair-buys-fisher-for-3733m |access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> This deal returned Sinclair to radio ownership, since the divestment of their radio portfolio between 1999 and 2000.<ref name="nyt-sinclairentercom">{{cite news|title=Entercom to buy 43 Sinclair radio stations|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/28/business/company-news-entercom-to-buy-43-sinclair-radio-stations.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 28, 1999|access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="nyt-sinclairemmis">{{cite news|title=Sinclair to sell 6 stations to Emmis, settling lawsuit|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/23/business/company-news-sinclair-to-sell-6-stations-to-emmis-settling-lawsuit.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 23, 2000|access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> The deal was initially met with financial scrutiny. The law firm Levi & Korsinsky notified Fisher shareholders with accusations that Fisher's [[board of directors]] were breaching [[fiduciary]] duties by "failing to adequately shop the Company before agreeing to enter into the transaction", and Sinclair was underpaying for Fisher's stock.<ref name="wsj-breachofduty">{{cite press release|title=SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Notifies Investors of Claims of Breaches of Fiduciary Duty by the Board of Fisher Communications, Inc. in Connection With the Sale of the Company to Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130423-912630.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |type=press release |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=April 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110013117/http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130423-912630.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |archive-date=January 10, 2014 }}</ref> Shortly after the announcement, a lawsuit was filed by a Fisher shareholder.<ref name="nasdaq-lawsuit">{{cite press release|title=Fisher Communications, Inc. (FSCI) Investor Lawsuit to Stop Takeover by Sinclair Broadcast Group Announced by Shareholders Foundation |url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/fisher-communications-inc-fsci-investor-lawsuit-to-stop-takeover-by-sinclair-broadcast-group-announced-by-shareholders-foundation-20130422-00597#.UXf1RNzrxPE |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629224357/http://www.nasdaq.com/article/fisher-communications-inc-fsci-investor-lawsuit-to-stop-takeover-by-sinclair-broadcast-group-announced-by-shareholders-foundation-20130422-00597%23.UXf1RNzrxPE |url-status=dead|type=Press release |publisher=[[NASDAQ]] |access-date=April 24, 2013 }}</ref> The suit was settled in July 2013<ref name="aa-fscilawsuitsettled">{{cite news|title=Fisher Reaches Settlement In Shareholder Suit|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/120707/fisher-reaches-settlement-in-shareholder-suit|newspaper=All Access|date=July 29, 2013|access-date=August 6, 2013}}</ref> and the merger approved shortly thereafter.<ref name="nnc-fscishapprove">{{cite news|title=Fisher Shareholders Approve Sale To Sinclair|url=http://www.netnewscheck.com/article/27949/fisher-shareholders-approve-sale-to-sinclair|work=NetNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheckMedia|date=August 6, 2013|access-date=August 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908180930/http://www.netnewscheck.com/article/27949/fisher-shareholders-approve-sale-to-sinclair|archive-date=September 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="aa-fishersinclaircomplete">{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/121117/sinclair-broadcast-group-closes-on-fisher-communic|access-date=August 8, 2013|work=All Access|date=August 8, 2013}}</ref>

On June 3, 2013, Titan TV Broadcast Group sold four stations, along with operating agreements for two stations, to Sinclair.<ref name="tvnc-ttbgsinclair">{{cite web |title=Sinclair Buys 6 Titan Television Stations |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/67978/sinclair-buys-6-titan-television-stations |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=June 3, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref> Prior to the deal, a seventh station, [[KDBC-TV]] in [[El Paso, Texas]], to Cunningham,<ref name="fcc-kdbccunningham">{{cite web |title=Application For Consent To Transfer Control Of Entity Holding Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License (KDBC-TV)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1550179&Service=DT&Form_id=315&Facility_id=33764|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref> fueling speculation KDBC-TV would be consolidated with Sinclair-owned [[KFOX-TV]].<ref name="ept-kfoxkdbc?">{{cite news|title=General manager at KFOX, John Witte, retires |url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/business/ci_23219211/general-manager-at-kfox-witte-retires?source=most_emailed |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629024226/http://www.elpasotimes.com/business/ci_23219211/general-manager-at-kfox-witte-retires?source=most_emailed |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2013|last=Diaz|first=Paula|work=[[El Paso Times]]|date=May 11, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2013 }}</ref> Sinclair exercised its option to purchase KDBC-TV outright<ref>{{cite web|title=Application For Consent To Transfer Control Of Entity Holding Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101566316&formid=315&fac_num=33764|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=August 7, 2013|access-date=August 12, 2013}}{{psc|date=April 2018}}</ref> citing KDBC-TV's fourth-place ranking in the El Paso market while KFOX ranked sixth, making it permissible under FCC duopoly regulations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101566316&qnum=5190&copynum=1&exhcnum=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812142330/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101566316&qnum=5190&copynum=1&exhcnum=2 |title=El Paso HH Rating/Shares|url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2013 |access-date=January 4, 2014}}{{psc|date=April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sinclair Closes on Stations Purchased by Titan TV Broadcast Group |url=http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Titan%20close.pdf |publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group |date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=January 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013011212/http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Titan%20close.pdf |archive-date=October 13, 2013 }}</ref> Dielectric Communications, a key supplier of television broadcasting antennas, was purchased from SPX on June 18, 2013. SPX had intended to close down all of Dielectric's operations by the end of July, in turn threatening a [[National Broadband Plan (United States)|FCC-proposed incentive auction and subsequent repacking of television broadcast spectrum]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair to Buy Dielectric for <$5 Million|url=http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/sinclair-to-buy-dielectric/219921|work=TV Technology|date=June 18, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213848/http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/sinclair-to-buy-dielectric/219921|archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref>

In July 2013, as part of a refocus on the ''[[Politico]]'' website and newspaper, [[Allbritton Communications]] sold their seven station portfolio—including [[Washington, D.C.]]'s [[WJLA-TV]]—to Sinclair, for $985&nbsp;million, equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|985000000|2013}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair to Buy TV Stations From Allbritton|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/business/media/sinclair-to-buy-tv-stations-from-allbritton.html|work=The New York Times|date=July 29, 2013 |access-date=July 29, 2013|last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |last2=Kaufman |first2=Leslie }}</ref> This deal was complicated by multiple regulatory hurdles and a proposed barring of future joint sales agreements (JSA) by the FCC. Originally planning to divest four Sinclair-owned stations in three markets with Allbritton stations to Deerfield and [[Armstrong Williams]]-controlled Howard Stirk Holdings, and continuing to operate them under JSAs,<ref name="tvnc-allbrittonsinclairsales">{{cite web |title=Sinclair Buying Allbritton Stations For $985M |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/69268/sinclair-buying-allbritton-stations-for-985m |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=July 29, 2013|access-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref> 

