Editing Sinclair Broadcast Group (section)

====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>