BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI),  today reported financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020.

Fourth Quarter Highlights:

• Total revenue decreased 7% to $1,512 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Operating income of $625 million including $16 million of non-recurring costs for transaction, COVID, legal, litigation, and regulatory costs ("Adjustments").
• Excluding the Adjustments, operating income of $641 million increased $319 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, which contained Adjustments of $45 million
• Net income attributable to the Company was $467 million versus net income of $44 million in the prior year period.
• Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes the Adjustments, of $617 million, increased 37% versus the fourth quarter of 2019.

CEO Comment:

“Certainly 2020 will be a year not soon forgotten,” said Chris Ripley, Sinclair’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “The year was remarkable for its hardships, such as the pandemic that had a significant impact on people’s lives, the economy, and professional sports, and also its bright spots, such as the record political ad spending which helped offset weakness in core advertising caused by the pandemic. In addition, the year was meaningful from a company perspective, as the initiatives we undertook during the year, including our enterprise-wide agreement with Bally’s around legalized sports betting, and the progress made in launching NEXTGEN TV in our broadcast markets, laid the groundwork for Sinclair’s growth in the years to come.” Ripley continued, “While subscriber churn continues to be elevated, it was encouraging to see improvement in the core ad environment in the fourth quarter.

Ripley concluded, “2021 is shaping up to be another important year for Sinclair with the upcoming launch of a new, enhanced streaming app for our regional sports networks (RSNs), ushering in a new paradigm for how viewers can watch and interact with major local sporting events. The planned gamification of the viewing experience will make for a much more engaging and exciting way for fans to cheer on their local sports teams. Our RSNs will soon be rebranded with the Bally Sports name, and we will work with Bally’s on exciting new programming and other initiatives to help drive growth. Along with other actions planned for the year, including the broader deployment of NEXTGEN TV and the recent launch of our national news initiative, The National Desk, we are optimistic about the future of Sinclair.”

Recent Company Developments:

Transactions:

• In November, the Company and Bally’s Corporation (NYSE: BALY) entered into long-term, strategic agreements that combine Bally’s vertically integrated, proprietary sports betting technology and expansive market access footprint with Sinclair’s premier enterprise-wide portfolio of local broadcast stations, RSNs, Tennis Channel, Stadium, and STIRR. In conjunction with the agreement, Sinclair received warrants and options for equity in Bally’s and Sinclair’s Local Sports segment received annual naming rights fees and committed advertising spend from Bally’s. 19 of the Company’s RSN brands will be renamed Bally Sports. The deal allows other gaming integration and advertising deals with other gaming entities throughout Sinclair’s portfolio.
• In February 2021, the Company acquired the remaining 73% interest it did not already own in ZypMedia, a leading demand-side platform (DSP) specializing in executing local media campaigns for media companies and agencies in the U.S.

Content and Distribution:

• In December 2020, the Company and FOX Broadcasting Company entered into a multi-year agreement that renewed FOX network affiliations for stations in 25 markets that reach approximately 11% of U.S. television households.
• In January 2021, the Company and ViacomCBS entered into a multi-year agreement across 13 CBS network affiliations reaching about 5% of the U.S. television households.
• In January 2021, the Company entered into a multi-year agreement with Verizon Communications, Inc. for the continued carriage on Verizon’s FiOS platform of the Company’s broadcast television stations and Tennis Channel.
• In January 2021, the Company launched its headline news service “The National Desk” across its CW, MY Network and several FOX affiliates, as well as on all station websites and STIRR. The service highlights the latest and most pressing local news of the day across the country in real time for viewers.
• In 2020, Sinclair's newsrooms won a total of 356 journalism awards, including a National RTDNA Edward R. Murrow award, 28 Regional RTDNA Edward R. Murrow awards and 87 regional Emmy awards.
• In February 2021, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Company entered into a multi-year media rights agreement, beginning with the 2021 Major League Baseball season, for Bally Sports Wisconsin (formerly known as Fox Sports Wisconsin) to continue as the television home of the Brewers.

Community:

• In December 2020, the Company produced the ‘Rock the Red Kettle’ special in partnership with Sony Music Nashville and The Salvation Army.
• In February 2021, the Company began taking applications for its 2021 Diversity Scholarship, which has awarded $160,000 in scholarships over the last 5 years.