In March 2014, Sinclair announced intentions to divest three stations and one existing LMA to independent third parties. Unable to find a buyer, Sinclair proposed in May 2014, to return to the FCC the licenses for [[WSES|WCFT-TV]] in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]], [[WGWW|WJSU-TV]] in [[Anniston, Alabama]], and [[WGWG|WCIV]] in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], transferring the intellectual properties of those three stations to existing Sinclair-owned stations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sinclair To Surrender Licenses To Three TV Stations, Blames New FCC TV Ownership Restrictions|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/130102/sinclair-to-surrender-licenses-to-three-tv-station|work=All Access|date=May 29, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sinclair to surrender licenses to three TV stations |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-sinclair-fcc-tv-20140529-story.html |author=Joe Flint |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 29, 2014 |access-date=July 24, 2014 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> One other Allbritton station, [[WHTM-TV]] in [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]], was sold to [[Media General]] for $83.4&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|83400000|2014}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref name="tvnc-sinclairsellswhtmwtat">{{cite web |title=Media General Buying WHTM For $83.4M |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/77239/media-general-buying-whtm-for-834m |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=June 23, 2014 |access-date=June 23, 2014}}</ref> After nearly a year of delays, the deal was approved by the FCC in July 2014,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=FCC Approves Sinclair/Allbritton Deal|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/fcc-approves-sinclairallbritton-deal/132692 |first=John |last=Eggerton |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=July 24, 2014 |access-date=July 24, 2014}}</ref> and completed on August 1.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Sinclair's Deal For Allbritton Closes |url=http://broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/sinclair-s-deal-allbritton-closes/132894 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=August 1, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2014}}</ref> WCIV, WCFT-TV and WJSU-TV were ultimately sold to Howard Stirk Holdings.<ref name="tvnc-wcftwjsuclosing?">{{cite web |first=Harry A. |last=Jessell |date=May 29, 2014 |title=Sinclair Giving Up 3 Stations To Appease FCC |website=tvnewscheck.com |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/76663/sinclair-giving-up-3-stations-to-appease-fcc |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094146/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/76663/sinclair-giving-up-3-stations-to-appease-fcc |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=May 30, 2014}}</ref>

In September 2013, Sinclair purchased eight stations owned or operated by New Age Media. As part of the deal, three stations—[[WSWB]] in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]]/[[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]], [[WTLH]] in [[Tallahassee, Florida]], and [[WNBW-DT]] in [[Gainesville, Florida]]—would be sold by owner MPS Media to Cunningham, with Deerfield purchasing [[WTLF]] in Tallahassee.<ref name="bbj-newagesinclair">{{cite news|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group to pay $90M for eight New Age Media TV stations|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2013/09/25/sinclair-broadcast-group-new-age-media.html|last=Haber|first=Gary|work=Baltimore Business Journal|date=September 25, 2013|access-date=September 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name="tvnc-newagesinclair">{{cite web |title=Sinclair To Buy 8 New Age Stations for $90M |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/70742/sinclair-to-buy-8-new-age-stations-for-90m |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=September 25, 2013|access-date=September 25, 2013}}</ref> New Age Media and MPS Media terminated the deal on October 31, 2014. Sinclair purchased the non-license assets for all eight stations and began operating them through master service agreements the next day.<ref name="sinclair-newagetosinclairnonlicense">{{cite press release|title=Sinclair Reports Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results|url=http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Q3%2014.pdf|type=Press release|publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group|location=Baltimore|date=November 5, 2014|access-date=November 15, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070109/http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Q3%2014.pdf|archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref><ref name="sbgi-newagesinclairmsa">{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Form 10-Q|url=http://sbgi.edgarpro.com/redirect_frames.asp?filename=0001104659%2D14%2D078963%2Etxt&filepath=%5C2014%5C11%5C10%5C&cols=0%2C3%2C4%2C7%2C8&SortBy=receivedate&AD=D&startrec=1&res=10&pdf=0|website=sbgi.edgarpro.com|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=November 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107104019/http://sbgi.edgarpro.com/redirect_frames.asp?filename=0001104659%2D14%2D078963%2Etxt&filepath=%5C2014%5C11%5C10%5C&cols=0%2C3%2C4%2C7%2C8&SortBy=receivedate&AD=D&startrec=1&res=10&pdf=0|archive-date=January 7, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====2014–2016====
Sinclair signed an agreement in June 2014 to carry the classic film subchannel network [[GetTV]] in 33 markets by the end of September.<ref name=tnc0>{{cite web |title=GetTV Signs Big Affiliation Deal With Sinclair |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/77232/gettv-signs-big-affiliation-deal-with-sinclair |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=June 23, 2014 |access-date=July 9, 2014}}</ref> In July of that year, Sinclair announced the launch of the [[American Sports Network]] (ASN) service, operating within its Sinclair Networks company. This service, which produces and distributes [[college sports]] broadcasts, is primarily carried on Sinclair stations.<ref name=bc>{{cite magazine |title=Sinclair Launches American Sports Network |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/sinclair-launches-american-sports-network/132498 |first=Michael |last=Malone |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=July 24, 2014}}</ref> ASN was created as part of the company's foray into original, non-news content creation beyond Ring of Honor Wrestling and school sports. Subsequently, on August 21, 2014, the company announced the formation of Sinclair Original Programming, a new division concentrating on entertainment and commercial content. The company also announced plans for a future cable news network. The Original Programming division chief operating officer was announced as Arthur Hasson, general manager of Sinclair stations in [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="bbj">{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2014/08/21/sinclair-launches-division-to-create-original-tv.html|title=Sinclair launches division to create original TV content|last=Seltzer|first=Rick|date=August 21, 2014|work=Baltimore Business Journal|access-date=September 8, 2014}}</ref> On August 20, 2014, Sinclair announced that it would swap WTTA in Tampa and [[KXRM-TV]] and [[KXTU-LD]] in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]] to Media General in exchange for [[WJAR]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], [[WLUK-TV]] and [[WCWF]] in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] and [[WTGS]] in [[Savannah, Georgia]]. The deal was part of Media General's merger with LIN Media, the owner of WLUK and WCWF and operator of WTGS at that time, as both Media General and LIN owned stations in the three markets, requiring both companies to sell off stations in conflicting markets due to the FCC's recent decision to scrutinize sharing agreements between stations owned by different licensees.<ref name=tvnc-mgsinclairswap>{{cite web |title=Media General, LIN Sell Stations In 5 Markets |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/78615/media-general-lin-sell-stations-in-5-markets |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=August 20, 2014 |access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><ref name=b&c-mgsinclairswap>{{cite magazine |title=Media General, LIN Divest Stations in Five Markets|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/media-general-lin-divest-stations-five-markets/133323 |first=Michael |last=Malone |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=August 20, 2014 |access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> The swap was approved by the FCC alongside the Media General-LIN merger on December 12, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=FCC Okays Media General/LIN Merger|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/fcc-okays-media-generallin-merger/136356 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=December 12, 2014}}</ref>

