• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Sinclair Revenue Holds Steady Due to Sports Broadcasts

  • Sinclair Broadcasting Group posted a small revenue decline in Q4 2021.
  • Sports helped counteract a drop in political advertising.
Sinclair-Broadcasting-Bally-Sports
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Sinclair Broadcast Group avoided a significant revenue dropoff in the fourth quarter of 2021 with increased sports programming, as it looks to challenge streaming networks directly.

The national broadcaster saw revenue drop 2% year-over-year in the quarter to $1.5 billion

Broadcast revenue dropped 21.4% year-over-year to $704 million, but local sports largely made up the difference with a 30.1% rise to $691 million.

  • In December, Sinclair’s sports network holding company Diamond Sports Group re-upped its deal with the NHL to broadcast and stream games of 12 teams in their local territories on their Bally’s regional sports networks.
  • In January, Diamond struck a similar deal with the NBA for local broadcasts and streaming rights for 16 teams. That deal carried a one-year term with three one-year renewal offers.
  • The Sinclair-owned Tennis Channel reached a pact with the Women’s Tennis Association to broadcast matches in four European countries that same month.

Jumping into the Stream

Sinclair plans to bundle its regional sports networks into a streaming service, which would be available without a cable subscription. 

In January, the company secured $600 million in funding to support the new service. Sinclair was also recently in talks with the Chicago Cubs on a standalone streaming service.

Diamond holds around $8 billion in debt related to Sinclair’s 2019 purchase of regional sports networks from Disney for $10.6 billion.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Bradley Beal
exclusive

‘Brad Doesn’t Like Change’: Beal Agent Says He Wants Long-Term Clippers Deal

Beal agreed to a contract buyout with the Suns on Wednesday.

Cleveland’s WNBA Team Follows Golden State’s Proven Blueprint

The franchise will play its first WNBA season in 2028.
Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark Out for WNBA All-Star Game, 3-Point Contest With Injury

Clark and Satou Sabally will miss the game with injuries.

Featured Today

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
July 17, 2025

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.

Netflix Beats Projections Again—and Plots Big Holiday Sports Slate

The streaming giant again beats analyst projections in every respect.
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the swing off of after the 2025 MLB All Star Game ended in a tie at Truist Park.
July 16, 2025

MLB All-Star Game Viewership Dips Despite Historic Swing-Off

Game viewership falls 3% despite late dramatics in the unique tiebreaker.
July 17, 2025

ESPN Bidding Against NBC, Apple for MLB Rights Package

The league continues to negotiate with multiple media-rights bidders.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 15, 2025

MLB Home Run Derby Draws 5.7M Viewers on ESPN, Up 5%

ESPN reverses the trend from last year and registers audience growth.
July 15, 2025

WNBA Hits Fourth-Highest ABC Viewership With Clark-Bueckers Duel

Clark missed the first Fever vs. Wings game with an injury.
Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark
exclusive
July 15, 2025

‘Good Morning America’ Will Air From WNBA All-Star in First

The All-Star Game’s relevance has exploded with the league in recent years.
NBC Sports
exclusive
July 14, 2025

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.