10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

OR

oTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                       .

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-26076

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland (State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization) 52-1494660 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

10706 Beaver Dam Road

Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030

(Address of principal executive office, zip code)

(410) 568-1500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such file).

Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):

Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No x

Indicate the number of share outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

Title of each class	Number of shares outstanding as of May 4, 2015
Class A Common Stock	69,518,193
Class B Common Stock	25,928,357

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED March 31, 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION	3
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	3
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS	3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS	4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)	6
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS	8
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	9
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	26
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	33
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	33
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION	34
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	34
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS	34
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS	35
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES	35
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES	35
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION	35
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS	36
SIGNATURE	37
EXHIBIT INDEX	38

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)

	As of March 31, 2015			As of December 31, 2014
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	57,843		$	17,682
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,387 and $4,246, respectively	368,696			383,503
Current portion of program contract costs	66,405			88,198
Income taxes receivable	—			3,314
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	33,213			21,338
Deferred barter costs	7,620			5,626
Assets held for sale	—			6,504
Total current assets	533,777			526,165
ASSETS HELD FOR SALE	1,843			8,817
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	30,703			38,531
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	742,397			752,538
GOODWILL	1,951,074			1,964,553
BROADCAST LICENSES	130,915			135,075
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	1,822,211			1,818,263
OTHER ASSETS	204,559			208,230
Total assets (a)	$	5,417,479		$	5,452,172
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	7,346		$	12,248
Accrued liabilities	237,709			246,123
Income taxes payable	26,431			—
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	58,826			113,116
Current portion of notes and capital leases payable to affiliates	2,778			2,625
Current portion of program contracts payable	83,632			104,922
Deferred barter revenues	7,768			5,806
Deferred tax liabilities	6,689			6,689
Liabilities held for sale	—			2,477
Total current liabilities	431,179			494,006
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	3,831,823			3,796,666
Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion	17,605			16,309
Program contracts payable, less current portion	55,013			60,605
Deferred tax liabilities	591,245			602,243
Other long-term liabilities	78,174			77,000
Total liabilities (a)	5,005,039			5,046,829
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 4)
EQUITY:
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 69,491,915 and 69,578,899 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	695			696
Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value, 140,000,000 shares authorized, 25,928,357 and 25,928,357 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, convertible into Class A Common Stock	259			259
Additional paid-in capital	979,914			979,202
Accumulated deficit	(537,253		)	(545,820		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(6,371		)	(6,455		)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity	437,244			427,882
Noncontrolling interests	(24,804		)	(22,539		)
Total equity	412,440			405,343
Total liabilities and equity	$	5,417,479		$	5,452,172

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

(a)Our consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $159.1 million and $163.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs.  Our consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $31.6 million and $30.0 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us.  See Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

3

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014
REVENUES:
Station broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions	$	464,163		$	373,881
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements	20,959			24,025
Other operating divisions revenues	19,653			14,742
Total revenues	504,775			412,648
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Station production expenses	171,015			127,039
Station selling, general and administrative expenses	101,887			81,925
Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements	17,412			21,477
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391			23,941
Other operating divisions expenses	15,823			12,325
Depreciation of property and equipment	25,189			24,378
Corporate general and administrative expenses	16,016			15,835
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets	39,980			24,728
Research and development expenses	2,515			—
Total operating expenses	420,228			331,648
Operating income	84,547			81,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(46,648		)	(39,538		)
Income from equity and cost method investments	3,146			98
Other income, net	218			917
Total other expense, net	(43,284		)	(38,523		)
Income before income taxes	41,263			42,477
INCOME TAX PROVISION	(16,427		)	(14,820		)
NET INCOME	24,836			27,657
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(554		)	(499		)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$	24,282		$	27,158
Dividends declared per share	$	0.165		$	0.15
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share	$	0.26		$	0.27
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.25		$	0.27
Weighted average common shares outstanding	95,131			98,824
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	95,771			99,502

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

4

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

	Three months ended March 31,
	2015			2014
Net income	$	24,836		$	27,657
Amortization of net periodic pension benefit costs, net of taxes	84			(86		)
Unrealized gain on investments, net of taxes	—			125
Comprehensive income	24,920			27,696
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(554		)	(499		)
Comprehensive income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	24,366		$	27,197

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

5

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group Shareholders
	Class A Common Stock					Class B Common Stock			Additional Paid-In			Accumulated			Accumulated Other Comprehensive			Noncontrolling			Total Equity
	Shares		Values			Shares	Values		Capital			Deficit			Loss			Interests			(Deficit)
BALANCE, December 31, 2013	74,145,569		$	741		26,028,357	$	260	$	1,094,918		$	(696,996	)	$	(2,553	)	$	9,334		$	405,704
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	—		—			—	—		—			(14,696		)	—			—			(14,696		)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(2,910,106	)	(29		)	—	—		(82,342		)	—			—			—			(82,371		)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	106,453		1			—	—		4,951			—			—			—			4,952
Tax benefit on share based awards	—		—			—	—		1,342			—			—			—			1,342
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	—		—			—	—		—			—			—			(260		)	(260		)
Other comprehensive income	—		—			—	—		—			—			39			—			39
Net income	—		—			—	—		—			27,158			—			499			27,657
BALANCE, March 31, 2014	71,341,916		$	713		26,028,357	$	260	$	1,018,869		$	(684,534	)	$	(2,514	)	$	9,573		$	342,367

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

6

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group Shareholders
	Class A Common Stock					Class B Common Stock			Additional Paid-In			Accumulated			Accumulated Other Comprehensive			Noncontrolling			Total Equity
	Shares		Values			Shares	Values		Capital			Deficit			Loss			Interests			(Deficit)
BALANCE, December 31, 2014	69,578,899		$	696		25,928,357	$	259	$	979,202		$	(545,820	)	$	(6,455	)	$	(22,539	)	$	405,343
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	—		—			—	—		—			(15,715		)	—			—			(15,715		)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(304,787	)	(3		)	—	—		(7,800		)	—			—			—			(7,803		)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	217,803		2			—	—		7,824			—			—			—			7,826
Tax benefit on share based awards	—		—			—	—		688			—			—			—			688
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	—		—			—	—		—			—			—			(2,819		)	(2,819		)
Other comprehensive income	—		—			—	—		—			—			84			—			84
Net income	—		—			—	—		—			24,282			—			554			24,836
BALANCE, March 31, 2015	69,491,915		$	695		25,928,357	$	259	$	979,914		$	(537,253	)	$	(6,371	)	$	(24,804	)	$	412,440

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

7

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	24,836		$	27,657
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment	25,189			24,378
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	39,980			24,728
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391			23,941
Stock-based compensation expense	7,057			4,769
Deferred tax benefit	(9,963		)	(7,361		)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Decrease in accounts receivable	19,619			17,498
(Decrease) increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(10,472		)	37,997
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(15,418		)	16,626
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable	29,786			(11,517		)
Payments on program contracts payable	(27,624		)	(23,966		)
Real estate held for development and sale	(3,006		)	(2,349		)
Other, net	1,244			3,859
Net cash flows from operating activities	111,619			136,260
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(23,648		)	(11,907		)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(5,744		)	(4,323		)
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	4,152			739
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(2,945		)	(2,154		)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies	—			17,042
Other, net	272			(1,363		)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(27,913		)	(1,966		)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	7,866			5,885
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(25,055		)	(6,396		)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(15,715		)	(14,696		)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(7,803		)	(82,371		)
Noncontrolling interests distributions	(2,819		)	(260		)
Other, net	(19		)	1,251
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(43,545		)	(96,587		)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	40,161			37,707
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	17,682			280,104
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	57,843		$	317,811

8

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

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 interests 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 months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 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, 2014 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.  The assets of each of our 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.

