Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC
For the period ended Sep 30, 2025. Filed Nov 7, 2025.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Sep 30, 2025 · Filed Nov 7, 2025
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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Nature of Operations
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC (“SBG”), a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinclair, Inc. (“Sinclair”), is a diversified media company with national reach and a strong focus on providing high-quality content on SBG’s local television stations and digital platforms. The content, distributed through SBG’s broadcast platform and third-party platforms, consists of programming provided by third-party networks and syndicators, local news and other original programming produced by SBG and SBG owned networks.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2025, SBG hadone reportable segment: local media. The local media segment consists primarily of SBG’s 179 broadcast television stations in 81 markets, which SBG owns, provides programming and operating services pursuant to agreements commonly referred to as local marketing agreements (“LMA”), or provides sales services and other non-programming operating services pursuant to other outsourcing agreements (such as joint sales agreements (“JSA”) and shared services agreements (“SSA”)). These stations broadcast 646 channels as of September 30, 2025. For the purpose of this report, these 179 stations and 646 channels are referred to as “SBG” stations and channels.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include SBG’s accounts and those of SBG’s wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, and VIEs for which SBG is the primary beneficiary. Noncontrolling interests represent a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of SBG’s consolidated entities. All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
SBG consolidates VIEs when SBG is the primary beneficiary. SBG is the primary beneficiary of a VIE when SBG has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE. See Note 6. Variable Interest Entities for more information on SBG’s VIEs.
Investments in entities over which SBG has significant influence but not control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Income from equity method investments represents SBG’s proportionate share of net income generated by equity method investees.
Interim Financial Statements
SBG’s consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, such financial statements have been presented on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income, consolidated statements of member’s deficit and noncontrolling interests, and consolidated statements of cash flows for these periods as adjusted for the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements.
As permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), SBG’s consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures normally included with audited consolidated financial statements and, accordingly, should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Sinclair’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC. SBG’s consolidated statements of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily representative of operations for an entire year.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and in the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued guidance to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures, requiring annual disclosure of consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation table; additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold (if the effect of those reconciling items is equal to or greater than 5 percent of the amount computed by multiplying pretax income or loss by the applicable statutory income tax rate); income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction; and income or loss before income tax disaggregated between foreign and domestic. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. SBG is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance but does not expect it to have a material impact on SBG’s consolidated financial statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued guidance requiring disclosure of disaggregated information about certain income statement expense line items. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. SBG is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance.
Broadcast Television Programming
SBG has agreements with programming syndicators for the rights to television programming over contract periods, which generally run fromone tothree years. Contract payments are made in installments over terms that are generally equal to or shorter than the contract period. Pursuant to accounting guidance for the broadcasting industry, an asset and a liability for the rights acquired and obligations incurred under a license agreement are reported on the balance sheet when the cost of each program is known or reasonably determinable, the program material has been accepted by the licensee in accordance with the conditions of the license agreement, and the program is available for its first showing or telecast. The portion of program contracts which becomes payable within one year is reflected as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The rights to this programming are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at the lower of unamortized cost or fair value. Program costs are amortized on a straight-line basis except for contracts greater than three years which are amortized utilizing an accelerated method. Program costs estimated by management to be amortized in the succeeding year are classified as current assets. Payments of program contract liabilities are typically made on a scheduled basis and are not affected by amortization or fair value adjustments.
SBG assessesthe program costs on a quarterly basis to ensure the costs are recorded at the lower of unamortized cost or fair value.
Hedge Accounting
SBG entered into an interest rate swap effective February 7, 2023 and terminating on February 28, 2026 in order to manage a portion of SBG’s exposure to variable interest rates. The swap agreement has a notional amount of $600 million, bears a fixed interest rate of 3.9%, and SBG receives a floating rate of interest based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”).
SBG has determined that the interest rate swap meets the criteria for hedge accounting. The initial value of the interest rate swap and any changes in value in subsequent periods are included inaccumulated other comprehensive income, with a corresponding change recorded in assets or liabilities depending on the position of the swap. Gains or losses on the monthly settlement of the interest rate swap are reflected in interest expense in SBG’s consolidated statements of operations. Cash flows related to the interest rate swap are classified as operating activities in SBG’s consolidated statements of cash flows. See Interest Rate Swap within Note 3. Notes Payable, Finance Leases, and Commercial Bank Financingfor further discussion.
Supplemental Information - Statements of Cash Flows
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities were $5 million and $3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Leased assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities were $17 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Non-cash investing activities included property and equipment purchases of $4 million and $5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
SBG received equity shares in investments valued at $20 million and $4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, in exchange for an obligation to deliver a similar value of advertising spots.
SBG completed the acquisition and sale of certain television stations as described in Acquisitions and Station Disposals below for non-cash consideration of $32 million and $36 million, respectively, during both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025.
Included in (distributions to) contributions from member, net within cash flows used in financing activities in SBG’s consolidated statements of cash flows, were dividends to Sinclair to fund its portion of the dividends to Sinclair shareholders and parent company expenses of $108 million and $78 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. These dividends were offset by a contribution from member related to $11 million from Sinclair Ventures, LLC (“Ventures”) related to cash tax payments associated with the emergence of Diamond Sports Group, LLC (“DSG”) from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and $148 million from Ventures related to the DSG litigation settlement (see Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies for further detail) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Revenue Recognition
The following table presents SBG’s revenue disaggregated by type and segment (in millions):
| For the three months ended September 30, 2025 | Local Media |
|---|---|
| Distribution revenue | $370 |
| Core advertising revenue | 269 |
| Political advertising revenue | 6 |
| Other media | 22 |
| Total revenue | $667 |
| For the nine months ended September 30, 2025 | Local Media |
| Distribution revenue | $1,145 |
| Core advertising revenue | 812 |
| Political advertising revenue | 18 |
| Other media | 65 |
| Total revenue | $2,040 |
| For the three months ended September 30, 2024 | Local Media |
| Distribution revenue | $383 |
| Core advertising revenue | 283 |
| Political advertising revenue | 138 |
| Other media | 41 |
| Total revenue | $845 |
| For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 | Local Media |
| Distribution revenue | $1,151 |
| Core advertising revenue | 852 |
| Political advertising revenue | 202 |
| Other media | 117 |
| Total revenue | $2,322 |
Distribution Revenue. SBG generates distribution revenue through fees received from multi-channel video programming distributors (“MVPD”) and virtual MVPDs (“vMVPD,” and together with MVPDs, “Distributors”) for the right to distribute SBG’s stations and other properties. Distribution arrangements are generally governed by multi-year contracts and the underlying fees are based upon a contractual monthly rate per subscriber. These arrangements represent licenses of intellectual property; revenue is recognized as the signal or network programming is provided to SBG’s customers (as usage occurs) which corresponds with the satisfaction of SBG’s performance obligation. Revenue is calculated based upon the contractual rate multiplied by an estimated number of subscribers. SBG’s customers will remit payments based upon actual subscribers a short time after the conclusion of a month, which generally does not exceed 120 days. Historical adjustments to subscriber estimates have not been material.