On September 3, 2014, Sinclair announced the purchase of [[Las Vegas]] NBC affiliate [[KHSV|KSNV-DT]] from Intermountain West Communications Company for $120 million. As Sinclair already owns a duopoly in Las Vegas ([[KSNV|KVMY]] and [[KVCW]]), the company will sell the license assets (though not the programming) of one of the three stations to comply with FCC ownership restrictions, with the divested station's programming being relocated to the other stations.<ref name=tvnc-ksnvsinclair>{{cite web |title=Sinclair Buying KSNV Las Vegas For $120M |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/78930/sinclair-buying-ksnv-las-vegas-for-120m |access-date=September 3, 2014 |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=September 3, 2014}}</ref> The purchase of KSNV's non-license assets was completed on November 1, 2014.<ref name=sinclair-newagetosinclairnonlicense/> On September 11, 2014, the license assets of WCIV were sold to Howard Stirk Holdings (pending FCC approval) and aside from sharing studio space with WMMP (which will retain the ABC affiliation and current programming of WCIV), will have no operational control from Sinclair, saving the station from being forfeited back to the FCC.<ref name=fcc-hshwciv>{{cite web|title=Application For Consent To Assignment Of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101650192&formid=314&fac_num=21536|website=CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission|publisher=Charleston Television, LLC|access-date=September 15, 2014}}</ref><ref name=bc-hsh>{{cite magazine |title=Howard Stirk Holdings Grabs WCIV for $50,000 |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/howard-stirk-holdings-grabs-wciv-50000/134123 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION AND UNIQUE SERVICE TO BE PROVIDED |url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101650192&qnum=5040&copynum=1&exhcnum=2 |website=CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission |publisher=Howard Stirk Holdings |access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref> Similar sales were filed with the FCC for WBMA-LD satellite stations WCFT-TV on September 24<ref name=fcc-hshwcft>{{cite web|title=APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101651545&formid=314&fac_num=21258|website=CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission|publisher=TV Alabama, Inc.|access-date=September 26, 2014}}</ref> and WJSU-TV on September 28.<ref name=fcc-hshwjsu>{{cite web|title=APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE (WJSU-TV)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1653165&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=56642|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=September 30, 2014|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref> Sinclair continued its push into original programming. Since May 2015, three deals were made to expand American Sports Network beyond college sports. In June, subsidiary Sinclair TV Group, Inc. formed Tornante-Sinclair LLC, a TV production company, with Michael Eisner's Tornante Co. With [[MGM Television|MGM]] on October 31, 2015, [[Comet (TV network)|Comet]] was launched as a sci-fi broadcast subchannel network.<ref name=bsun>{{cite news |last=Mirabella |first=Lorraine |title=Sinclair Broadcast exceeds second-quarter profit forecasts |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-earnings-20150805-story.html |access-date=October 15, 2015 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=August 5, 2015 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=bsun0>{{cite news |last=Mirabella |first=Lorraine |title=Sinclair Broadcast forms venture with former Disney CEO Eisner to create TV shows |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-tornante-venture-20150629-story.html |access-date=October 15, 2015 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=June 29, 2015 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> On October 12, Sinclair Original Programming and the programming department was merged into Sinclair Programming and moved into Sinclair Television Group.<ref name=bc0>{{cite magazine |last=Kuperberg |first=Jonathan |title=Sinclair Ups Pair of Execs to Consolidate TV Programming, Reorganize Promotion, Publicity |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/sinclair-ups-pair-execs-consolidate-tv-programming-reorganize-promotion-publicity/144916 |access-date=October 29, 2015 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=October 12, 2015}}</ref>

On October 1, 2015, [[Gray Television]] announced that it would acquire [[WLUC-TV]] from Sinclair; in return, Sinclair would receive [[WSBT-TV]] in [[South Bend, Indiana]], from Gray. The swap, part of Gray's acquisition of the broadcasting assets of [[Schurz Communications]] (owner of WSBT), was necessary as Gray already owns [[WNDU-TV]] in South Bend.<ref name=tvnc-saletogray>{{cite web |title=Gray Television Sells Some, Buys Some |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/88873/gray-television-sells-some-buys-some |access-date=October 1, 2015 |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> The sale was completed on February 16, 2016.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.gray.tv/index.php?page=press-releases&releaseid=2139772 |title= Gray Closes Schurz Acquisition, Related Transactions, and Incremental Term Loan Facility |author= Gray Television |author-link= Gray Television |publisher= Gray Television |date= February 16, 2016 |access-date= February 16, 2016}}</ref> 