Third-party station licensees.  Certain of our stations provide services to other station owners within the same respective market, 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. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we have concluded that 37 of these licensees are VIEs.  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 because, 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 because we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs.  Several of these VIEs are owned by a related party, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham).  See Note 6. Related Person Transactions for more information about the arrangements with Cunningham. The net revenues of the stations which we consolidate were $64.8 million, and $66.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively.  The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation.  See Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership and Joint Sale Agreements within Note 4. Commitment and Contingencies for discussion of recent changes in FCC rules related to JSAs.

Up until third quarter of 2014, we had consolidated Cunningham (parent entity), in addition to their stations that we perform services for, as we had previously determined that it was a VIE because it had insufficient equity at risk.  As of September 30, 2014, we concluded that Cunningham was no longer a VIE given its significant equity at risk in assets that we have no involvement with, and deconsolidated this entity, along with WTAT and WYZZ, stations that Cunningham acquired from us in July 2014 and November 2013, respectively, with which we have no continuing involvement.  As a result of the deconsolidation, we recorded the difference between the proceeds received from Cunningham for the sale of WTAT and WYZZ to additional paid in capital in the consolidated balance sheet, as well as reflected the noncontrolling interest deficit of the remaining Cunningham VIEs which represents their significant cumulative distributions made to Cunningham (parent entity) that were previously eliminated in consolidation.

9

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):

	March 31,2015		December 31, 2014
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	492	$	491
Accounts receivable	18,186		19,521
Current portion of program contract costs	9,171		9,544
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	411		297
Total current assets	28,260		29,853
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	6,649		6,922
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	9,291		9,716
GOODWILL	787		787
BROADCAST LICENSES	16,935		16,935
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	94,799		96,732
OTHER ASSETS	2,340		2,376
Total assets	$	159,061	$	163,321
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	66	$	68
Accrued liabilities	1,356		1,297
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	3,666		3,659
Current portion of program contracts payable	9,127		9,714
Total current liabilities	14,215		14,738
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	27,721		28,640
Program contracts payable, less current portion	11,381		10,161
Long term liabilities	9,718		8,739
Total liabilities	$	63,035	$	62,278

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 LMA 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 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, which are excluded from liabilities above, were $35.2 million and $34.4 million, respectively.  The total capital lease liabilities, net of capital lease assets, excluded from the above were $4.3 million for March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  Also excluded from the amounts above are liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs totaling $78.0 million and $78.1 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, as these amounts are eliminated in consolidation.  The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.

Other investments.  We have investments in other 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 March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $21.5 million and $22.7 million, respectively, which 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 $3.3 million, and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to these investments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued new 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 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, but is under review based on the FASB’s recent decision to propose a one-year deferral. Early application is not permitted and the standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.

10

In August 2014, the FASB issued guidance on disclosure of uncertainties about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The new standard is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends the current consolidation guidance on the determination of whether an entity is a variable interest entity.  This new standard is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2016.  Early adoption is allowed, including in any interim period.  We are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on our financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends existing guidance to require the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. This new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. We are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on our financial statements.

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.

Revenue Recognition

Total revenues include: (i) cash and barter advertising revenues, net of agency commissions; (ii) retransmission consent fees; (iii) network compensation; (iv) other broadcast revenues and (v) revenues from our other operating divisions.

Advertising revenues, net of agency commissions, are recognized in the period during which time spots are aired.

Our retransmission consent agreements contain both advertising and retransmission consent elements.  We have determined that our 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 revenues are recognized as services are provided.

Share Repurchase Program

On October 28, 1999, we announced a $150.0 million share repurchase program, which was renewed on February 6, 2008.  On March 20, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program.  For the three months ended March 31, 2015, we have purchased approximately 0.3 million shares for $7.8 million.  As of March 31, 2015, the total remaining authorization was $126.6 million.

Income Taxes

Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes.  The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 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 months ended March 31, 2015 would have exceeded the statutory rate primarily due to an increase in income tax provision resulting from a settlement of a state income tax positions. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 approximated the statutory rate.

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We believe it is reasonably possible that our liability for unrecognized tax benefits related to continuing operations could be reduced by up to $6.7 million, in the next twelve months, as a result of expected statute of limitations expirations, the application of limits under available state administrative practice exceptions, and the resolution of examination issues and settlements with federal and certain state tax authorities.

Reclassifications

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

Subsequent Events

Effective April 30, 2015, we entered into an amendment and restatement of our bank credit agreement. Pursuant to the Amendment, we raised an additional $350.0 million of incremental term loan B commitments, which mature in July 2021 and bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% with a 0.75% LIBOR floor. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, from the amendment of term loan B were used to pay down the outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility, and for general corporate purposes. As of April 30, 2015, we had $483.0 million borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility.

2.ACQUISITIONS

During 2014, we acquired a total of 21 stations in 15 markets for a purchase price of $1,434.5 million plus working capital of $47.3 million. All of these acquisitions provide expansion into additional markets and increases value based on the synergies we are achieving.

2014 Acquisitions

Allbritton.  Effective August 1, 2014, we completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of Perpetual Corporation and equity interest of Charleston Television, LLC (together the “Allbritton Companies”) for $985.0 million plus working capital of $50.2 million.  The Allbritton Companies owned and operated nine television stations in the following seven markets, all of which were affiliated with ABC: Washington, DC; Birmingham, AL; Harrisburg, PA; Little Rock / Pine Bluff, AR; Tulsa, OK; Roanoke / Lynchburg, VA; and Charleston, SC. Also included in the purchase was NewsChannel 8, a 24-hour cable/satellite news network covering the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  We financed the total purchase price with proceeds from the issuance of 5.625% senior unsecured notes, a draw on our amended bank credit agreement, and cash on hand. In connection with the acquisition, we sold the acquired assets related to the Harrisburg, PA station effective September 1, 2014.  See Note 3. Dispositions of Assets for further discussion.