Core Advertising Revenue. SBG generates core advertising revenue primarily from the sale of non-political advertising spots/impressions within broadcast television and digital platforms.
Political Advertising Revenue. SBG generates political advertising revenue primarily from the sale of political advertising spots/impressions within broadcast television and digital platforms.
In accordance with ASC 606, SBG does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) distribution arrangements which are accounted for as a sales/usage-based royalty.
Deferred Revenue. SBG records deferred revenue when cash payments are received or due in advance of performance, including amounts which are refundable. SBG classifies deferred revenue as either current in other current liabilities or long-term in other long-term liabilities in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets based on the timing of when SBG expects to satisfy performance obligations. Deferred revenue was $163 million as of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, of which $94 million and $112 million, respectively, was reflected in other long-term liabilities in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets. Deferred revenue recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, included in the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, was $43 million and $35 million, respectively.
For the three months ended September 30, 2025, two customers accounted for 12% and 10%, respectively, of SBG’s total revenue. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, two customers accounted for 12% and 11%, respectively, of SBG’s total revenue. For the three months ended September 30, 2024, one customers accounted for 10%, of SBG’s total revenue. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, two customers accounted for 11% and 10%, respectively, of SBG’s total revenue. As of September 30, 2025, two customers accounted for 13% and 10%, respectively, of SBG’s accounts receivable, net. As of December 31, 2024, four customers accounted for 11%,10%,10%, and 10%, respectively, of SBG’s accounts receivable, net. For purposes of this disclosure, a single customer may include multiple entities under common control.
Acquisitions and Station Disposals
In July 2025, SBG sold its owned stations within Milwaukee, WI (WVTV), Springfield, IL (WICS/WICD), Ottumwa, IA (KTVO), and Quincy, IL (KHQA) for consideration valued at $36 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, SBG recorded a net loss of $8 million related to the sale, which is included within gain on asset dispositions and other, net within SBG’s consolidated statements of operations and SBG’s local media segment within Note 5. Segment Data.
In September 2025, SBG acquired the non-license assets of WLNE in Providence, RI for consideration of $32 million. The acquired assets and liabilities were recorded at fair value as of the closing date of the transaction. Based upon the preliminary purchase price allocation, SBG recorded $27 million of definite-lived intangible assets, $1 million of property and equipment, and $4 million of net working capital.
Income Taxes
SBG’s income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes. The tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 is based on the estimated effective tax rate applicable for the full year after taking into account discrete tax items and the effects of the noncontrolling interests. SBG provides a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if it is determined that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating SBG’s ability to realize net deferred tax assets, SBG considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including past operating results, tax planning strategies, current and cumulative losses, and forecasts of future taxable income. In considering these sources of taxable income, SBG must make certain judgments that are based on the plans and estimates used to manage SBG’s underlying businesses on a long-term basis. A valuation allowance has been provided for deferred tax assets related to a substantial amount of SBG’s available state net operating loss carryforwards based on past operating results, expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary basis differences, alternative tax strategies, and projected future taxable income.
On July 4, 2025, the One Big, Beautiful Bill (“OBBB”) was enacted. The OBBB is a comprehensive tax reform package that includes several provisions which have, and will continue to, reduce SBG’s taxes paid in 2025. SBG does not expect the legislation to have a material impact on its financial statements.
SBG’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2025 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to non-deductible expenses. SBG’s effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to non-deductible expenses. SBG's effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to non-deductible expenses. SBG's effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to an immaterial $7.5 million correcting adjustment related to the accrual of interest income attributable to prior years’ pending income tax refund claims.
SBG does not believe that its liability for unrecognized tax benefits would be materially impacted, in the next twelve months, as a result of the expected statute of limitations expirations, the application of limits under available state administrative practice exceptions, and the resolution of examination issues and settlements with federal and certain state tax authorities.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years’ consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.
- OTHER ASSETS:
Other assets as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 consisted of the following (in millions):
| As of September 30,2025 | As of December 31,2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investments | $32 | $14 |
| Income tax receivable | 149 | 144 |
| Other | 54 | 54 |
| Total other assets | $235 | $212 |
Investments
SBG’s investments, excluding equity method investments, are accounted for at fair value or, in situations where fair value is not readily determinable, SBG has the option to value investments at cost plus observable changes in value, less impairment. Additionally, certain investments were measured at net asset value (“NAV”).
Investments measured at NAV were $13 million and $5 million as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
Investments accounted for utilizing the measurement alternative were $19 million and $8 million as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. There wereno adjustments to the carrying amount of investments accounted for utilizing the measurement alternative for any of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
- NOTES PAYABLE, FINANCE LEASES, AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING:
Credit Agreement and Notes
During the first quarter of 2025, Sinclair Television Group, Inc. (“STG”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC (“SBG”), completed a series of financing transactions (the “Transactions”) as follows:
Exchanged $711.4 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the$714 million Term Loan B-3, which mature April 1, 2028 and bear interest at SOFR plus 3.00%, into second-out first lien Term Loan B-6 issued under a new credit agreement dated February 12, 2025 (the “New Credit Agreement”), which mature December 31, 2029 and bear interest at SOFR plus 3.30%. Exchanged all of the$731.3 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of Term Loan B-4, which matured on April 21, 2029, and bore interest at SOFR plus 3.75%, into second-out first lien Term Loan B-7 issued under the New Credit Agreement, which mature December 31, 2030 and bear interest at SOFR plus 4.10%.
