Sinclair Broadcast Group Strikes Affiliation Renewal Deal with Fox
Under a new multi-year agreement between the Sinclair Broadcast Group and the Fox Network, 25 markets will continue to be affiliates of Fox. This agreement includes stations that reach 11% of households in the US and cover various programming ranging from entertainment to sports. The renewal agreement is the first one that Fox has come to with Sinclair after becoming an independent corporation. 2017 was the last time the two companies renewed their working relationship.
Mike Biard, the President of Operations and Distribution for Fox, stated that this new agreement extends his company’s valued relationship with Sinclair. Because of it, millions of viewers will continue to enjoy the station’s sports and entertainment content. And the executive on the other end of the deal, Sinclair’s Barry Faber, the President of Distribution and Network Relations, said that his company was pleased to have reached agreements with the network so that the two group’s long-standing relationship can continue.
The Sinclair Broadcast Group is one of the largest TV broadcasting groups in the country. It also has affiliations with several other TV stations such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and The CW and the digital networks known as Comet, Stadium, Charge! and TBD. The company was founded in 1986 and debuted on the stock exchange in 1995, and it now operates nearly 300 stations across the US in close to 90 markets. Its renewed deal with the Fox Broadcasting Company will keep popular programming on its platform. Not only will many entertainment shows still be available for loyal viewers of the channel, but sports shows such as the NFL games and professional tennis will also always be accessible.
Fox is the number one broadcast network of the current TV season due to its exciting line up of shows like The Masked Singer, which just completed its fourth season. The show gained a quick following shortly after its debut in January of 2019. It continues to be an audience favorite, prompting the premiere of yet another singing competition show on the network called I Can See Your Voice. Fox’s sports division was formed in 1994 and acquired by the Disney Company in 2017. Fox Sports had broadcasting rights for televised NFL games and several other pro sports games and genres like hockey, baseball, soccer, golf, and Nascar races.
Sinclair Broadcast Group later acquired the rights to Fox Sports when the Disney Company decided to sell their ownership of its previous parent company 21st Century Fox, which included the asset of having the rights to all sports programming on the network. In 2019, Disney made a new deal to purchase Fox’s entertainment content, giving them ownership of some of the network’s TV shows and movies. Upon renewal, Sinclair’s Barry Faber further stated that the deal reflects the mutually beneficial network affiliate model, which integrates Fox’s primetime and sports programming with his station’s local news and syndicated content.
About Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Sinclair is a diversified media company and leading provider of local sports and news. The Company owns and/or operates 23 regional sports network brands; owns, operates and/or provides services to 190 television stations in 88 markets; is a leading local news provider in the country; owns multiple national networks; and has TV stations affiliated with all the major broadcast networks. Sinclair Broadcast Group’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.