On January 27, 2016, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that it would acquire [[Tennis Channel]] for $350 million. The channel's corporation comes with $200 million in net operating losses that SBGI can use to offset future income thus reducing taxes.<ref name=deadline-sinclairtennis>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Scores Tennis Channel With $350M Acquisition Deal|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/sinclair-buys-tennis-channel-1201691628/|access-date=January 27, 2016|work=Deadline}}</ref> Sinclair's news operations had launched six [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drone]] teams in September 2016. Initial stations getting drone teams were in Washington, Baltimore, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Columbus, Ohio; Tulsa, Oklahoma and Little Rock, Arkansas.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kurz |first=Phil |title=Sinclair Launches Six Drone Teams; 40 Planned by End of 2017 |url= http://www.tvnewscheck.com/playout/2016/09/sinclair-launches-six-drone-teams-40-planned-by-end-of-2017/ |access-date=November 3, 2016 |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=September 30, 2016}}</ref> In the mid-2010s, Sinclair launched ''Refined'', an online local lifestyle web magazine run in conjunction with local Sinclair stations. The third was announced for DC under [[WJLA-TV]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gilgore |first1=Sara |title=New online lifestyle magazine to debut in Greater Washington |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2016/03/02/new-online-lifestyle-magazine-to-debutin-greater.html|access-date=December 28, 2016 |journal=[[Washington Business Journal]] |date=March 2, 2016}}</ref> In December 2016, SBG announced [[TBD (TV network)|TBD]], a new digital subchannel network aimed towards [[millennials]], with a focus on digital content.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mirabella |first=Lorraine |title=Sinclair launches first-of-kind TV network featuring digital content |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-launches-tbc-tv-network-20161207-story.html |access-date=December 28, 2016 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=December 8, 2016 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> It began broadcasting on February 13, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bouma|first1=Luke|title=Meet TBD TV The Newest OTA/Online TV Station|url=http://cordcuttersnews.com/meet-tbd-tv-newest-otaonline-tv-station/|access-date=March 1, 2017|work=Cord Cutters News|date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> At the NATPE conference on January 17, 2017, SBG and MGM announced a second TV network, [[Charge! (TV network)|Charge!]], a new digital subchannel network focusing on action-adventure based programming. It begin broadcasting on February 28, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Buckman |first=Adam |title=MGM, Sinclair Unwrap New Action Diginet |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/100750/mgm-sinclair-unwrap-new-action-diginet |access-date=March 1, 2017 |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=January 17, 2017}}</ref> Sinclair had two rounds of executive promotions announced in November 2016 and effective January 1, 2017, with chair and CEO David D. Smith moving up to executive chairman while CFO [[Christopher Ripley]] becoming president and CEO. In the second round, David Amy was promoted from chief operating officer to vice chairman with responsibility for corporate marketing, human resources and the networks group, while Steven Pruett move from co-COO of Sinclair Television Group to executive vice president and chief TV development officer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mirabella |first=Lorraine |title=Sinclair Broadcast shuffles top management in second round of changes |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-broadcast-promotoins-20161111-story.html |access-date=December 28, 2016 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=November 11, 2016 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

====2017–present====
{{Further|Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group}}

On March 1, 2017, Sinclair bought Tennis Media Company for $8 million, which includes the Tennis.com website and ''[[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis]]'' magazine; the deal also includes up to $6 million in [[earnout]] if certain targets are reached. Sinclair intends to integrate the properties with Tennis Channel.<ref name="bbj-sbgtennis">{{cite journal |title=Sinclair Broadcast acquires Tennis.com, magazine for $8 million |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2017/03/01/sinclair-broadcast-acquires-tennis-com-magazinefor.html |journal=[[Baltimore Business Journal]] |access-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref> On April 21, 2017, following the reinstatement of the "UHF discount" (a policy that counts television stations broadcasting on [[UHF television broadcasting|UHF]] channels by 50% of their total audience towards the FCC's 39% market cap), Sinclair announced its intent to purchase [[Bonten Media Group]] for $240 million.<ref name="tvnc-sinclairbonten">{{cite web |title=Sinclair Buying Bonten Stations For $240M |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/103465/sinclair-buying-bonten-stations-for-240m |website=tvnewscheck.com |access-date=April 21, 2017 |date=April 21, 2017}}</ref> The sale was approved on June 30,<ref>[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/fcc-approves-sinclair-bonten-deal/166927 FCC Approves Sinclair-Bonten Deal], [[Broadcasting & Cable]], June 30, 2017, Retrieved June 30, 2017.</ref> and the sale was completed September 1.<ref>[http://sbgi.net/pr-news/sinclair-closes-on-acquisition-of-bonten-media-group-holdings-inc/ Sinclair Closes On Acquisition Of Bonten Media Group Holdings, Inc.], Sinclair Broadcast Group, September 5, 2017, Retrieved September 6, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1765838&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=308 Consummation Notice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906140325/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1765838&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=308 |date=September 6, 2017 }}, ''CDBS Public Access'', [[Federal Communications Commission]], Retrieved September 6, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1765840&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=18334 Consummation Notice], ''CDBS Public Access'', [[Federal Communications Commission]], Retrieved September 6, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1765843&Service=TX&Form_id=905&Facility_id=23808 Consummation Notice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906141205/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1765843&Service=TX&Form_id=905&Facility_id=23808 |date=September 6, 2017 }}, ''CDBS Public Access'', [[Federal Communications Commission]], Retrieved September 6, 2017.</ref>

On May 8, 2017, Sinclair announced its intent to acquire the Chicago-based [[Tribune Media]] for $3.9 billion. The sale would have given Sinclair ownership of additional stations within the top-10 markets, along with ownership of a stake in [[Food Network]], [[WGN America]], and other additional assets,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Sinclair Plans Big Changes for WGN America, Eyes MVPD Offering With Tribune Media Deal |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/wgn-america-underground-sinclair-tribune-media-1202418701/ |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 8, 2017 |access-date=May 10, 2017}}</ref> To comply with [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] antitrust and FCC ownership regulations, it was suggested that Sinclair would have to divest stations in multiple markets.<ref name=variety-sinclairtribunescrutiny>{{cite magazine |title=Sinclair Will Come Under Scrutiny as It Seeks Approval for Tribune Merger |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/sinclair-tribune-merger-fcc-1202418989/ |last=Johnson |first=Ted |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 8, 2017 |access-date=May 10, 2017}}</ref>