Exchanged $575 million of commitments under the existing revolving credit facility into$575 million first-out first lien revolving commitments (the “First-Out Revolving Credit Facility”) under the New Credit Agreement, which mature February 12, 2030 and borrowings thereunder will bear interest at SOFR plus 2.00%.
The existing bank credit agreement was amended as of February 12, 2025 (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) concurrent with the Transactions and entering into the New Credit Agreement, subordinating the secured obligations thereunder and eliminating substantially all covenants and certain events of default. As a result, the remaining$3 million of Term Loan B-3 and the remaining$75 million of commitments under the existing revolving credit facility are ranked as third lien obligations.
STG issued$1,430 million aggregate principal amount of 8.125% first-out first lien secured notes due 2033 (the “8.125% First-Out Notes”), which mature on February 15, 2033. The proceeds from the 8.125% First-Out Notes were used to repay in full the$1,175 million aggregate principal amounts outstanding of Term Loan B-2 due 2026, approximately $63.6 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 at 84% of the principal amount, and approximately $104 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027 at 97% of the principal amount and to pay fees and expenses related to the Transactions.
Exchanged $432 million aggregate principal amount of the existing 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 into 9.750% senior secured second lien notes due 2033 (the “9.750% Second Lien Notes”), which mature on February 15, 2033. Exchanged$238 million aggregate principal amount of the existing 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 into 4.375% second-out first lien secured notes due 2032 (the “4.375% Second-Out Notes”), which mature on December 31, 2032. The remaining 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 of$4 million became unsecured obligations as the related indenture was amended to release all liens on the collateral and eliminate substantially all covenants and certain events of default.
For thenine months ended September 30, 2025, SBG recognized a gain on extinguishment of the 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 and 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027 of$5 million and$3 million, respectively, and a loss on extinguishment of the Term Loan B-2 of$6 million.
The New Credit Agreement and the indentures for the 8.125% First-Out Notes,4.375% Second-Out Notes, and 9.750% Second Lien Notes (collectively, the “New Indentures”) contain certain restrictive covenants including, but not limited to, restrictions on indebtedness, liens, restricted payments (including repayment of certain subordinated debt), investments, mergers, consolidations, sales and other dispositions of assets and affiliate transactions. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and limitations as described in the New Credit Agreement and New Indentures. The New Credit Agreement and New Indentures also include events of default, including certain cross-default and cross-acceleration provisions with other debt of STG, customary for agreements of its type.
Prior to February 15, 2028, December 1, 2025, and February 15, 2027, STG may redeem the 8.125% First-Out Notes,4.375% Second-Out Notes, and 9.750% Second Lien Notes, respectively, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the respective notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, plus a “make-whole” premium as set forth in the New Indentures. On or prior to February 15, 2028 and February 15, 2027, STG may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 8.125% First-Out Notes and 9.750% Second Lien Notes, respectively, at a price equal to 108.125% and 109.750% of the principal amount of the 8.125% First-Out Notes and 9.750% Second Lien Notes, respectively, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption using the proceeds of certain equity offerings. Prior to February 15, 2028 and February 15, 2027, STG may redeem the 8.125% First-Out Notes and 9.750% Second Lien Notes, respectively, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 108.125% and 109.750% of the principal amount of the 8.125% First-Out Notes and 9.750% Second Lien Notes, respectively, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date upon certain change of control transactions or certain significant acquisitions. Beginning on December 1, 2025, STG may redeem some or all of the 4.375% Second-Out Notes at any time or from time to time at the redemption prices set forth in the New Indentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date. In addition, upon the sale of certain of STG’s assets or certain changes of control, STG may be required to offer to repurchase some or all of the 8.125% First-Out Notes,4.375% Second-Out Notes, and 9.750% Second Lien Notes.
The First-Out Revolving Credit Facility includes a financial maintenance covenant, the first-out first lien leverage ratio (as defined in the New Credit Agreement), which requires such ratio not to exceed 3.5 x, measured as of the end of each fiscal quarter, which is only applicable if 35% or more of the capacity (as a percentage of total commitments) under the First-Out Revolving Credit Facility, measured as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, is utilized as of such date. Since there wasno utilization under the First-Out Revolving Credit Facility as of September 30, 2025, STG was not subject to the financial maintenance covenant under the New Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2025, the STG first-out first lien leverage ratio was below 3.5 x. The New Credit Agreement contains other restrictions and covenants with which STG was in compliance as of September 30, 2025.
During the second quarter of 2025, STG repurchased $81 million aggregate principal amount of the 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027 for consideration of $77 million. SBG recognized a gain on extinguishment of the 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027 of$4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. In October 2025, STG repurchased the remaining $89 million aggregate principal amount of the 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027 for consideration of $89 million. The 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027 acquired were canceled immediately following their acquisition.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, STG purchased $27 million aggregate principal amount of Term Loan B-2 for consideration of $25 million. The portions of Term Loan B-2 purchased were canceled immediately following their acquisition. SBG recognized a gain on extinguishment of the Term Loan B-2 of $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Finance Leases to Affiliates
The current portion of notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets includes finance leases to affiliates of $3 million as of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing, less current portion, in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets includes finances leases to affiliates of $7 million and $9 million as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. See Note 7. Related Person Transactions.
Debt of Variable Interest Entities and Guarantees of Third-Party Obligations
STG jointly, severally, unconditionally, and irrevocably guaranteed $2 million of debt of certain third parties as of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, all of which related to consolidated VIEs and is included in our consolidated balance sheets as of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024. We provide a guarantee of certain obligations of the Marquee Sports Network (“Marquee”) subject to a maximum aggregate amount of $455 million for the years 2025 through 2029. We accrued $15 million related to this obligation for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, included in gain on asset dispositions and other, net in SBG’s consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2025, $8 million of this obligation is reflected in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets. See Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies for further discussion.
