Sinclair Settles Outstanding Matters With The Federal Communications Commission

Sinclair Settles Outstanding Matters With The Federal Communications Commission



BALTIMORE, July 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. today entered into a Consent Decree with the Federal Communications Commission resolving a number of previously disclosed matters that have been pending at the FCC, some for more than a decade, and several involving recently acquired stations. These matters related to certain content broadcast on Sinclair stations, technical issues relating to local marketing agreements, and the FCC's rule regarding joint retransmission consent negotiations.

The FCC has dismissed all pending claims against Sinclair in the Media Bureau and will now issue license renewals for 90 television stations. As part of the settlement, Sinclair agreed to make a payment of $9.495 million.

The FCC did not find Sinclair to be at fault in connection with any of the matters addressed in the Consent Decree, nor did Sinclair admit any liability with respect thereto. This Consent Decree, and the dismissals of other pending matters, brings closure to all of these issues and allows Sinclair to focus on the future.

"2017 will begin a new era for broadcasting, with the post-auction repack and the initial rollout of Next Generation TV (or ATSC 3.0), and clearing this backlog sets the stage for that," said Rebecca Hanson, SVP of Strategy and Policy for Sinclair. "We look forward to starting this next chapter with a clean slate in the Media Bureau and to help lead the way through the challenges and opportunities to come."



About Sinclair:

Sinclair is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country. Including pending transactions, the Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 173 television stations in 81 markets, broadcasting 484 channels and having affiliations with all the major networks. Sinclair is the leading local news provider in the country, as well as a producer of live sports content. Sinclair's content is delivered via multiple-platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and digital platforms. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.



SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

CONTACT: For press inquiries, contact: Rebecca Hanson, SVP, Strategy and Policy, 703-236-9379; For investor inquiries, contact: Lucy Rutishauser, SVP, Corporate Finance and Treasurer, 410-568-1500

Web Site: http://www.sbgi.net


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