MEG Stations.  Effective December 19, 2014, we completed the acquisition of four television stations in three markets from Media General, Inc. (MEG Stations) for a purchase price of $207.5 million less working capital of $1.6 million.  The acquired stations are located in the following markets: Providence, RI / New Bedford, MA; Green Bay / Appleton, WI; and Savannah, GA. We financed the purchase price with cash on hand and borrowing under our revolving credit facility. Simultaneously, we sold to Media General, our television stations in Tampa, FL and Colorado Springs, CO.  See Note 3. Dispositions of Assets for further discussion.  We financed the purchase price, net of the proceeds received from the sale of those stations, with borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

KSNV.  Effective November 1, 2014, we completed the acquisition of certain of assets of KSNV (NBC) in Las Vegas, NV from Intermountain West Communications Company (Intermountain West) for $118.5 million less working capital of $0.2 million.  In conjunction with the purchase, we assumed the rights under the affiliation agreement with NBC and swapped our KVMY call letters for the KSNV call letters.  Intermountain West continues to own and operate the station under the KVMY call letters and we do not provide any programming or sales services to this station. We financed the total purchase price with cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Other 2014 Acquisitions.  During the year ended December 31, 2014, we acquired certain assets related to eight other television stations in the following four markets: Wilkes Barre / Scranton, PA; Tallahassee, FL; Gainesville, FL; and Macon, GA.  The purchase price for these stations was $123.5 million less working capital of $1.1 million which was financed with cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

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The following tables summarize the allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, including the net assets of consolidated VIEs (in thousands):

	MEG Stations			KSNV			Allbritton			Other			Total 2014 acquisitions
Accounts receivable	$	—		$	—		$	38,542		$	—		$	38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	476			67			19,890			79			20,512
Program contract costs	1,954			482			1,204			2,561			6,201
Property and equipment	23,462			8,300			46,600			8,400			86,762
Broadcast licenses	100			—			13,700			125			13,925
Definite-lived intangible assets	125,200			62,700			564,100			71,025			823,025
Other assets	—			—			20,352			1,500			21,852
Assets held for sale	—			—			83,200			—			83,200
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(2,085		)	(277		)	(8,351		)	(1,143		)	(11,856		)
Program contracts payable	(1,914		)	(481		)	(1,140		)	(2,554		)	(6,089		)
Deferred tax liability	—			—			(261,393		)	—			(261,393		)
Other long term liabilities	—			(1,200		)	(17,025		)	—			(18,225		)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired	147,193			69,591			499,679			79,993			796,456
Goodwill	58,698			48,699			535,558			42,443			685,398
Total	$	205,891		$	118,290		$	1,035,237		$	122,436		$	1,481,854

The allocations presented above are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches.  In estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair value estimates are based on, but not limited to, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates, and estimated discount rates.  The purchase prices have been allocated to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities based on estimated fair values.  The allocations related to the acquisitions are preliminary pending a final determination of the fair values of the assets and liabilities.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, we made certain immaterial measurement period adjustments to the initial purchase accounting for the acquisitions in 2014, resulting in reclassifications between certain noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities, including an decrease to property and equipment of approximately $12.5 million, an decrease to broadcast licenses of $4.1 million, an increase to definite-lived intangible assets of $33.0 million, and a decrease to goodwill of $16.5 million, as well as a corresponding decrease to depreciation of $0.6 million and an increase to amortization of $0.3 million, during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The comparable historical periods were not adjusted for these measurement period adjustments as they were not considered to be material.

These intangible assets will be amortized over the estimated remaining useful lives of 15 years for network affiliations and 10 years for the decaying advertiser base.  Acquired property and equipment will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over the respective estimated remaining useful lives.  Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and noncontractual relationships, as well as expected future synergies.  Other intangible assets will be amortized over the respective weighted average useful lives ranging from 14 to 16 years. The following tables summarize the amounts allocated to definite-lived intangible assets representing the estimated fair values and estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes (in thousands):

	MEG Stations		KSNV		Allbritton		Other		Total 2014 acquisitions
Network affiliations	$	54,300	$	44,775	$	356,900	$	42,625	$	498,600
Decaying advertiser base	19,200		12,100		38,500		9,100		78,900
Other intangible assets	51,700		5,825		168,700		19,300		245,525
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$	125,200	$	62,700	$	564,100	$	71,025	$	823,025
Estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes	$	58,698	$	48,699	$	—	$	42,443	$	149,840

In connection with the acquisitions, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we incurred a total of $0.1 million, and $1.0 million, respectively, of costs primarily related to legal and other professional services, which we expensed as incurred and classified as corporate general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

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Pro Forma Information

The following table sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014, assuming that the above acquisitions, along with transactions necessary to finance the acquisitions, occurred at the beginning of the year preceding the year of acquisition. The pro forma results exclude acquisitions presented under Other above, as they were deemed not material both individually and in the aggregate (in thousands, except per share data):

	(Unaudited)
	2014
Total revenues	$	474,222
Net Income	$	18,401
Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	17,902
Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	0.18
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	0.18

This pro forma financial information is based on historical results of operations, adjusted for the allocation of the purchase price and other acquisition accounting adjustments, and is not indicative of what our results would have been had we operated the businesses since the beginning of the annual period presented because the pro forma results do not reflect expected synergies.  The pro forma adjustments reflect depreciation expense, amortization of intangibles and amortization of program contract costs related to the fair value adjustments of the assets acquired, additional interest expense related to the financing of the transactions, and exclusion of nonrecurring financing and transaction related costs. Depreciation and amortization expense are higher than amounts recorded in the historical financial statements of the acquirees due to the fair value adjustments recorded for long-lived tangibles and intangible assets in purchase accounting.  The pro forma revenues exclude the revenues of WHTM-TV (ABC) in Harrisburg/Lancaster/York, PA, WTTA-TV (MNT) in Tampa, FL, and KXRM/KXTU (FOX) in Colorado Springs, CO which were sold in connection with the above acquisitions.

3.DISPOSITION OF ASSETS:

Dispositions related to station acquisitions

As discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions, in the fourth quarter of 2014, we completed the acquisition of certain broadcast assets from Media General.  Simultaneously, we sold to Media General the broadcast assets of WTTA (MNT) in Tampa, FL and KXRM/KXTU (FOX) in Colorado Springs, CO for $93.1 million less working capital of $0.6 million.

Concurrent with the acquisition of the Allbritton companies discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions, due to FCC multiple ownership rules, we sold WHTM (ABC) in Harrisburg/Lancaster/York, PA to Media General in September 2014 for $83.4 million, less working capital of $0.2 million and the non-license assets of WTAT (FOX) in Charleston, SC to Cunningham for $14.0 million, effective August 1, 2014.  WHTM was acquired from the Allbritton companies and assets of WHTM were classified as assets held for sale in the Allbritton purchase price allocation.  We did not recognize a gain or loss on this transaction. Prior to the sale of WTAT, we operated the station under an LMA and purchase agreement with Cunningham.  This sale was accounted for as a transaction between parties under common control.  See Note 6. Related Person Transaction for further discussion.

Assets Held for Sale

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) guidance on reporting assets held for sale, we reported our assets and liabilities related to Triangle Sign & Service, LLC (Triangle) as held for sale in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014. It is no longer our intent to divest of Triangle and therefore the assets and liabilities were no longer classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2015. The results of operations related to Triangle are included within the results of continuing operations as the criteria for classification as discontinued operations was not met.

As of December 31, 2014, the major classes of assets and liabilities of the group reported as held for sale on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet are shown below:

	December 31, 2014
Assets:
Accounts receivable	$	5,101
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,403
Total current assets held for sale	6,504
Property and equipment (a)	1,036
Goodwill	2,975
Definite-lived intangible assets	2,962
Total assets held for sale	$	13,477
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,096
Accrued liabilities	1,360
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	21
Total liabilities held for sale	$	2,477

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(a)Excluded from the above is $1.8 million in held for sale assets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 related to certain real estate assets within our broadcast segment.