Interest Rate Swap
SBG entered into an interest rate swap effective February 7, 2023 and terminating on February 28, 2026 in order to manage a portion of SBG’s exposure to variable interest rates. The swap agreement has a notional amount of$600 million, bears a fixed interest rate of 3.9%, and SBG receives a floating rate of interest based on SOFR. See Hedge Accounting within Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for further discussion. The fair value of the interest rate swap was a liability of$0.1 million as of September 30, 2025, which is recorded in other current liabilitiesin SBG’s consolidated balance sheets, and an asset of $1 million as of December 31, 2024, which is recorded inother assets in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets.
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
On November 6, 2025, STG and one of its subsidiaries entered into athree-year, up to $375 million revolving accounts receivable securitization facility (the “AR Facility”) with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (“Wells”) in order to enable STG to raise incremental, low-cost capital.
- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
Litigation, Claims, and Regulatory Matters
SBG is a party to lawsuits, claims, and regulatory matters from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Actions currently pending are in various stages and no material judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions. Except as noted below, SBG does not believe the outcome of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material effect on SBG’s financial statements.
FCC Matters
On May 22, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released an Order and Consent Decree pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay $48 million to resolve the matters covered by a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (“NAL”) issued in December 2017 proposing a $13 million fine for alleged violations of the FCC’s sponsorship identification rules by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, the FCC’s investigation of the allegations raised in the Hearing Designation Order issued in connection with the Company’s proposed acquisition of Tribune, and a retransmission related matter. The Company submitted the $48 million payment on August 19, 2020. As part of the consent decree, the Company also agreed to implement afour-year compliance plan (which terminated on May 29, 2024). Two petitions were filed on June 8, 2020 seeking reconsideration of the Order and Consent Decree. The Company filed an opposition to the petitions on June 18, 2020, and the petitions remain pending.
On September 1, 2020, one of the individuals who filed a petition for reconsideration of the Order and Consent Decree filed a petition to deny the license renewal application of WBFF(TV), Baltimore, MD, and the license renewal applications of two other Baltimore, MD stations with which the Company has a JSA or LMA, Deerfield Media station WUTB(TV) and Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (“Cunningham”) station WNUV(TV). On January 18, 2024, a motion was filed to request substitution of the petitioner, who is deceased. On June 27, 2025, the FCC (i) denied the motion for substitution; (ii) dismissed the petition to deny; and (iii) granted the license renewal applications of WBFF(TV), WUTB(TV), and WNUV(TV). An application for review of the FCC’s decision was filed on July 28, 2025 on behalf of the individual who unsuccessfully sought to be substituted for the petitioner in the proceeding. The Company timely filed an opposition to the application for review and the matter remains pending. On April 14, 2025, the same attorney who filed the petition against the renewal applications filed a similar petition to deny, on behalf of a different client, assignment applications filed by the Company seeking FCC consent to sell certain stations to a third party. On July 1, 2025, the FCC dismissed that petition to deny and granted the applications. An application for review of the decision to grant the assignment applications was filed on behalf of the petitioner on July 30, 2025. The Company timely filed an opposition to the application for review and the matter remains pending.
On September 2, 2020, the FCC adopted a Memorandum Opinion and Order and NAL against the licensees of several stations with whom the Company has LMAs, JSAs, and/or SSAs in response to a complaint regarding those stations’ retransmission consent negotiations. The NAL proposed a $0.5 million penalty for each station, totaling $9 million. The licensees filed a response to the NAL on October 15, 2020, asking the FCC to dismiss the proceeding or, alternatively, to reduce the proposed forfeiture to $25,000 per station. On July 28, 2021, the FCC issued a forfeiture order in which the $0.5 million penalty was upheld for all but one station. A Petition for Reconsideration of the forfeiture order was filed on August 7, 2021. On March 14, 2022, the FCC released a Memorandum Opinion and Order and Order on Reconsideration, which reaffirmed the forfeiture order, dismissed (and in the alternative, denied) the Petition for Reconsideration, and stated that because the fines were not paid within the period stated in the July 2021 forfeiture order the FCC may refer the case to the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) for enforcement of the forfeiture pursuant to Section 504 of the Communications Act. Our understanding is that enforcement remains pending. The Company is not a party to this forfeiture order.
On September 21, 2022, the FCC released an NAL against the licensees of a number of stations, including 83 SBG stations and several stations with whom SBG has LMAs, JSAs, and/or SSAs, for violation of the FCC’s limitations on commercial matter in children’s television programming related to KidsClick network programming distributed by the Company in 2018. The NAL proposed a fine of $2.7 million against SBG, and fines ranging from $20,000 to $26,000 per station for the other licensees, including the LMA, JSA, and/or SSA stations, for a total of $3.4 million. On October 21, 2022, the Company filed a written response seeking reduction of the proposed fine amount. On September 6, 2024, the FCC issued a forfeiture order imposing the fine as proposed in the NAL. The Company and all other affected licensees filed a joint petition for reconsideration of the forfeiture order on October 7, 2024. On June 27, 2025, the FCC adopted an Order and Consent Decree pursuant to which the Company agreed to make a voluntary contribution of $500,000 to resolve, without any admission of liability, the forfeiture order (with respect to SBG stations), a closed captioning investigation of SBG station WUHF in Rochester, NY, and matters relating to certain of SBG’s pending station renewal applications. As part of the consent decree, the Company also agreed to implement a two-year compliance plan relating to the FCC’s limits on commercial matter in children’s programming and closed captioning rules, and the FCC agreed to grant the license renewal applications of all SBG stations involved in the matters resolved by the consent decree. The consent decree states the forfeiture order will be resolved by separate action with respect to the non-SBG licensees named in the forfeiture order, and to SBG’s knowledge all but one of such non-SBG licensees have entered into non-monetary consent decrees with the FCC and agreed to similar compliance plans with respect to the FCC’s limits on commercial matter in children’s programming. The Company made the $500,000 voluntary contribution on July 9, 2025.