The concerns about Sinclair potentially creating an oligarchy in the broadcast television industry – alongside Nexstar Media Group, which has a station portfolio of similar size – led public interest groups to attempt to block the purchase by preventing the UHF discount from being reinstated. On June 1, 2017, the [[District of Columbia Court of Appeals]] issued a seven-day administrative stay to the UHF discount rulemaking, in order to allow review of an emergency stay motion filed by The Institute for Public Representation (a coalition of public interest groups comprising [[Free Press (advocacy group)|Free Press]], the [[United Church of Christ]], Media Mobilizing Project, the [[Prometheus Radio Project]], the [[National Hispanic Media Coalition]] and [[Common Cause]]) on May 15. The coalition argued that the UHF discount was no longer logical from a technical standpoint (as stations that transmit on the UHF band have typically maintained better digital signal quality than those transmitting on VHF, a reversal of the technical issues with both bands during the analog era) and would trigger a wave of [[mergers and acquisitions]] in the broadcast television industry that would further reduce diversity in station ownership.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sinclair-Tribune Merger Faces Roadblock as Court Puts Hold on FCC Station Ownership Rule |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/fcc-uhf-discount-appellate-court-sinclair-tribune-1202451298/ |last=Johnson |first=Ted |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=June 1, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Free Press Seeks Emergency Stay of UHF Discount Return |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/free-press-seeks-emergency-stay-uhf-discount-return/166153|first=John |last=Eggerton |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=May 28, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Federal Court Stays FCC UHF Discount Decision, for Now |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/federal-court-stays-fcc-uhf-discount-decision-now/166250 |last=Eggerton |first=John |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=June 1, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Groups File To Block Return Of UHF Discount |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/104108/groups-file-to-block-return-of-uhf-discount |last=Jessell |first=Harry |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=May 15, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=D.C. Appeals Court halts return of FCC's UHF discount for TV broadcasters|url=http://www.fiercecable.com/broadcasting/d-c-appeals-court-halts-return-fcc-s-uhf-discount-for-tv-broadcasters|last=Munson|first=Ben|work=FierceCable|date=June 2, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref> The D.C. Court of Appeals denied the emergency stay motion on June 15, 2017, though it is still subject to a pending court proceeding to appeal the UHF discount implementation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/104954/court-rejects-request-to-stay-uhf-discount |title=Court Rejects Request To Stay UHF Discount |last=Miller |first=Mark |website=tvnewscheck.com |date=June 15, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/fcc-sinclair-tribune-uhf-discount-appeals-court-1202467351/ |title=Appeals Court Removes FCC Roadblock to Sinclair-Tribune Merger |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=June 15, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/court-wont-block-fccs-uhf-discount-return/166555 |title=Court Won't Block FCC's UHF Discount Return |last=Eggerton |first=John |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=June 15, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref> On February 21, 2018, Sinclair informed the FCC that it planned to sell off Tribune stations in [[New York City]], [[Chicago]], and [[San Diego]], while seeking waivers to purchase the Tribune stations in [[Indianapolis]], [[South Central Pennsylvania]], and the [[Piedmont Triad]]. Sinclair is expected to enter into LMA's to operate WPIX and WGN-TV, while selling off KSWB outright. Overlapping stations in [[Seattle]], [[St. Louis]], [[Salt Lake City]], [[Oklahoma City]], [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], [[Norfolk, Virginia]], and [[Des Moines, Iowa]] will be sold off to unaffiliated third parties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-ma/seeking-tribune-deal-approval-sinclair-offers-to-sell-ny-chicago-stations-idUSKCN1G52VU|title=Seeking Tribune deal approval, Sinclair offers to sell NY, Chicago...|first=David|last=Shepardson|newspaper=Reuters|date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> On July 16, 2018, FCC chairman [[Ajit Pai]] was reported to have "serious concerns" about the transaction and proposed a hearing before an [[administrative law judge]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/fcc-rejects-sinclair-plan-for-tv-station-sales-in-tribune-deal-jjof6bcs |title=Sinclair and Tribune Fall as FCC Slams TV Station Sale Plan |last=Shields |first=Todd |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=July 16, 2018 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> On August 9, 2018, Tribune Media announced that it had terminated the sale agreement with Sinclair, and that it had filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the company for breach of contract. Tribune Media CEO Peter Kern stated that the sale "cannot be completed in an acceptable timeframe, if ever"; the suit cited Sinclair's "belligerent and unnecessarily protracted negations" with the Department of Justice and FCC over regulatory negotiations in order to maintain control of stations that it was advised to divest, as well as violations of the sale agreement requiring divestitures of stations to not result in any threats of regulatory scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/09/media/tribune-sinclair/index.html|title=Tribune calls off $3.9 billion Sinclair media deal|last=Riley|first=Charles|work=CNNMoney|access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/business/dealbook/sinclair-tribune-media.html|title=Tribune Ends Deal With Sinclair, Dashing Plan for Conservative TV Behemoth|work=The New York Times|date=August 9, 2018 |access-date=August 9, 2018|language=en|last1=Lee |first1=Edmund |last2=Tsang |first2=Amie }}</ref>

Following the failed acquisition of Tribune Media, Sinclair has mentioned publicly about buying [[Fox Sports Networks]], as well as the stations owned by [[Cox Media Group]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilen |first1=Holden |title=Sinclair Broadcast CEO eyes deal for Fox's regional sports networks |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2018/10/03/sinclair-broadcast-ceo-eyes-deal-for-foxs-regional.html |access-date=January 16, 2019 |work=Baltimore Business Journal |date=October 3, 2018 |publisher= American City Business Journals}}</ref> In January 2019, Sinclair launched an OTT multi-channel streaming service [[Stirr]] providing free streaming access to local Sinclair station content as well as [[On demand television|on-demand]] shows and films.<ref name=vty>{{cite news |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia  |title=Sinclair Enters Streaming Arena With Entertainment Bundle and Local Channels |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/sinclair-stirr-streaming-local-bundle-1203109272/ |work=Variety |date=January 16, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> On February 13, 2019, Sinclair and the [[Chicago Cubs]] announced a new regional sports network, [[Marquee Sports Network]], to start in 2020 with exclusive rights to Cubs' games.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Agrest |first1=Jeff |title=Cubs announce deal with Sinclair to launch Marquee Sports Network in 2020 |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-announce-deal-with-sinclair-to-launch-marquee-sports-network-in-2020/ |access-date=February 14, 2019 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=February 13, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214142246/https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-announce-deal-with-sinclair-to-launch-marquee-sports-network-in-2020/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On March 9, 2019, Sinclair purchased a minority stake in [[YES Network]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2019/03/08/new-york-yankees-buy-back-yes-network-for-3-47-billion/ |title=New York Yankees Buy Back YES Network For $3.47 Billion |first=Mike |last=Ozanian |magazine=[[Forbes]] |date=March 8, 2019 |access-date=March 9, 2019 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> While Sinclair did not bid on the Cox stations,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feiner |first1=Lauren |title=Apollo affiliates to buy stake in Cox Media Group TV stations |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/15/apollo-affiliates-to-buy-stake-in-cox-media-group-tv-stations.html |access-date=May 2, 2019 |work=www.cnbc.com |date=February 15, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> on April 26, 2019, it was reported that Sinclair was the successful bidder for Fox Sports Networks at $10 billion.<ref name="Sinclair">{{cite news |last=Gasparino |first=Charlie |title=Sinclair places top bid, reaches "handshake agreement" with Disney for Fox Regional Sports Networks |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/sinclair-top-bid-handshake-fox-regional-sports-networks |work=[[Fox Business Network|FOXBusiness]] |access-date=April 30, 2019 |date=April 26, 2019}}</ref> On August 22, 2019, Sinclair completed the acquisition of FSN and thus FSN is now a wholly owned subsidiary and becoming sisters to Marquee.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-08-23/sinclair-completes-acquisition-of-regional-sports-networks-from-Disney |title=Sinclair completes acquisition of regional sports networks from Disney |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=August 22, 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>