4.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

Litigation

We are a party to lawsuits and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business.  Actions currently pending are in various stages and no material judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions.  After reviewing developments to date with legal counsel, our management is of the opinion that the outcome of our pending and threatened matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows.

Various parties have filed petitions to deny our applications or our LMA partners’ applications for the following stations’ license renewals: WXLV-TV, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; WMYV-TV, Greensboro, North Carolina; WLFL-TV, Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina; WRDC-TV, Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina; WLOS-TV, Asheville, North Carolina; WCIV-TV, Charleston, South Carolina (formerly WMMP-TV); WMYA-TV, Anderson, South Carolina; WICS-TV Springfield, Illinois; WBFF-TV, Baltimore, Maryland; WTTE-TV, Columbus, Ohio; WRGT-TV, Dayton, Ohio; WVAH-TV, Charleston / Huntington, West Virginia; WCGV-TV, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and WTTO-TV in Birmingham, AL. The FCC is in the process of considering the renewal applications and we believe the petitions have no merit.

Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership and Joint Sale Agreements

On March 12, 2014, the FCC issued a public notice on the processing of broadcast television applications proposing sharing arrangements and contingent interests.  The public notice indicated that the FCC will closely scrutinize any broadcast assignment or transfer application that proposes that two or more stations in the same market that will enter into an agreement to share facilities, employees and/or services or to jointly acquire programming or sell advertising including through a JSA, LMA or similar agreement and enter into an option, right of first refusal, put /call arrangement or other similar contingent interest, or a loan guarantee. We cannot now predict what actions the FCC may require in connection with the processing of applications for FCC consent to future transactions.  In addition, on April 15, 2014, the FCC issued an order amending its multiple ownership rules to provide that, where two television stations are located in the same market, and a party with an attributable interest in one station sells more than 15% of the ad time per week of the other station, the party selling such ad time shall be treated as if it had an attributable ownership interest in the second station.  The imputed ownership interest would be evaluated to determine whether it complies with the FCC’s ownership rules that limit the number of stations in which parties may hold attributable interests.  The amended rule also requires that every JSA contain certain certifications that the licensee maintains ultimate control of the station subject to such contract, and that such JSAs be filed with the Commission and made available for public review.  That amended rule is the subject of an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  We cannot predict the outcome of that appeal.  Under the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR), which became law on December 4, 2014,  parties to preexisting JSAs have until December 19, 2016 to come into compliance with these new rules by.   A bill has been introduced into Congress proposing to permanently grandfather preexisting JSAs, but we cannot predict its likelihood of enactment.  Among other things, the law could limit our ability to create duopolies or other two-station operations in certain markets.  We are currently evaluating whether to seek one or more waivers of the new rules, or to modify or terminate our current JSAs. We cannot predict whether we will be able to terminate or restructure such arrangements on terms that are as advantageous to us as the current arrangements.  The revenues of these JSA arrangements we earned for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were $10.9 million and $11.0 million, respectively.

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5.EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table reconciles income (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in our computations of diluted earnings per share for the periods presented (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014
Income (Numerator)
Net Income	$	24,836		$	27,657
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(554		)	(499		)
Numerator for diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders	$	24,282		$	27,158
Shares (Denominator)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	95,131			98,824
Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options	640			678
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	95,771			99,502

Potentially dilutive securities which would have an anti-dilutive effect were 0.3 million shares of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2015.  There were no anti-dilutive shares for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The increase in anti-dilutive securities is primarily related to stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options with exercise prices less than the share price as of March 31, 2015.

6.RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Transactions with our controlling shareholders

David, Frederick, J. Duncan and Robert Smith (collectively, the controlling shareholders) are brothers and hold substantially all of the Class B Common Stock and some of our Class A Common Stock.  We engaged in the following transactions with them and/or entities in which they have substantial interests.

Leases.  Certain assets used by us and our operating subsidiaries are leased from Cunningham Communications Inc., Keyser Investment Group, Gerstell Development Limited Partnership and Beaver Dam, LLC (entities owned by the controlling shareholders).  Lease payments made to these entities were $1.4 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Charter Aircraft.  We lease aircraft owned by certain controlling shareholders.  We incurred expenses of $0.3 million during both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation

As of March 31, 2015, Cunningham was the owner-operator and FCC licensee of: WNUV-TV Baltimore, Maryland; WRGT-TV Dayton, Ohio; WVAH-TV Charleston, West Virginia; WMYA-TV Anderson, South Carolina; WTTE-TV Columbus, Ohio; WDBB-TV Birmingham, Alabama; WBSF-TV Flint, Michigan; and WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV Traverse City/Cadillac, Michigan (collectively, the Cunningham Stations), as well as WTAT-TV Charleston, South Carolina, and WYZZ Peoria/Bloomington, IL.

During the first quarter of 2013, the estate of Carolyn C. Smith, a mother of our controlling shareholders, distributed all of the non-voting stock owned by the estate to our controlling shareholders, and a portion was repurchased by Cunningham for $1.7 million in the aggregate.  During the second quarter of 2014, Cunningham purchased the remaining amount of non-voting stock from the controlling shareholders for an aggregate purchase price of $2.0 million.  The estate of Mrs. Smith currently owns all of the voting stock.  The sale of the voting stock by the estate to an unrelated party is pending approval of the FCC.  We also had options from the trusts, which granted us the right to acquire, subject to applicable FCC rules and regulations, 100% of the voting and nonvoting stock of Cunningham, up until September 30, 2014, when these options were terminated. As discussed under Variable Interest Entities in Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, during the third quarter of 2014, we deconsolidated Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation as we determined it was no longer a VIE.  We continue to consolidate certain of its subsidiaries with which we continue to have variable interests through various arrangements related to the Cunningham Stations discussed further below.

As of March 31, 2015, certain of our stations provide programming, sales and managerial services pursuant to LMAs to six of the Cunningham stations: WNUV-TV, WRGT-TV, WVAH-TV, WMYA-TV, WTTE-TV, and WDBB-TV (collectively, the

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Cunningham LMA Stations). Each of these LMAs has a current term that expires on July 1, 2016 and there are three additional 5- year renewal terms remaining with final expiration on July 1, 2031. We also executed purchase agreements to acquire the license related assets of these stations from Cunningham, which grant us the right to acquire, and grant Cunningham the right to require us to acquire, subject to applicable FCC rules and regulations, 100% of the capital stock or the assets of these individual subsidiaries of Cunningham.  Our applications to acquire these license related assets are pending FCC approval.  The LMA and purchase agreement with WTAT-TV was terminated concurrent with Cunningham’s purchase of the non-license assets of this station from us for $14.0 million, effective August 1, 2014.  We no longer have any continuing involvement in the operations of this station.

Pursuant to the terms of the LMAs, options and other agreements, beginning on January 1, 2013, we were obligated to pay Cunningham an annual LMA fee for the television stations equal to the greater of (i) 3% of each station’s annual net broadcast revenue and (ii) $5.0 million. The aggregate purchase price of the television stations, which was originally $78.5 million pursuant to certain acquisition or merger agreements subject to 6% annual increases, was decreased by each payment made by us to Cunningham, through 2012, of $29.1 million in the aggregate. Additionally, we reimburse these Cunningham LMA Stations for 100% of their operating costs. In July 2014, concurrent with the termination of the LMA with WTAT-TV, the total LMA fee for the remaining Cunningham LMA Stations was reduced by $4.7 million to remove the fee associated with WTAT-TV.  The remaining aggregate purchase price of these stations, excluding WTAT-TV, as of March 31, 2015 was approximately $53.6 million.