Other Matters
On November 6, 2018, the Company agreed to enter into a proposed consent decree with the DOJ. This consent decree resolves the DOJ’s investigation into the sharing of pacing information among certain stations in some local markets. The DOJ filed the consent decree and related documents in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on November 13, 2018. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia entered the consent decree on May 22, 2019. The consent decree is not an admission of any wrongdoing by the Company and does not subject the Company to any monetary damages or penalties. The Company believes that even if the pacing information was shared as alleged, it would not have impacted any pricing of advertisements or the competitive nature of the market. The consent decree requires the Company to adopt certain antitrust compliance measures, including the appointment of an Antitrust Compliance Officer, consistent with what the DOJ has required in previous consent decrees in other industries. The consent decree also requires the Company’s stations not to exchange pacing and certain other information with other stations in their local markets, which the Company’s management had already instructed them not to do.
The Company is aware oftwenty-two putative class action lawsuits that were filed against the Company following published reports of the DOJ investigation into the exchange of pacing data within the industry. On October 3, 2018, these lawsuits were consolidated in the Northern District of Illinois. The consolidated action alleges that the Company andthirteen other broadcasters conspired to fix prices for commercials to be aired on broadcast television stations throughout the United States and engaged in unlawful information sharing, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The consolidated action seeks damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and interest, as well as injunctions against adopting practices or plans that would restrain competition in the ways the plaintiffs have alleged. The Court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss on November 6, 2020. Discovery commenced shortly after that and is continuing. On December 8, 2023, the Court granted final approval of the settlements the plaintiffs had reached with four of the original defendants (CBS, Fox, Cox Media, and ShareBuilders), who agreed to pay a total of $48 million to settle the plaintiffs’ claims against them. The plaintiffs are continuing to pursue their claims against the Company and the other non-settling defendants. Under the current schedule set by the Court, fact discovery is scheduled to close 90 days after a Special Master completes his review of the plaintiffs’ objections to the defendants’ privilege claims. On December 6, 2024, the plaintiffs filed a motion seeking sanctions against the Company in connection with the loss of certain cell phone data. On February 4, 2025, following briefing on that motion, the Court heard arguments and took the motion under advisement. On February 20, 2025, Special Master Richard Levie issued Report and Recommendation No. 3 addressing plaintiffs’ challenges to certain of defendants’ privilege log entries (“Levie R&R No. 3”), which compelled disclosure of certain documents Sinclair and the other non-settling defendants withheld from discovery based on assertions of privilege. Sinclair and the other co-defendants filed objections to Levie R&R No. 3. At a March 18, 2025 status conference, the Court set a tentative trial date of April 1, 2026, and stated its expectations that depositions will resume. At a Status Conference on October 1, 2025, the Court indicated that it would be setting a new schedule with a trial date occurring after April 1, 2026. Sinclair and the other parties are awaiting issuance of the new scheduling order. On October 20, 2025, the Court issued an order adopting Levie R&R No. 3 and denying the objections to Levie R&R No. 3 made by Sinclair and the other non-settling defendants, compelling the production of 6,313 documents Sinclair withheld as privileged. On September 29, 2025, Special Master Wayne R. Andersen issued Report and Recommendation No. 3 (“Andersen R&R No. 3”) and on October 23, 2025, Special Master Andersen issued Report and Recommendation No. 6 (“Andersen R&R No. 6”), addressing certain of plaintiffs’ additional challenges to certain of Sinclair’s privilege log entries. Andersen R&R No. 3 and Andersen R&R No. 6 each recommended granting in part and denying in part plaintiffs’ challenges. No party has appealed Andersen R&R No. 3, which compelled the production of two documents Sinclair withheld as privileged. The plaintiffs filed an objection to Anderson R&R No. 6 on November 6, 2025. Sinclair intends to file a response in opposition to that objection. Discovery and the Special Master’s review of plaintiffs’ challenges to the defendants’ privilege claims remain ongoing. The Company continues to believe the lawsuits are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against all such claims.
On July 19, 2023, as part of the bankruptcy proceedings of DSG, at such time, an independently managed and unconsolidated subsidiary of Sinclair, DSG and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Diamond Sports Net, LLC, filed a complaint (the “Diamond Litigation”), under seal, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas naming certain subsidiaries of Sinclair, including SBG and STG and certain officers of SBG and STG, as defendants.
In the complaint, plaintiffs challenged a series of transactions involving SBG and certain of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and DSG and its subsidiaries, on the other hand, since SBG acquired the former Fox Sports regional sports networks from The Walt Disney Company in August 2019. The complaint alleged, among other things, that the management services agreement (the “MSA”) entered into by STG and DSG was not fair to DSG and was designed to benefit STG and SBG; that the Bally’s Corporation (“Bally’s”) transaction in November 2020 through which Bally’s acquired naming rights to certain regional sports networks was not fair to DSG and was designed to benefit STG and SBG; and that certain distributions made by DSG that were used to pay down preferred equity of DSH, were inappropriate and were conducted at a time when DSG was insolvent. The complaint also alleged that SBG and its subsidiaries (other than DSG and its subsidiaries) received payments or indirect benefits of approximately $1.5 billion as a result of the alleged misconduct. The complaint asserted a variety of claims, including certain fraudulent transfers of assets, unlawful distributions and payments, breaches of contracts, unjust enrichment and breaches of fiduciary duties. The plaintiffs sought, among other relief, avoidance of fraudulent transfers and unlawful distributions, and unspecified monetary damages to be determined.
On March 1, 2024, the court approved a global settlement and release of all claims associated with the Diamond Litigation, which settlement included an amendment to the MSA. Sinclair entered into the settlement, without admitting any fault or wrongdoing. The settlement terms included, among other things, DSG’s dismissal with prejudice of its $1.5 billion litigation against Sinclair and all other defendants, along with the full and final satisfaction and release of all claims in that litigation against all defendants, including Sinclair and its subsidiaries, in exchange for Sinclair’s cash payment to DSG of $495 million. Additionally, under the terms of the settlement, Sinclair would provide transition services to DSG to allow DSG to become a self-standing entity going forward. During the first quarter of 2024, SBG paid $50 million related to the settlement. The final settlement payment was made during the second quarter of 2024 and of the total $495 million settlement amount paid, $347 million was paid by STG and $148 million was paid by Sinclair Ventures, LLC (“Ventures”). On January 2, 2025, DSG announced that it had emerged from bankruptcy, at which time, SBG’s equity interest in DSG was terminated.