On January 27, 2020, Sinclair announced that it would sell [[WDKY-TV]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], and the non-license assets of [[KGBT-TV]] in [[Harlingen, Texas]], to [[Nexstar Media Group]] for $60 million, as part of a settlement between the two companies over [[Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group|Sinclair's failed acquisition]] of [[Tribune Media]], which was ultimately acquired by Nexstar.<ref name="nxstsbgisettle">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-pays-nexstar-60m-some-assets-to-settle-tribune-suit |title=Sinclair Pays Nexstar $60M, Some Assets, to Settle Tribune Suit |last=Eggerton |first=John |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=January 27, 2020 |access-date=January 28, 2020 |archive-date=January 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128005801/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-pays-nexstar-60m-some-assets-to-settle-tribune-suit |url-status=live}}</ref> The transaction was completed on September 17, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1821151&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=64017|title=Consummation Notice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008031358/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1821151&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=64017 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

On May 7, 2020, the company was fined $48&nbsp;million to settle investigations related to reports and statements made to the FCC.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Eggerton |first1=John |title=Sinclair Agrees to Pay Record $48 Million Penalty |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-agrees-to-pay-record-48-million-penalty |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517123118/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-agrees-to-pay-record-48-million-penalty |url-status=dead }}</ref> In August 2020, Sinclair reached a $25&nbsp;million settlement agreement for its shareholders related to three lawsuits. Of the $25&nbsp;million, $20.5&nbsp;million will be paid into a settlement fund.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mirabella |first=Lorraine |title=Sinclair Broadcast settles shareholder lawsuits for $25 million |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-broadcast-settles-shareholder-lawsuit-20200814-nrhafiq4gzg6xjxllag7wpvtqa-story.html |access-date=August 21, 2020 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=August 17, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |date=August 14, 2020 |title=Sinclair reaches $25M deal with shareholders over failed Tribune acquisition |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2020/08/14/sinclair-agrees-to-settlement-with-shareholders.html |access-date=August 21, 2020 |journal=[[Baltimore Business Journal]]}}</ref>

In November 2020, Sinclair announced that they would sell [[KBSI]] in [[Cape Girardeau, Missouri]], and [[WDKA]] in [[Paducah, Kentucky]], to [[Standard Media]] for $28 million, in a transaction that closed in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jacobson|first=Adam|date=January 20, 2021|title=FCC OK's Sinclair Duo's Spin To Soo Kim|url=https://www.rbr.com/fcc-oks-sinclair-duos-spin-to-soo-kim/|access-date=February 22, 2022|website=Radio & Television Business Report|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2021, Sinclair began moving the primary programming from so-called "sidecar" stations with which Sinclair has an LMA, to subchannels of stations Sinclair owns outright, replacing the sidecar stations' programming with subchannel network (also known as [[diginet]]) affiliations on their main signals.<ref name=nctc /> On January 1, Fox moved from [[KFXA]] in [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]] to [[KGAN]], where its "Fox 28" branding was retained.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/fox28-moving-to-22-january-1st |work=[[KGAN]] |title=FOX 28 moving to 2.2 January 1st |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=May 10, 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106202337/https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/fox28-moving-to-22-january-1st |url-status=live}}</ref> With a transitional simulcast period from January 1 to February 4, Fox moved from [[WRGT-TV]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]] to [[WKEF]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dayton247now.com/news/local/fox-45-digital-channel-change-to-require-rescan |title=FOX 45 digital channel change to require rescan |last=Richardson |first=Joshua |publisher=[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] |date=December 29, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230040201/https://dayton247now.com/news/local/fox-45-digital-channel-change-to-require-rescan |archive-date=December 30, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> where its "Fox 45" branding was retained; although beginning on February 4, WRGT-TV maintained a primary affiliation with non-diginet MyNetworkTV, on April 19, that affiliation also moved to WKEF. With a transitional simulcast period from January 1 to February 1, Fox moved from [[KBTV-TV]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Jacob |date=December 31, 2020 |title=KBTV changes channel for antenna users |url=https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/KBTV-changes-channel-for-antenna-users-15838655.php |access-date=February 6, 2021 |website=Beaumont Enterprise}}</ref> in [[Port Arthur, Texas]] to [[KFDM]]<ref name="foxkfdm">{{cite news |url=https://fox4beaumont.com/news/local/fox-4-moving-to-new-home-on-kfdm-63 |title=Fox 4 moving to new home on KFDM 6.3 |work=[[KFDM#Fox 4|Fox 4 Beaumont]]|date=December 23, 2020 |access-date=December 27, 2020}}</ref> in nearby [[Beaumont, Texas]], where its "Fox 4" branding was retained. With a transitional simulcast period from January 7 to February 3, Fox moved from original Sinclair signee WTTE in [[Columbus, Ohio]] to [[WSYX]], where its "Fox 28" branding was retained.<ref name=foxcolclay /> On February 1, Fox moved from [[WVAH-TV]] in [[Charleston, West Virginia]] to [[WCHS-TV]], where its "Fox 11" branding was retained. While in at least one case (Columbus) the move was done due to the transition to [[ATSC 3.0]], there are no explanations for the other stations.<ref name=foxcolclay>{{cite web |last=Clay |first=Jarrod |date=January 7, 2021 |title=FOX 28 over-the-air signal moves to channel WSYX 6.3 |url=http://myfox28columbus.com/news/local/fox-28-over-the-air-signal-moves-to-channel-wsyx-63 |access-date=April 29, 2021 |website=[[WTTE]]}}</ref>