We made payments to Cunningham under our LMAs with these stations of $2.3 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, Cunningham LMA Stations provided us with approximately $21.7 million and $27.2 million, respectively, of total revenue.

Cunningham owns the license related assets of WBSF-TV and WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV. We provide certain non-programming related sales, operational and administrative services to these stations pursuant to certain outsourcing agreements. The agreements with WBSF-TV and WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV expire in November 2021 and August 2015, respectively, and each has renewal provisions for successive eight year periods. Additionally, we have provided a guarantee on the bank debt of these licensees of $3.0 million as of March 31, 2015. Under these arrangements, we earned $1.3 million and $0.8 million from the services we perform for these stations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As we consolidate the licensees as VIEs, the amounts we earn under the arrangements are eliminated in consolidation and the gross revenues of the stations are reported within our consolidated statement of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, our consolidated revenues include $1.7 million and $1.5 million related to these stations, respectively.

Atlantic Automotive Corporation

We sold advertising time to and purchased vehicles and related vehicle services from Atlantic Automotive Corporation (Atlantic Automotive), a holding company that owns automobile dealerships and an automobile leasing company.  David D. Smith, our President and Chief Executive Officer, has a controlling interest in, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Atlantic Automotive.  We received payments for advertising totaling $0.4 million and less than $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  No payments for vehicles or vehicles related services from Atlantic Automotive were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.  Additionally, in August 2011, Atlantic Automotive entered into an office lease agreement with Towson City Center, LLC (Towson City Center), a subsidiary of one of our real estate ventures. Atlantic Automotive paid $0.1 million and $0.3 million in rent during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

Leased property by real estate ventures

Certain of our real estate ventures have entered into leases with entities owned by David Smith to lease restaurant space. There are leases for three restaurants in a building owned by one of our consolidated real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD. Total rent received under these leases was $0.1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. There is also one lease for a restaurant in a building owned by one of our real estate ventures, accounted for under the equity method, in Towson, MD.  This investment received $0.1 million in rent pursuant to the lease for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

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7.SEGMENT DATA

We measure segment performance based on operating income (loss).  Our broadcast segment includes stations in 79 markets located throughout the continental United States. Our other operating divisions primarily consist of sign design and fabrication; regional security alarm operating and bulk acquisitions; manufacturing and service of broadcast antennas; service of broadcast transmitters; and real estate ventures. All of our other operating divisions are located within the United States.  Corporate costs primarily include our costs to operate as a public company and to operate our corporate headquarters location.  Other Operating Divisions and Corporate are not reportable segments but are included for reconciliation purposes.  We had approximately $207.0 million and $172.0 million of intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other operating divisions and corporate as of March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  We had $5.2 million and $4.9 million in intercompany interest expense related to intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other operating divisions and corporate for the three months ending March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. All other intercompany transactions are immaterial.

Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in thousands):

For the three months ended March 31, 2015	Broadcast		Other Operating Divisions		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	485,122	$	19,653	$	—		$	504,775
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,185		725		279			25,189
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	37,891		2,089		—			39,980
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391		—		—			30,391
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,905		259		852			16,016
Operating income (loss)	87,449		744		(3,646		)	84,547
Interest expense	—		1,075		45,573			46,648
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		3,146		—			3,146
Assets	4,865,380		366,307		185,792			5,417,479

For the three months ended March 31, 2014	Broadcast		Other Operating Divisions		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	397,906	$	14,742	$	—		$	412,648
Depreciation of property and equipment	23,517		594		267			24,378
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	23,163		1,565		—			24,728
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	23,941		—		—			23,941
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,730		251		854			15,835
Operating income (loss)	82,121		1		(1,122		)	81,000
Interest expense	—		919		38,619			39,538
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		98		—			98

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8.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

Accounting guidance provides for valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost).  A fair value hierarchy using three broad levels prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The following is a brief description of those three levels:

·Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

·Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

·Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

The carrying value and fair value of our notes and debentures for the periods presented (in thousands):

	As of March 31, 2015				As of December 31, 2014
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Level 2:
6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021	$	350,000	$	370,563	$	350,000	$	355,800
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022	500,000		523,005		500,000		503,475
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024	550,000		562,375		550,000		532,813
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021	600,000		616,500		600,000		595,068
Term Loan A	341,183		334,359		348,073		341,982
Term Loan B	1,034,450		1,036,559		1,035,883		1,029,997
Revolver credit facility	323,000		323,000		338,000		338,000
Debt of variable interest entities	29,296		29,296		30,167		30,167
Debt of other operating divisions	126,502		126,502		118,822		118,822

9.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Sinclair Television Group, Inc. (STG), a wholly-owned subsidiary and the television operating subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (SBG), is the primary obligor under the Bank Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Notes, the 5.625% Notes, 6.125% Notes, and 6.375% Notes. Our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as of March 31, 2015, were obligations or securities of SBG and not obligations or securities of STG.  SBG is a guarantor under the Bank Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Notes, 5.625% Notes, 6.125% Notes, and 6.375% Notes. As of March 31, 2015, our consolidated total debt of $3,911.0 million included $3,779.0 million of debt related to STG and its subsidiaries of which SBG guaranteed $3,727.9 million.

SBG, KDSM, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBG, and STG’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (guarantor subsidiaries), have fully and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to certain customary automatic release provisions, all of STG’s obligations.  Those guarantees are joint and several.  There are certain contractual restrictions on the ability of SBG, STG or KDSM, LLC to obtain funds from their subsidiaries in the form of dividends or loans.

The following condensed consolidating financial statements present the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows of SBG, STG, KDSM, LLC and the guarantor subsidiaries, the direct and indirect non-guarantor subsidiaries of SBG and the eliminations necessary to arrive at our information on a consolidated basis.

These statements are presented in accordance with the disclosure requirements under SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 3-10.

19

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.		Sinclair Television Group, Inc.		Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Cash	$	—	$	35,551	$	936	$	21,356		$	—		$	57,843
Accounts and other receivables	—		—		341,056		28,861			(1,221		)	368,696
Other current assets	1,627		16,261		86,304		21,758			(18,712		)	107,238
Total current assets	1,627		51,812		428,296		71,975			(19,933		)	533,777
Property and equipment, net	3,683		19,618		554,338		172,105			(7,347		)	742,397
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	412,044		3,519,449		4,129		—			(3,935,622		)	—
Other long-term assets	63,286		628,279		82,312		115,725			(652,497		)	237,105
Total other long-term assets	475,330		4,147,728		86,441		115,725			(4,588,119		)	237,105
Goodwill and other intangible assets	—		—		3,800,607		217,368			(113,775		)	3,904,200
Total assets	$	480,640	$	4,219,158	$	4,869,682	$	577,173		$	(4,729,174	)	$	5,417,479
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,812	$	57,224	$	178,665	$	28,595		$	(21,241	)	$	245,055
Current portion of long-term debt	375		46,250		1,371		10,830			—			58,826
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,509		—		1,086		1,402			(1,219		)	2,778
Other current liabilities	3,026		—		113,656		9,323			(1,485		)	124,520
Total current liabilities	6,722		103,474		294,778		50,150			(23,945		)	431,179
Long-term debt	—		3,652,382		33,971		145,470			—			3,831,823
Affiliate long-term debt	3,109		—		12,587		334,367			(332,458		)	17,605
Other liabilities	33,565		28,261		1,007,725		170,858			(515,977		)	724,432
Total liabilities	43,396		3,784,117		1,349,061		700,845			(872,380		)	5,005,039
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)	437,244		435,041		3,520,621		(94,620		)	(3,861,042		)	437,244
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	—		—		—		(29,052		)	4,248			(24,804		)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	$	480,640	$	4,219,158	$	4,869,682	$	577,173		$	(4,729,174	)	$	5,417,479