NEXTGEN TV (Formerly Known as ATSC 3.0):

• As of the end of January 2021, the Company, in coordination with other broadcasters, has deployed NEXTGEN TV, powered by ATSC 3.0, in twelve markets.
• In December 2020, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, ONE Media 3.0, launched NEXTGEN radio services, branded as “STIRR XT” for delivery in Seattle using the NEXTGEN TV standard.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Consolidated Financial Results:

• Total revenues decreased 7% to $1,512 million versus $1,622 million in the prior year period. Media revenues decreased 6% to $1,490 million versus $1,581 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Political revenues were $205 million in the fourth quarter versus $23 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 due to 2020 being a presidential election year. Distribution revenues were $917 million versus $1,104 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Operating income was $625 million, including $16 million of Adjustments, versus operating income of $277 million in the prior year period, which included $45 million of Adjustments. Operating income when excluding the Adjustments, increased 99% to $641 million from operating income of $322 million for the same prior-year period.
• Net income attributable to the Company was $467 million versus net income of $44 million in the prior year period. Excluding the Adjustments, the Company had net income of $481 million. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes Adjustments, increased 37% to $617 million from $450 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Diluted earnings per common share was $6.27 as compared to diluted earnings per common share of $0.47 in the prior year period. The impact of Adjustments in fourth quarter of 2020, on a diluted per-share basis, was $(0.18) and the impact of Adjustments in fourth quarter of 2019 was $(0.47).

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020 Consolidated Financial Results:

• Total revenues increased 40% to $5,943 million versus $4,240 million in the prior year period. Media revenues increased 44% to $5,843 million versus $4,046 million in 2019.
• Political revenues were $374 million in 2020 versus $34 million in 2019 due to 2020 being a presidential election year. Distribution revenues were $4,085 million versus $2,500 million in 2019.
• An operating loss of $2,772 million included Adjustments and other non-cash items, of $4,322 million, including a $4,264 million non-cash impairment taken on the Local Sports segment relating to goodwill and definite-lived intangible assets and $58 million of other Adjustments. Operating income of $470 million in the prior year period included $289 million of Adjustments. Operating income when excluding the Adjustments, increased 104% to $1,550 million from $759 million for the same prior-year period.
• Net loss attributable to the Company was $2,414 million versus net income of $47 million in the prior year period. Excluding Adjustments, the Company had net income of $626 million. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes Adjustments, increased 59% to $1,888 million from $1,184 million for the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2020.
• Diluted loss per common share was $(30.20) as compared to diluted earnings per common share of $0.51 in the prior year period. The impact of Adjustments in 2020, on a diluted per-share basis, was $(38.04) and the impact of Adjustments in 2019 was $(2.47).

Consolidated and Segment Highlights

The highlights below include the acquisition of RSNs and Fox College Sports (August 23, 2019), the 20% ownership investment in the YES Network (August 29, 2019), an increased investment in Stadium which is consolidated effective December 2, 2019, the launch of the Marquee RSN (February 22, 2020), the divestiture of the non-license assets in Harlingen, TX (January 27, 2020), and the divestiture of WDKY in Lexington, KY (September 17, 2020).

Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented. The Broadcast segment, previously referred to as the Local News and Marketing Services segment, consists primarily of broadcast television stations, which the Company owns, operates or to which the Company provides services. The Local Sports segment, previously referred to as the Sports segment, consists primarily of the RSNs, Marquee, and a 20% equity interest in the YES Network. The Other segment includes corporate, original networks and content, including Tennis Channel, non-broadcast digital and internet solutions, technical services, and other non-media investments.

For the three months ended December 31, 2019 ($ in millions)	Broadcast				Local Sports				Corporate and Other and Elimination				Consolidated
Revenue Highlights:
Distribution revenue	$	347			$	724			$	33			$	1,104
Advertising revenue	364				60				32				456
Other media revenue	40			(a)	4				(23)			(a)	21
Media revenues	$	751			$	788			$	42			$	1,581
Non-media revenue	—				—				41				41
Total revenues	$	751			$	788			$	83			$	1,622
Expense Highlights:
Media programming & production expenses and media selling, general and administrative expenses	453				597			(a)	30			(a)	1,080
Sports rights amortization included in media production expenses	—				443				—				443
Non-media expenses	—				—				36				36
Corporate general and administrative expenses	62				2				6				70
Other Highlights:
Sports rights payments	—				460				—				460
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