Sinclair Broadcast Group is a major American telecommunications conglomerate specializing in broadcast television. It is the second-largest television station operator in the United States, owning or operating 193 stations across over 100 markets, reaching about 40% of American households. Sinclair owns affiliates broadcasting all major networks including Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, MyNetworkTV, and The CW. The company also owns four digital multicast networks (Comet, Charge!, The Nest, and Roar) and the Tennis Channel sports cable network. Headquartered in the Baltimore suburb of Cockeysville (Hunt Valley), Maryland, Sinclair is publicly traded and controlled by the descendants of its founder Julian Sinclair Smith. Sinclair is known for its conservative-leaning editorial stance and programming, often favoring Republican viewpoints. The group has courted controversy for this political approach and uses "sidecar" companies to manage stations to comply with ownership rules. In 2025, Sinclair proposed restructuring its Ventures division and merging its broadcast operations with rival Tegna. Sinclair also owns and operates 38 local ABC affiliates and has defended its editorial decisions in recent high-profile national controversies. The company has rapidly expanded since its founding in 1971, especially after the Telecommunications Act of 1996 relaxed ownership rules, allowing rapid acquisition of stations and growth into a Fortune 500 company with annual revenues around $6.8 billion in 2023. Overall, Sinclair Broadcast Group is a dominant force in U.S. local broadcasting with significant market reach, a diverse portfolio of stations, recreational and multicast networks, and a strong political editorial slant.