20

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

(in thousands)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.		Sinclair Television Group, Inc.		Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Cash	$	—	$	3,394	$	1,749	$	12,539		$	—		$	17,682
Accounts and other receivables	—		164		359,486		25,111			(1,258		)	383,503
Other current assets	5,741		12,996		98,751		12,721			(11,733		)	118,476
Assets held for sale	—		—		—		6,504			—			6,504
Total current assets	5,741		16,554		459,986		56,875			(12,991		)	526,165
Property and equipment, net	3,949		17,554		569,372		168,762			(7,099		)	752,538
Assets held for sale	—		—		1,843		6,974			—			8,817
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	395,225		3,585,037		3,978		—			(3,984,240		)	—
Other long-term assets	65,988		595,112		90,914		115,375			(620,628		)	246,761
Total other long-term assets	461,213		4,180,149		96,735		122,349			(4,604,868		)	255,578
Goodwill and other intangible assets	—		1,483		3,821,985		209,724			(115,301		)	3,917,891
Total assets	$	470,903	$	4,215,740	$	4,948,078	$	557,710		$	(4,740,259	)	$	5,452,172
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	541	$	46,083	$	201,102	$	24,325		$	(13,680	)	$	258,371
Current portion of long-term debt	529		42,953		1,302		68,332			—			113,116
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,464		—		1,182		1,026			(1,047		)	2,625
Other current liabilities	1,208		—		107,867		9,749			(1,407		)	117,417
Liabilities held for sale	—		—		—		2,477			—			2,477
Total current liabilities	3,742		89,036		311,453		105,909			(16,134		)	494,006
Long-term debt	—		3,679,004		34,338		83,324			—			3,796,666
Affiliate long-term debt	3,508		—		12,802		319,901			(319,902		)	16,309
Other liabilities	35,771		28,856		1,003,213		169,935			(497,927		)	739,848
Total liabilities	43,021		3,796,896		1,361,806		679,069			(833,963		)	5,046,829
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)	427,882		418,844		3,586,272		(94,632		)	(3,910,484		)	427,882
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	—		—		—		(26,727		)	4,188			(22,539		)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	$	470,903	$	4,215,740	$	4,948,078	$	557,710		$	(4,740,259	)	$	5,452,172

21

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Net revenue	$	—		$	—		$	476,670		$	47,004		$	(18,899	)	$	504,775
Program and production	—			—			169,693			19,849			(18,527		)	171,015
Selling, general and administrative	1,045			14,783			99,347			2,640			88			117,903
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	266			775			102,360			28,250			(341		)	131,310
Total operating expenses	1,311			15,558			371,400			50,739			(18,780		)	420,228
Operating (loss) income	(1,311		)	(15,558		)	105,270			(3,735		)	(119		)	84,547
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	24,325			64,465			(50		)	—			(88,740		)	—
Interest expense	(102		)	(43,873		)	(1,176		)	(6,706		)	5,209			(46,648		)
Other income (expense)	1,350			(154		)	64			2,104			—			3,364
Total other income (expense)	25,573			20,438			(1,162		)	(4,602		)	(83,531		)	(43,284		)
Income tax benefit (provision)	20			20,615			(38,377		)	1,315			—			(16,427		)
Net income (loss)	24,282			25,495			65,731			(7,022		)	(83,650		)	24,836
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			(554		)	—			(554		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	24,282		$	25,495		$	65,731		$	(7,576	)	$	(83,650	)	$	24,282
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	24,920		$	25,579		$	65,731		$	(7,576	)	$	(83,734	)	$	24,920

22

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Net revenue	$	—		$	—		$	390,080		$	41,427		$	(18,859	)	$	412,648
Program and production	—			76			126,733			18,411			(18,181		)	127,039
Selling, general and administrative	885			14,545			80,502			2,400			(572		)	97,760
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	267			1,107			86,390			19,160			(75		)	106,849
Total operating expenses	1,152			15,728			293,625			39,971			(18,828		)	331,648
Operating (loss) income	(1,152		)	(15,728		)	96,455			1,456			(31		)	81,000
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	26,687			62,264			—			—			(88,951		)	—
Interest expense	(159		)	(36,748		)	(1,242		)	(6,553		)	5,164			(39,538		)
Other income (expense)	646			296			93			—			(20		)	1,015
Total other income (expense)	27,174			25,812			(1,149		)	(6,553		)	(83,807		)	(38,523		)
Income tax benefit (provision)	1,136			17,267			(33,042		)	(181		)	—			(14,820		)
Net income (loss)	27,158			27,351			62,264			(5,278		)	(83,838		)	27,657
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			(499		)	—			(499		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	27,158		$	27,351		$	62,264		$	(5,777	)	$	(83,838	)	$	27,158
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	27,696		$	27,265		$	62,264		$	(5,652	)	$	(83,877	)	$	27,696

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$	6,591		$	(25,325	)	$	139,443		$	(13,488	)	$	4,398		$	111,619
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	—			(2,912		)	(20,309		)	(635		)	208			(23,648		)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	—			—			—			(5,744		)	—			(5,744		)
Distributions from equity and costs method investees	1,425			419			—			2,308			—			4,152
Investments in equity and cost method investees	—			(1,100		)	—			(1,845		)	—			(2,945		)
Other, net	—			—			272			—			—			272
Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities	1,425			(3,593		)	(20,037		)	(5,916		)	208			(27,913		)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	—			—			—			7,866			—			7,866
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(508		)	(23,514		)	56			(1,089		)	—			(25,055		)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(15,715		)	—			—			—			—			(15,715		)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(7,803		)	—			—			—			—			(7,803		)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	15,323			84,589			(120,275		)	24,969			(4,606		)	—
Other, net	687			—			—			(3,525		)	—			(2,838		)
Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities	(8,016		)	61,075			(120,219		)	28,221			(4,606		)	(43,545		)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	—			32,157			(813		)	8,817			—			40,161
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	—			3,394			1,749			12,539			—			17,682
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	—		$	35,551		$	936		$	21,356		$	—		$	57,843