SBG has provided a guarantee that requires SBG to provide funding to Marquee. On July 19, 2024, Marquee sent SBG a funding notice seeking $29 million under the Marquee guarantee by August 1, 2024 purportedly to make payments under certain agreements to affiliates of the Chicago Cubs, an affiliate of which is also a co-owner of Marquee. Based on the information provided to SBG by Marquee, Marquee has sufficient cash to make such payments without funding under the Marquee guarantee. For this and other reasons, SBG does not believe it is contractually required to provide funding under the Marquee guarantee at this time and has so informed Marquee. On August 2, 2024, Marquee sent SBG another letter claiming that SBG’s failure to timely pay the amounts subject to Marquee’s funding notice constitutes a breach of the Marquee guarantee and requesting payment of such amounts no later than August 17, 2024 at which time Marquee has stated it will pursue any and all available remedies pursuant to the Marquee guarantee. As of January 1, 2025, SBG determined SBG had no further obligations under the guarantee agreement. Marquee disputed this position, and on June 9, 2025, SBG entered into a binding term sheet to settle the matter. As part of the settlement, the parties agreed that the guarantee would be in effect through 2029; however, the maximum obligation under the guarantee agreement was reduced. As a result of the execution of this binding term sheet, SBG has concluded that SBG’s obligation to pay under a portion of the guarantee is probable and the loss related thereto could be reasonably estimated, thus recorded an estimated obligation related to this arrangement during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 (as further discussed in Note 3. Notes Payable, Finance Leases, and Commercial Bank Financing). Because loss contingencies are inherently unpredictable and unfavorable developments can occur, the assessment requires judgment about future events. Moreover, there is no assurance that contingencies will be satisfied and the ultimate loss may differ materially from the estimated obligation SBG has recorded.
- SEGMENT DATA:
SBG measures segment performance based on operating income (loss). For the quarter ended September 30, 2025, SBG hadone reportable segment: local media. The local media segment includes SBG’s television stations, original networks, and content and provides these through free over-the-air programming to television viewing audiences for stations in markets located throughout the continental United States, as well as distributes the content of these stations to MVPDs for distribution to their customers in exchange for contractual fees. See Revenue Recognition under Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policiesfor further detail. Corporate is not a reportable segment but is included for reconciliation purposes. Corporate costs primarily include SBG’s costs to operate as the parent company of its subsidiaries. All of SBG’s businesses are located within the United States.
Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in millions):
| As of September 30, 2025 | Local Media | Corporate | Consolidated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | $4,318 | $64 | $4,382 |
| For the three months ended September 30, 2025 · Local Media · Corporate · Consolidated | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $667 | $— | $667 | ||
| Media programming and production expenses | 378 | — | 378 | ||
| Media selling, general and administrative expenses | 165 | — | 165 | ||
| Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets | 56 | — | 56 | ||
| Amortization of program costs | 21 | — | 21 | ||
| Corporate general and administrative expenses | 21 | — | 21 | ||
| Gain on asset dispositions and other, net | (3) | (22) | (25) | ||
| Other segment items (a) | 2 | — | 2 | ||
| Operating income | $27 | $22 | $49 | ||
| Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs | $85 | $— | $85 | ||
| Other income, net | 2 | — | 2 | ||
| Loss before income taxes | $(34) | ||||
| For the nine months ended September 30, 2025 | Local Media | Corporate | Consolidated | ||
| Revenue | $2,040 | $— | $2,040 | ||
| Media programming and production expenses | 1,148 | — | 1,148 | ||
| Media selling, general and administrative expenses | 497 | — | 497 | ||
| Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets | 166 | — | 166 | ||
| Amortization of program costs | 57 | — | 57 | ||
| Corporate general and administrative expenses | 85 | — | 85 | ||
| (Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net | (23) | 15 | (8) | ||
| Other segment items (a) | 6 | — | 6 | ||
| Operating income (loss) | $104 | $(15) | $89 | ||
| Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs | $311 | $— | $311 | ||
| Gain on extinguishment of debt | 6 | — | 6 | ||
| Other income, net | 8 | — | 8 | ||
| Loss before income taxes | $(208) | ||||
| For the three months ended September 30, 2024 · Local Media · Consolidated | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $845 | $845 | |||
| Media programming and production expenses | 384 | 384 | |||
| Media selling, general and administrative expenses | 188 | 188 | |||
| Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets | 58 | 58 | |||
| Amortization of program costs | 18 | 18 | |||
| Corporate general and administrative expenses | 24 | 24 | |||
| Gain on asset dispositions and other, net | (11) | (11) | |||
| Other segment items (a) | 2 | 2 | |||
| Operating income | $182 | $182 | |||
| Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs | $78 | $78 | |||
| Other income, net | 3 | 3 | |||
| Income before income taxes | $107 | ||||
| For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 | Local Media | Corporate | Consolidated | ||
| Revenue | $2,322 | $— | $2,322 | ||
| Media programming and production expenses | 1,149 | — | 1,149 | ||
| Media selling, general and administrative expenses | 549 | — | 549 | ||
| Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets | 174 | — | 174 | ||
| Amortization of program costs | 55 | — | 55 | ||
| Corporate general and administrative expenses | 94 | 6 | 100 | ||
| Gain on asset dispositions and other, net | (11) | — | (11) | ||
| Other segment items (a) | 6 | — | 6 | ||
| Operating income (loss) | $306 | $(6) | $300 | ||
| Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs | $230 | $— | $230 | ||
| Gain on extinguishment of debt | 1 | — | 1 | ||
| Other income, net | 36 | — | 36 | ||
| Income before income taxes | $107 | ||||
(a)Other segment items relate primarily to non-media expenses.
- VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES:
Certain of SBG’s stations provide services to other station owners within the same respective market through agreements, such as LMAs, where SBG provides programming, sales, operational, and administrative services, and JSAs and SSAs, where SBG provides non-programming, sales, operational, and administrative services. In certain cases, SBG has also entered into purchase agreements or options to purchase the license related assets of the licensee. SBG typically owns the majority of the non-license assets of the stations, and in some cases where the licensee acquired the license assets concurrent with SBG’s acquisition of the non-license assets of the station, SBG has provided guarantees to the bank for the licensee’s acquisition financing. The terms of the agreements vary but generally have initial terms of over five years with several optional renewal terms. Based on the terms of the agreements and the significance of SBG’s investment in the stations, SBG is the primary beneficiary when, subject to the ultimate control of the licensees, SBG has the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE through the services SBG provides and SBG absorbs losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs. The fees paid between SBG and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation.
The carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above, which have been included in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets as of the dates presented, were as follows (in millions):
| As of September 30,2025 | As of December 31,2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||
| Current assets: | ||
| Accounts receivable, net | $14 | $18 |
| Other current assets | 3 | 3 |
| Total current assets | 17 | 21 |
| Property and equipment, net | 6 | 8 |
| Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets | 13 | 15 |
| Definite-lived intangible assets, net | 42 | 26 |
| Total assets | $78 | $70 |
| LIABILITIES | ||
| Current liabilities: | ||
| Other current liabilities | $7 | $13 |
| Notes payable, finance leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion | 4 | 5 |
| Other long-term liabilities | 3 | 3 |
| Total liabilities | $14 | $21 |
The amounts above represent the combined assets and liabilities of the VIEs described above, for which SBG is the primary beneficiary. Total liabilities associated with certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs, which are excluded from the above, were $152 million as of September 30, 2025 and $128 million as of December 31, 2024, as these amounts are eliminated in consolidation. The assets of each of these consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE. As of September 30, 2025, all of the liabilities are non-recourse to SBG except for the debt of certain VIEs. See Debt of Variable Interest Entities and Guarantees of Third-Party Obligations under Note 3. Notes Payable, Finance Leases, and Commercial Bank Financing for further discussion. The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.
- RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS:
Transactions With SBG’s Indirect Controlling Shareholders
David, Frederick, J. Duncan, and Robert Smith (collectively, the “Sinclair controlling shareholders”) are brothers and hold substantially all of the Sinclair Class B Common Stock and some of the Sinclair Class A Common Stock and are on the Board of Managers of SBG. SBG engaged in the following transactions with them and/or entities in which they have substantial interests:
Leases. Certain assets used by SBG and SBG’s operating subsidiaries are leased from entities owned by the Sinclair controlling shareholders. Lease payments made to these entities were $2 million and $5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and $2 million and $5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. For further information, see Note 3. Notes Payable, Finance Leases, and Commercial Bank Financing.
Charter Aircraft. SBG leases aircraft owned by certain Sinclair controlling shareholders. For all leases, SBG incurred expenses of $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and less than $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.
The Baltimore Sun. David Smith is the majority shareholder of The Baltimore Sun. STG has entered into agreements with The Baltimore Sun to provide independent contractor services, sales representation, news resource sharing, and content sharing. In relation to these agreements, SBG recorded revenue of $0.3 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025.
Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation
Cunningham owns a portfolio of television stations, including: WNUV-TV Baltimore, Maryland; WRGT-TV Dayton, Ohio; WVAH-TV Charleston, West Virginia; WMYA-TV Anderson, South Carolina; WTTE-TV Columbus, Ohio; WDBB-TV Birmingham, Alabama; WBSF-TV Flint, Michigan; WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV Traverse City/Cadillac, Michigan; WEMT-TV Tri-Cities, Tennessee; WYDO-TV Greenville, North Carolina; KBVU-TV/KCVU-TV Eureka/Chico-Redding, California; WPFO-TV Portland, Maine; KRNV-DT/KENV-DT Reno, Nevada/Salt Lake City, Utah; and KTXD-TV in Dallas, Texas (collectively, the “Cunningham Stations”). Certain of SBG’s stations provide services to the Cunningham Stations pursuant to LMAs or JSAs and SSAs. See Note 6. Variable Interest Entities, for further discussion of the scope of services provided under these types of arrangements.
All of the non-voting stock of the Cunningham Stations is owned by trusts for the benefit of the children of the Sinclair controlling shareholders. SBG consolidates certain subsidiaries of Cunningham with which SBG has variable interests through various arrangements related to the Cunningham Stations.
The services provided to WNUV-TV, WMYA-TV, WTTE-TV, WRGT-TV and WVAH-TV are governed by a master agreement which has a current term that expires on July 1, 2028 and there isone additional five-year renewal term remaining with final expiration on July 1, 2033. SBG also executed purchase agreements to acquire the license related assets of these stations from Cunningham, which grant SBG the right to acquire, and grant Cunningham the right to require SBG to acquire, subject to applicable FCC rules and regulations,100% of the capital stock or the assets of these individual subsidiaries of Cunningham. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement SBG is obligated to pay Cunningham an annual fee for the television stations equal to the greater of (i)3% of each station’s annual net broadcast revenue or (ii) $6 million. The aggregate purchase price of these television stations increases by 6% annually. A portion of the fee is required to be applied to the purchase price to the extent of the 6% increase. The cumulative prepayments made under these purchase agreements were $72 million and $69 million as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The remaining aggregate purchase price of these stations, net of prepayments, as of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, was approximately $54 million. Additionally, SBG provides services to WDBB-TV pursuant to an LMA, which expires April 22, 2030, and has a purchase option to acquire for $0.2 million. SBG paid Cunningham, under these agreements, $3 million and $9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and $3 million and $9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.
The agreements with KBVU-TV/KCVU-TV, KRNV-DT/KENV-DT, WBSF-TV, WDBB-TV, WEMT-TV, WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV, WPFO-TV, and WYDO-TV expire between December 2028 and August 2033 and certain stations have renewal provisions for successive eight-year periods.