In March 2021 Sinclair laid off 550&nbsp;employees, which represented about 5% of its workforce, citing the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 3, 2021 |title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Lays Off Staff, Citing "Profound" Pandemic Impact |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sinclair-broadcast-group-lays-off-staff-citing-profound-pandemic-impact |access-date=March 4, 2021 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> On June 2, 2021, it was announced that Sinclair is a [[Fortune 500]] company, with annual revenues of $5.9&nbsp;billion in 2020, placing it at 465 on the annual listing of the largest U.S. companies.<ref name=Fortune500 /> The company has 10,000&nbsp;employees as of 2021, and acquired an additional {{convert|46000|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} office building near its main Hunt Valley headquarters to accommodate an additional 260&nbsp;employees.<ref name=Fortune500 />

On April 1, 2021, Sinclair anchorman Reed Cowan said that if [[WE Charity]] did not pay him $20 million, he would use Sinclair Broadcast Group's television platforms to disparage a Canadian charity which builds schools in Africa.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wemple|first=Erik|title=Opinion {{!}} Sinclair anchor demands $20 million from charity over fraud allegations|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/02/sinclair-broadcast-group-reed-cowan-we-charity/|access-date=April 29, 2021|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 8, 2021 |title=Las Vegas news anchor demands $20M amid fraud allegations |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/tv/las-vegas-news-anchor-demands-20m-amid-fraud-allegations-2324392/ |access-date=April 29, 2021 |newspaper=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On October 17, 2021, Sinclair was struck by a ransomware attack affecting the internal servers and workstations of its television stations, after the alleged hackers breached the stations' internal broadcasting systems via an [[Active Directory]] domain that interconnected the company's corporate and local IT networks. The incident had disrupted some of its office and operational networks (including internal servers, email servers, corporate phone lines, and workstations and news graphics systems at the company's stations), and resulted in data being taken from its server network. Many of Sinclair's stations saw varying disruptions to programming in the days following the attack; many of its stations were able to produce their newscasts using limited internal resources (while generally being unable to display lower-third and/or full-screen graphics), while a few were forced to preempt them outright for a few days afterward. Many scheduled [[National Football League|NFL]] game telecasts on the 17th were disrupted on its NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates (replaced by a different game feed or by alternative programming). Sinclair also supplied alternative programming feeds to fill airtime on some of the affected stations due to varying difficulties in transmitting and receiving certain syndicated program feeds or to occupy timeslots normally filled by newscasts (mainly from company-owned multicast networks like [[Stadium (TV network)|Stadium]] and [[TBD (TV network)|TBD]], or via a feed of its syndicated newscast ''[[The National Desk]]'').<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Local TV Programming Disrupted as Sinclair Hit by Ransomware Attack |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/sinclair-broadcast-ransomware-cyber-attack-1235032881/ |author=Alex Weprin |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 18, 2021 |access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair TV stations disrupted across the US after ransomware attack|url=https://therecord.media/sinclair-tv-stations-disrupted-across-the-us-in-apparent-ransomware-attack/amp/?__twitter_impression=true|author=Catalin Cimpanu|website=The Record|date=October 18, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018151734/https://therecord.media/sinclair-tv-stations-disrupted-across-the-us-in-apparent-ransomware-attack/amp/?__twitter_impression=true|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair TV network crippled by potential ransomware attack|url=https://www.techtosee.com/sinclair-tv-network-crippled-by-potential-ransomware-attack/|website=TechToSee|date=October 18, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018132610/https://www.techtosee.com/sinclair-tv-network-crippled-by-potential-ransomware-attack/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ransomware experts later indicated that the attack was likely linked to Evil Corp., a Russia-based cybergang that was sanctioned by the [[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. Treasury Department]] in 2019 and had been accused prior to the attack of attempting to rebrand itself to evade the sanctions; the hackers are believed to have disseminated the Macaw ransomware strain (which was also linked to a similar cyberattack that hit [[Olympus Corporation]]'s corporate server network on October 10) within Sinclair's servers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Broadcast Hack Linked to Notorious Russian Cybergang|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-20/sinclair-broadcast-hack-linked-to-notorious-russian-cybergang|author=William Turton|website=Bloomberg|publisher=Bloomberg LLC|date=October 20, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref>

On March 3, 2022, Sinclair announced that they would sell the [[Ring of Honor]] wrestling promotion to [[Tony Khan]], who is the principal owner of rival [[All Elite Wrestling]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wilen |first=Holden |date=March 3, 2022 |title=Sinclair Broadcast agrees to sell Ring of Honor wrestling promotion |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2022/03/03/sinclair-sells-ring-of-honor-wrestling-promotion.html |journal=[[Baltimore Business Journal]]}}</ref>

In March 2023, it was reported that Sinclair had laid off news employees and reduced the number of newscasts in four markets: [[KAEF-TV]] in [[Eureka, California#Media|Eureka, California]]; [[WGXA]] in [[Macon, Georgia]]; [[WEYI-TV]]/[[WSMH]] in [[Saginaw, Michigan#Television stations|Saginaw]]/[[Flint, Michigan#Television|Flint, Michigan]]; and [[WACH]] in [[Columbia, South Carolina#Media|Columbia, South Carolina]]. The discontinued newscasts were replaced by airings of ''The National Desk''.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2023/3/18/sinclair-continues-layoffs | title = Sinclair Continues Layoffs | date = March 18, 2023 | work = FTVLive | first = Scott | last = Jones | access-date = May 13, 2023 | archive-date = March 22, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230322134542/https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2023/3/18/sinclair-continues-layoffs | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=tvnc20230501 />

On April 3, 2023, Sinclair announced that it would be re-organizing its operations, with the TV broadcasting properties remaining under Sinclair Broadcast Group, while the non-broadcast operations would be placed under Sinclair Ventures. Then, the two companies would be placed under a new holding company, "Sinclair, Inc.".<ref>{{cite news |title=Sinclair Broadcast Group to Reorganize as Sinclair Inc. |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sinclair-broadcast-group-to-reorganize-as-sinclair-inc-faf9bd1a |work=MarketWatch |language=EN-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sinclair Broadcast Group To Rename As Sinclair Inc. |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/sinclair-broadcast-group-to-rename-as-sinclair-inc-1032211426 |work=markets.businessinsider.com |language=en}}</ref>