24

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$	13,532		$	(8,180	)	$	124,353		$	6,472		$	83		$	136,260
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	—			(1,721		)	(9,587		)	(599		)	—			(11,907		)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	—			—			—			(4,323		)	—			(4,323		)
Decrease in restricted cash	—			(900		)	221			—			—			(679		)
Investments in equity and cost method investees	—			—			—			(2,154		)	—			(2,154		)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies	—			17,042			—			—						17,042
Other, net	—			—			—			55			—			55
Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities	—			14,421			(9,366		)	(7,021		)	—			(1,966		)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	—			—			—			5,885			—			5,885
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(132		)	(4,335		)	(268		)	(1,661		)	—			(6,396		)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(14,719		)	—			—			—			23			(14,696		)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(82,371		)	—			—			—			—			(82,371		)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	82,043			60,147			(142,667		)	583			(106		)	—
Other, net	1,647			(144		)	(252		)	(260		)	—			991
Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities	(13,532		)	55,668			(143,187		)	4,547			(83		)	(96,587		)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	—			61,909			(28,200		)	3,998			—			37,707
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	—			237,974			28,594			13,536			—			280,104
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	—		$	299,883		$	394		$	17,534		$	—		$	317,811

25

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This report includes or incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, including, among other things, the following risks:

General risks

·the impact of changes in national and regional economies and credit and capital markets;

·consumer confidence;

·the potential impact of changes in tax law;

·the activities of our competitors;

·terrorist acts of violence or war and other geopolitical events;

·natural disasters that impact our advertisers and our stations;

Industry risks

·the business conditions of our advertisers particularly in the automotive and service industries;

·competition with other broadcast television stations, radio stations, multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs), internet and broadband content providers and other print and media outlets serving in the same markets;

·availability and cost of programming and the performance of networks and syndicators that provide us with programming content;

·our relationships with networks and their strategies to distribute their programming via means other than their local television affiliates, such as over-the-top content;

·the effects of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) National Broadband Plan and the auctioning and potential repacking of our broadcasting spectrum within a limited timeframe;

·the potential of additional governmental regulation of broadcasting or changes in those regulations and court actions interpreting those regulations, including ownership regulations limiting over-the-air television’s ability to compete effectively (including regulations relating to Joints Sales Agreements (JSA) and Shared Services Agreements (SSA)), arbitrary enforcement of indecency regulations, retransmission fee regulations and political or other advertising restrictions;

·labor disputes and legislation and other union activity associated with film, acting, writing and other guilds and professional sports leagues;

·the broadcasting community’s ability to develop and adopt a viable mobile digital broadcast television (mobile DTV) strategy and platform and the consumer’s appetite for mobile television;

·the impact of reverse network compensation payments charged by networks pursuant to their affiliation agreements with broadcasters requiring compensation for network programming;

·the effects of declining live/appointment viewership as reported through rating systems and local television efforts to adopt and receive credit for same day viewing plus viewing on-demand thereafter;

·the ability of local MVPD’s to coordinate and determine local advertising rates as a consortium;

·the impact of new FCC rules requiring broadcast stations to publish, among other information, political advertising rates online;

·changes in the makeup of the population in the areas where stations are located;

·the operation of low power devices in the broadcast spectrum, which could interfere with our broadcast signals;

Risks specific to us

·the effectiveness of our management;

·our ability to attract and maintain local and national advertising and successfully participate in new sales channels such as programmatic advertising through business partnership ventures and the development of technology;

·our ability to service our debt obligations and operate our business under restrictions contained in our financing agreements;

·our ability to successfully implement and monetize our own content management system (CMS) designed to provide our viewers significantly improved content via the internet and other digital platforms;

·our ability to successfully renegotiate retransmission consent agreements;

·our ability to renew our FCC licenses;

·our limited ability to obtain FCC approval for any future acquisitions, as well as, in certain cases, customary antitrust clearance for any future acquisitions;

·our ability to identify digital media business investment opportunities and to successfully integrate any acquired businesses;

26

·our ability to maintain our affiliation and programming service agreements with our networks and program service providers and at renewal, to successfully negotiate these agreements with favorable terms;

·our ability to effectively respond to technology affecting our industry and to increasing competition from other media providers;

·the popularity of syndicated programming we purchase and network programming that we air;

·the strength of ratings for our local news broadcasts including our news sharing arrangements;

·the successful execution of our program development and multi-channel broadcasting initiatives including mobile DTV; and American Sports Network (ASN)

·the results of prior year tax audits by taxing authorities; and

·the success of our digital initiatives in a competitive environment.

Other matters set forth in this report and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Risk Factors set forth in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 may also cause actual results in the future to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  However, additional factors and risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also cause actual results in the future to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speaks only as of the date on which it is made.  We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed in this report might not occur.

The following table sets forth certain operating data for the periods presented:

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA

(in thousands, except for per share data) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014
Statement of Operations Data:
Net broadcast revenues (a)	$	464,163		$	373,881
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements	20,959			24,025
Other operating divisions revenues	19,653			14,742
Total revenues	504,775			412,648
Station production expenses	171,015			127,039
Station selling, general and administrative expenses	101,887			81,925
Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements	17,412			21,477
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391			23,941
Depreciation and amortization expenses (b)	65,169			49,106
Other operating divisions expenses	15,823			12,325
Corporate general and administrative expenses	16,016			15,835
Research and development expenses	2,515			—
Operating income	84,547			81,000
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(46,648		)	(39,538		)
Income from equity and cost method investees	3,146			98
Other income, net	218			917
Income before income taxes	41,263			42,477
Income tax provision	(16,427		)	(14,820		)
Net income	24,836			27,657
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(554		)	(499		)
Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	24,282		$	27,158
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group:
Basic earnings per share	$	0.26		$	0.27
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.25		$	0.27

27

Balance Sheet Data:	March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
Cash and cash equivalents	$	57,843	$	17,682
Total assets	$	5,417,479	$	5,452,172
Total debt (c)	$	3,911,032	$	3,928,716
Total equity	$	412,440	$	405,343

(a)Net broadcast revenues are defined as broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions.

(b)Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets.

(c)Total debt is defined as notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, including the current and long-term portions.

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis provides qualitative and quantitative information about our financial performance and condition and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to those statements.  This discussion consists of the following sections:

Executive Overview — financial events since December 31, 2014.

Results of Operations — an analysis of our revenues and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, including comparisons between quarters and expectations for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Liquidity and Capital Resources — a discussion of our primary sources of liquidity, an analysis of our cash flows from or used in operating activities, investing activities and financing activities and an update of our debt refinancings during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

First Quarter 2015 Events

·In January 2015, we appointed Howard E. Friedman to the Board of Directors. Mr. Friedman will stand for re-election at our next annual meeting of shareholders.

·During January 2015, we repurchased $7.8 million or 0.3 million shares at an average price of $25.62 per share. As of March 31, 2015, the total remaining authorization for repurchases was $126.6 million.

·In February 2015, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.165 per share, payable on March 13, 2015 to the holders of record at the close of business on February 27, 2015.

·In March 2015, we launched Sinclair Digital Ventures (“SDV”), a division of the company that will invest in emerging digital technologies and digital content companies. SDV will focus on companies with products or services that support and expand Sinclair’s digital capabilities and non-linear footprint.

Other Events

·In April 2015, we entered into an agreement with Visible World to create the Audience Network for Local Broadcast TV. This will allow us to aggregate impressions across our stations and will make it possible for agencies and advertisers to automatically target specific local broadcast audiences by using Visible World’s High Yield technology to optimize around multiple audiences and related data sources.

·In April 2015, American Sports Network (“ASN”) reached a multi-year agreement with the Atlantic 10 Conference (“A-10”) to annually televise at least 52 A-10 events across seven sports.