As SBG consolidates the licensees as VIEs, the amounts SBG earns or pays under the arrangements are eliminated in consolidation and the gross revenue of the stations are reported in SBG’s consolidated statements of operations. SBG’s consolidated revenue includes $33 million and $97 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and $41 million and $109 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, related to the Cunningham Stations.
SBG has an agreement with Cunningham to provide master control equipment and provide master control services to a station in Johnstown, PA with which Cunningham has an LMA that expires in December 2025. Under the agreement, Cunningham paid SBG an initial fee of $1 million and pays SBG $0.3 million annually for master control services plus the cost to maintain and repair the equipment. In addition, SBG has an agreement with Cunningham to provide a news share service with the Johnstown, PA station for an annual fee of $0.6 million, which increases by 3% on each anniversary and expires in November 2025.
SBG has multi-cast agreements with Cunningham Stations in the Eureka/Chico-Redding, California; Tri-Cities, Tennessee; Anderson, South Carolina; Baltimore, Maryland; Portland, Maine; Charleston, West Virginia; Dallas, Texas; and Greenville, North Carolina markets. In exchange for carriage of these networks in their markets, SBG paid $0.3 million and $1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and $0.2 million and $1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, under these agreements.
WG Communications Group
The wife of Robert Weisbord, SBG’s Chief Operating Officer and President of Local Media, has an ownership interest in WG Communications Group (“WGC”). SBG received revenue from advertisers represented by WGC of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and made payments to WGC of less than $0.1 million for all of the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Sinclair, Inc.
Sinclair is the sole member of SBG.
SBG recorded revenue of $3 million and $8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and $3 million and $8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, related to sales services provided by SBG to Sinclair, and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries.
SBG recorded expenses of $5 million and $14 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and $4 million and $9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, related to digital advertising services provided by Sinclair, and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, to SBG.
SBG made net cash distributions of $77 million and $160 million to Sinclair, and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively. SBG made net cash distributions of $85 million and $13 million to Sinclair, and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.
As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, SBG had a payable to Sinclair, and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, of $5 million and $3 million, respectively, included within other current liabilities in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets.
Employees
Jason Smith, an employee of SBG, is the son of Frederick Smith, who is a Vice President of SBG and a member of SBG’s Board of Managers. Jason Smith received total compensation of $0.3 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 and $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, consisting of salary and bonus, and was granted 159,607 and 37,566 shares of restricted stock, vesting overtwo years, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and 500,000 stock appreciation rights, vesting overtwo years, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Ethan White, an employee of SBG, is the son-in-law of J. Duncan Smith, who is a Vice President of SBG and a member of SBG’s Board of Managers. Ethan White received total compensation of $0.1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 and $0.2 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, consisting of salary, and was granted 3,244 and 1,503 shares of restricted stock, vesting overtwo years, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Ryan McCoy, an employee of SBG, is the son-in-law of J. Duncan Smith. Ryan McCoy received total compensation of less than $0.1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 and $0.1 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, consisting of salary.
Amberly Thompson, an employee of SBG, is the daughter of Donald Thompson, who is an Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of SBG. Amberly Thompson received total compensation of less than $0.1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 and $0.1 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, consisting of salary, and was granted 285 shares of restricted stock, vesting overtwo years, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.
Frederick Smith is the brother of David Smith, Executive Chairman of SBG and a member of SBG’s Board of Managers; Robert Smith, a member of SBG’s Board of Managers; and J. Duncan Smith. Frederick Smith received total compensation of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and $0.5 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, consisting of salary and bonus.
J. Duncan Smith is the brother of David Smith, Frederick Smith, and Robert Smith. J. Duncan Smith received total compensation of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and $0.5 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, consisting of salary and bonus.
- FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Accounting guidance provides for valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). A fair value hierarchy using three broad levels prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The following is a brief description of those three levels:
Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.
The following table sets forth the face value and fair value of SBG’s financial assets and liabilities for the periods presented (in millions):
| As of September 30, 2025 | As of December 31, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face Value | Fair Value | Face Value | Fair Value | |
| Level 1: | ||||
| Money market funds | N/A | $103 | N/A | $253 |
| Level 2: | ||||
| Interest rate swap (a) | N/A | — | N/A | 1 |
| STG (b): | ||||
| 9.750% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2033 (c) | $432 | 472 | $— | — |
| 8.125% First-Out First Lien Secured Notes due 2033 (c) | 1,430 | 1,472 | — | — |
| 5.500% Senior Notes due 2030 | 485 | 415 | 485 | 328 |
| 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027 (c) | 89 | 89 | 274 | 249 |
| 4.375% Second-Out First Lien Secured Notes due 2032 (c) | 238 | 171 | — | — |
| 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (c) | — | — | 737 | 546 |
| 4.125% Unsecured Notes due 2030 (c) | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| Term Loan B-2, due September 30, 2026 (c) | — | — | 1,175 | 1,160 |
| Term Loan B-3, due April 1, 2028 (c) | 3 | 2 | 714 | 575 |
| Term Loan B-4, due April 21, 2029 (c) | — | — | 731 | 589 |
| Term Loan B-6, due December 31, 2029 (c) | 708 | 630 | — | — |
| Term Loan B-7, due December 31, 2030 (c) | 728 | 648 | — | — |
| Debt of variable interest entities (b) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
N/A - Not applicable
(a)The fair value of the interest rate swap was a liability as of September 30, 2025 andan asset as of December 31, 2024. For further information, see Hedge Accounting within Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policiesand Interest Rate Swap within Note 3. Notes Payable, Finance Leases, and Commercial Bank Financing.
(b)Amounts are carried in SBG’s consolidated balance sheets net of debt discount and deferred financing cost, which are excluded in the above table, of $56 million and $36 million as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
(c)STG completed a series of financing transactions, including a new money financing and debt recapitalization, during the nine months ended September 30, 2025. In October 2025, STG repurchased the remaining $89 million aggregate principal amount of the 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027. For further information, see Note 3. Notes Payable, Finance Leases, and Commercial Bank Financing.
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