NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Nature of Operations

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (the Company) is a diversified television broadcasting company with national reach and a strong focus on providing high-quality content on our local television stations and digital platforms. The content, distributed through our broadcast platform, consists of programming provided by third-party networks and syndicators, local news, and other original programming produced by us. We also distribute our original programming, and owned and operated network affiliates, on other third-party platforms. Additionally, we own digital media products that are complementary to our extensive portfolio of television station related digital properties. Outside of our media related businesses, we operate technical services companies focused on supply and maintenance of broadcast transmission systems as well as research and development for the advancement of broadcast technology, and we manage other non-media related investments.

As of June 30, 2017, our broadcast distribution platform is a single reportable segment for accounting purposes. It consists primarily of our broadcast television stations, which we own, provide programming and operating services pursuant to agreements commonly referred to as local marketing agreements (LMAs), or provide sales services and other non-programming operating services pursuant to other outsourcing agreements (such as joint sales agreements (JSAs) and shared services agreements (SSAs)) to 173 stations in 81 markets. These stations broadcast 528 channels, as of June 30, 2017. For the purpose of this report, these 173 stations and 528 channels are referred to as “our” stations and channels.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) for which we are the primary beneficiary. Noncontrolling interest represents a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities. All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Interim Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 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 income, consolidated statement of equity (deficit) and consolidated statements of cash flows for these periods as adjusted for the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below.

As permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the 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 our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC. The consolidated statements of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily representative of operations for an entire year.

Variable Interest Entities

In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE. We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary.

Third-party station licensees. Certain of our stations provide services to other station owners within the same respective market through agreements, such as LMAs, where we provide programming, sales, operational and administrative services, and JSAs and SSAs, where we provide non-programming, sales, operational and administrative services. In certain cases, we have also entered into purchase agreements or options to purchase the license related assets of the licensee. We typically own the majority of the non-license assets of the stations, and in some cases where the licensee acquired the license assets concurrent with our acquisition of the non-license assets of the station, we have 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 our investment in the stations, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interests when, subject to the ultimate control of the licensees, we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE through the services we provide and we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs. The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation. Several of these VIEs are owned by a related party, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham). See Note 7. Related Person Transactions for more information about the arrangements with Cunningham. See Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership, Joint Sales Agreements, Retransmission Consent Negotiations, and National Ownership Cap within Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies for discussion of recent changes in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules related to JSAs.

As of the dates indicated, the carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above which have been included in our consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented (in thousands):



	June 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Accounts receivable	21,725		21,879
Other current assets	4,991		12,076
Total current assets	26,716		33,955

PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	1,171		2,468
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	6,620		2,996
GOODWILL AND INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS	16,475		16,475
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	78,134		79,509
OTHER ASSETS	5,601		6,871
Total assets	$	134,717	$	142,274

LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Other current liabilities	$	14,692	$	18,992

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	18,088		19,449
Program contracts payable, less current portion	10,885		14,353
Other long-term liabilities	8,842		12,921
Total liabilities	$	52,507	$	65,715

The amounts above represent the consolidated assets and liabilities of the VIEs described above, for which we are the primary beneficiary, and have been aggregated as they all relate to our broadcast business. Excluded from the amounts above are payments made to Cunningham under the LMAs and certain outsourcing agreements which are treated as a prepayment of the purchase price of the stations and capital leases between us and Cunningham which are eliminated in consolidation. The total payments made under these LMAs and certain JSAs as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, which are excluded from liabilities above, were $42.4 million and $40.8 million, respectively. The total capital lease liabilities, net of capital lease assets, excluded from the above were $4.5 million for both the years ended June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Also excluded from the amounts above are liabilities associated with certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs totaling $76.7 million and $74.5 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, 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. All the liabilities are non-recourse to us except for certain debt of VIEs which we guarantee. The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.

Other investments. We have investments in real estate ventures and investment companies which are considered VIEs. However, we do not participate in the management of these entities including the day-to-day operating decisions or other decisions which would allow us to control the entity, and therefore, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. We account for these entities using the equity or cost method of accounting.

The carrying amounts of our investments in these VIEs for which we are not the primary beneficiary as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are $109.0 million and $117.0 million, respectively, and are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Our maximum exposure is equal to the carrying value of our investments. The income and loss related to these investments are recorded in income from equity and cost method investments in the consolidated statement of operations. We recorded income of $3.8 million and $3.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, and $0.9 million and $1.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively.

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, revenues 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 May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance on revenue recognition for revenue from contracts with customers. This guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective. The new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. Since ASU 2014-09 was issued, several additional ASUs have been issued and incorporated within ASC 606 to clarify various elements of the guidance. We do not currently believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our station advertising or retransmission consent revenue; however, we have not finalized our assessment of the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to accounting for leases, which requires the assets and liabilities that arise from leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. Currently only capital leases are recorded on the balance sheet. This update will require the lessee to recognize a lease liability equal to the present value of the lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term for all leases longer than 12 months. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and liabilities and recognize the lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. This new guidance will be effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. The new standard, which includes eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice as to how cash receipts and cash payments are represented in the statement of cash flow. The new standard is effective for fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017, including the interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the accounting for income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Currently the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity are prohibited until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This update requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which relates to related party considerations in the variable interest entities assessment. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In November 2016, FASB issued new guidance related to the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. This new standard requires that a statement of cash flow explain change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling from period to period as shown on the cash flow. The new standard is effective for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017, including the interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies the definition of a business with additional guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The new standard should be applied prospectively and is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 31, 2017. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. The new standard should be applied prospectively and is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued new guidance which relates to stock based compensation and clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this guidance during the second quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Total revenues include: (i) station advertising revenue, net of agency commissions; (ii) barter advertising revenues; (iii) retransmission consent fees; (iv) network compensation; (v) other media revenues and (vi) revenues from our other businesses.

Advertising revenues, net of agency commissions, are recognized in the period during which advertisements are placed.

Some of our retransmission consent agreements contain both advertising and retransmission consent elements. We have determined that these retransmission consent agreements are revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. Advertising and retransmission consent deliverables sold under our agreements are separated into different units of accounting at fair value. Revenue applicable to the advertising element of the arrangement is recognized similar to the advertising revenue policy noted above. Revenue applicable to the retransmission consent element of the arrangement is recognized over the life of the agreement.

Network compensation revenue is recognized over the term of the contract. All other significant revenues are recognized as services are provided.

Income Taxes

Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes. The tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 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. We provide a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if we determine that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating our ability to realize net deferred tax assets, we consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, including our past operating results, tax planning strategies and forecasts of future taxable income. In considering these sources of taxable income, we must make certain judgments that are based on the plans and estimates used to manage our underlying businesses on a long-term basis. A valuation allowance has been provided for deferred tax assets related to a substantial portion of our available state net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards, based on past operating results, expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary book/tax basis differences, alternative tax strategies and projected future taxable income.

Our effective income tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, approximated the statutory rate.

Equity Offering

On March 15, 2017, we issued and sold 12.0 million shares of Class A Common stock to the public at a price of $42.00 per share. The proceeds from the offering, net of financing costs, were approximately $487.9 million and are intended to fund future potential acquisitions and general corporate purposes.

Share Repurchase Program

On March 20, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized a $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. On September 6, 2016 the Board of Directors authorized an additional $150.0 million shares repurchases authorization. There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program. In August 2017, we repurchased an additional 0.2 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $7.8 million. The total remaining repurchase authorization is $111.4 million.

Subsequent Events

In August 2017, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, payable on September 15, 2017 to holders of record at the close of business on September 1, 2017.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years' consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year's presentation.