In late April 2023, Sinclair announced that starting May 15, it would end all local news broadcasts on stations in five markets: [[WGFL]] in [[Gainesville, Florida#Television|Gainesville, Florida]]; [[KPTH]] in [[Sioux City, Iowa#Television stations|Sioux City, Iowa]]; [[KPTM]] in [[Omaha, Nebraska#Television networks and cable TV|Omaha, Nebraska]]; [[WNWO-TV]] in [[Toledo, Ohio#TV|Toledo, Ohio]]; and [[KTVL]] in [[Medford, Oregon#Television|Medford, Oregon]]. These low-rated newscasts were to be replaced by airings of ''The National Desk''.<ref name=tvnc20230501>{{Cite web |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/sinclair-shutters-five-news-markets-we-just-turned-off-the-lights-for-many/ |title=Sinclair Shutters Five News Markets: 'We Just Turned Off The Lights For Many' |date=May 1, 2023 |website=tvnewscheck.com |first=Michael |last=Stahl |access-date=May 13, 2023 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502074516/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/sinclair-shutters-five-news-markets-we-just-turned-off-the-lights-for-many/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/sinclair-replaces-local-newscasts-with-the-national-desk-in-5-markets |title=Sinclair Replaces Local Newscasts With 'The National Desk' in 5 Markets |date=May 2, 2023 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |first=Jon |last=Lafayette |access-date=May 13, 2023 |archive-date=May 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504222943/https://www.nexttv.com/news/sinclair-replaces-local-newscasts-with-the-national-desk-in-5-markets |url-status=live}}</ref>
On June 1, 2023, Sinclair announced the closing of its reorganization as a holding company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sbgi.net/sinclair-announces-closing-of-holding-company-reorganization/|date= June 1, 2023|access-date=July 15, 2023|work=Sinclair|title=Sinclair Announces Closing of Holding Company Reorganization}}</ref>

In May 2023, Sinclair sold its controlling interest in Stadium to [[Silver Chalice]], Sinclair stating that the network did not have enough viewership for Sinclair to continue funding it; Sinclair will continue to supply some programming.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fisher|first=Eric|date=May 29, 2023|title=White Sox and Bulls Owner Acquires Controlling Stake of Stadium Network|url=https://frontofficesports.com/white-sox-and-bulls-owner-acquires-controlling-stake-of-stadium-network/|access-date=May 29, 2023|website=Front Office Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Sinclair Sells Control of Stadium to Jerry Reinsdorf's Silver Chalice |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/sinclair-sells-control-of-stadium-to-jerry-reinsdorfs-silver-chalice |access-date=November 3, 2023 |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]}}</ref>

On October 10, 2023, Sinclair announced that on October 30, 2023, it will convert Stadium's over-the-air service into [[The Nest (TV network)|The Nest]], a network that will feature reruns of home improvement, true crime, reality and celebrity-driven shows.<ref>[https://www.nexttv.com/news/sinclair-launching-new-multicast-network-dubbed-the-nest "Sinclair Will Serve Up 'Comfort Food' on New Multicast Network The Nest"] from ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]'', October 10, 2023</ref>

On March 13, 2024, Sinclair reached a deal with [[America's Public Television Stations]] in which Sinclar will offer free hosting for [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] stations on Sinclair stations with ATSC 3.0 signals if said PBS stations have not launched their own.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sbgi.net/sinclair-and-apts-announce-free-virtual-channel-hosting-for-public-television-stations-not-yet-transmitting-in-atsc-3-0/ | title=Sinclair and APTS Announce Free Virtual Channel Hosting for Public Television Stations Not Yet Transmitting in ATSC 3.0 | date=March 13, 2024 }}</ref> As of February 2025, [[Nebraska Public Media]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/sinclair-nebraska-public-media-launch-free-virtual-channel-hosting-in-atsc-3-0 | title=Sinclair, Nebraska Public Media Launch Free Virtual Channel Hosting in ATSC 3.0 | date=October 16, 2024 }}</ref> [[WNPT]] in [[Nashville]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/nashville-pbs-sinclair-launch-virtual-wnpt-nextgen-tv-channel | title=Nashville PBS, Sinclair Launch Virtual WNPT NextGen TV Channel | date=December 17, 2024 }}</ref> and [[KNPB]] in [[Reno, Nevada]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/pbs-reno-sinclair-launch-atsc-3-0-virtual-channel | title=PBS Reno, Sinclair Launch ATSC 3.0 Virtual Channel | date=January 22, 2025 }}</ref> have taken up on Sinclair's offer, while [[WQED (TV)|WQED]] in Pittsburgh has not despite reception issues with its main ATSC 1.0 signal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-qa-what-happened-to-wqed-tvs-signal/|title=TV Q&A: What happened to WQED-TV's signal?|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|date=September 20, 2023|accessdate=April 5, 2025}}</ref>

In May 2024, Sinclair was reportedly considering selling more than 30% of its 185 broadcasting stations, which it later recanted.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rizzo|first1=Lillian|last2=Sherman|first2=Alex|date=May 9, 2024|title=Sinclair explores selling roughly 30% of its broadcast stations, sources say|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/09/sinclair-explores-selling-30percent-of-broadcast-stations.html|access-date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> In January 2025, upon expectations that the FCC will push for deregulation of local television stations under the [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] including eliminating the national ownership cap, Sinclair restructured its debt and liquidity in order to prepare for more acquisitions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sinclair-debt-deal-financial-flexibility-liquidity-1236108431/ | title=TV Station Giant Sinclair Restructures Debt as It Eyes Growth | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=January 14, 2025 }}</ref>

On March 11, 2025, it was reported that Sinclair would sell five TV stations ([[WVTV]], [[WICS]]/[[WICD-TV]], [[KHQA]], & [[KTVO]]) to Rincon Broadcasting, led by former Sinclair & Bally Sports executive Todd Parkin, who would go on to purchase stations less than a month later from [[Imagicomm Communications]] that the latter company had purchased from [[Cox Media Group]].<ref name="rinconFCC">{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff39568c87a01956d9bae8f05b7&id=25076ff39568c87a01956d9bae8f05b7&goBack=N|title=Assignments|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=March 10, 2025|accessdate=March 10, 2025}}</ref><ref name="rincon">{{Cite web|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/imagicomm-selling-seven-stations-to-rincon/|title=Imagicomm Selling Seven Stations To Rincon|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|date=April 3, 2025|accessdate=April 4, 2025}}</ref>