·Effective April 30, 2015, we raised $350.0 million of incremental term B loans and amended certain terms under our existing bank credit facility. The loans mature July 2021 and were issued at a discount of 99.875% of par value.

·In May 2015, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.165 per share, payable on June 12, 2015 to the holders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2015.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The results of the acquired stations during the year ended December 31, 2014 are included in our results of operations from their respective dates of acquisition. See Note 2. Acquisitions in our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of stations acquired.  Additionally, the results of certain television stations that were sold are not included in our results for the period. See Dispositions related to station acquisitions under Note 3. Disposition of Assets in our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of excluded stations. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this discussion and analysis are to the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  Additionally, any references to the second, third or fourth quarters are to the three months ended June 30, September 30 and December 31, respectively, for the year being discussed.  We have one reportable segment, “broadcast” that is disclosed separately from our other operating division and corporate activities.

SEASONALITY/CYCLICALITY

Our operating results are usually subject to seasonal fluctuations.  Usually, the second and fourth quarter operating results are higher than first and third quarters’ because advertising expenditures are increased in anticipation of certain seasonal and holiday spending by consumers.

Our operating results are usually subject to fluctuations from political advertising.  In even numbered years, political spending is usually significantly higher than in odd numbered years due to advertising expenditures preceding local and national elections.  Additionally, every four years, political spending is usually elevated further due to advertising expenditures preceding the presidential election.

BROADCAST SEGMENT

Broadcast Revenue

The following table presents our revenues, net of agency commissions, for the periods presented (in millions):

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015		2014		Percent Change
Local revenues:
Non-political	$	380.2	$	300.8	26.4	%
Political	1.0		0.7		(b)
Total local	381.2		301.5		26.4	%
National revenues (a):
Non-political	81.8		67.0		22.1	%
Political	1.2		5.4		(b)
Total national	83.0		72.4		14.6	%
Total net broadcast revenues	$	464.2	$	373.9	24.2	%

(a)National revenue relates to time sales sourced from national advertising agencies.

(b)Political revenue is not comparable from year to year due to cyclicality of elections.  See Political Revenues below for more information.

Net broadcast revenues.  Net broadcast revenues increased $90.3 million when comparing the first quarter 2015 to the same period in 2014, of which $86.8 million was related to stations acquired after the first quarter of 2014. The remaining increase is primarily the result of higher retransmission revenues from multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) and increases in advertising revenues in the medical, travel/leisure and furniture sectors.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in advertising revenues in the political, services and telecommunications sectors. Excluding the stations acquired after the first quarter of 2014, automotive, which typically is our largest category, represented 25.1% of net time sales for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

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From a network affiliation or program service arrangement perspective, the following table sets forth our affiliate percentages of net time sales for the periods presented:

	# of	Percent of Net Time Sales for the Three months ended March 31,				Net Time Sales Percent
	Channels (a)	2015		2014		Change
ABC	32	28.2	%	19.5	%	64.4	%
FOX	46	26.0	%	31.4	%	(5.7	)%
CBS	29	17.5	%	19.7	%	1.2	%
NBC	21	12.0	%	9.7	%	39.9	%
The CW	44	8.1	%	8.9	%	4.5	%
MyNetworkTV	33	6.8	%	8.3	%	(7.7	)%
Other (b)	170	1.4	%	2.5	%	(96.8	)%
Total	375

(a)We have acquired a significant number of television stations during 2014 with a variety of network affiliations.  This acquisition activity affects the year-over-year comparability of revenue by affiliation.  See Note 2. Acquisitions in our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of stations acquired.

(b)We broadcast other programming from providers on our channels, including Univision, Telemundo, Estrella TV, Azteca, MundoFox, Get TV, Grit, This TV, ME TV, Antenna TV, Bounce Network, Retro TV, Zuus Country, Heartland, Accuweather WX, Weather Radar, and Weather Nation.

Political Revenues.  Political revenues decreased by $3.9 million to $2.2 million for the first quarter 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014.  Political revenues are typically higher in election years such as 2014.

Local Revenues.  Excluding political revenues, our local broadcast revenues, which include local times sales, retransmission revenues and other local revenues, were up $79.4 million for the first quarter 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014, of which $68.4 million was related to the stations acquired after the first quarter of 2014. The remaining increase, for the three month period, is primarily due to an increase in advertising revenues from the travel/leisure, religion and furniture sectors as well as an increase in retransmission revenues from MVPDs. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in advertising revenues from the schools, paid programs and services sectors.

National Revenues.  Excluding political revenues, our national broadcast revenues, which include relates to time sales sourced from national advertising agencies, were up $14.8 million for the first quarter 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014, of which $17.6 million was related to the stations acquired after the first quarter of 2014. The residual decrease was due to a decline in advertising revenues in the telecommunications, fast food and services sectors.

Broadcast Expenses

The following table presents our significant expense categories in our broadcast segment for the periods presented (in millions):

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,				Percent Change (Increase/
	2015		2014		(Decrease))
Station production expenses	$	171.0	$	127.0	34.6	%
Station selling, general and administrative expenses	$	101.9	$	81.9	24.4	%
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	$	30.4	$	23.9	27.2	%
Corporate general and administrative expenses	$	14.9	$	14.7	1.4	%
Depreciation and amortization expenses	$	62.1	$	46.7	33.0	%

Station production expenses.  Station production expenses increased $44.0 million during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, of which $32.3 million related to acquired stations not included in the same period of 2014, net of dispositions.  The remaining increase for the three month period is primarily due to an increase in reverse retransmission fees pursuant to network affiliation agreements, increased production costs related to our ASN sports programming content, and an increase in compensation expense, partially offset by a decrease in music license fees due to a refund of $3.0 million relating to the settlement of litigation with one of our music providers.

30

Station selling, general and administrative expense.  Station selling, general and administrative expenses increased $20.0 million during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, of which $15.7 million related to acquired stations not included in the same period of 2014, net of dispositions. The remaining increase for the three month period is primarily due an increase in compensation expense, increased insurance costs, and an increase in digital interactive costs.

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments.  The amortization of program contract costs increased $6.5 million during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, of which $2.2 million related to acquired stations not included in the same period of 2014, net of dispositions. The remaining increase for the three month period is primarily due to higher programming costs.

Corporate general and administrative expenses.  See explanation under Corporate and Unallocated Expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization expenses.  Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets increased $15.4 million during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, of which $17.0 million related to acquired stations not included in the same period of 2014, net of dispositions. The remaining decrease for the three month period is primarily due to assets becoming fully depreciated and amortized.

OTHER OPERATING DIVISIONS

Triangle Sign & Service, LLC (Triangle), a sign designer / fabricator, Alarm Funding Associates, LLC (Alarm Funding), a regional security alarm operating and bulk acquisition company, Dielectric, LLC, a manufacturer of broadcast equipment, real estate ventures and other nominal businesses make up our other operating divisions.  Revenues for our other operating divisions increased $5.0 million to $19.7 million during the first quarter 2015 compared to $14.7 million during the same period in 2014.  Expenses of our other operating divisions including operating expenses, depreciation and amortization and applicable other income (expense) items such as interest expense, increased $2.0 million to $17.9 million during the first quarter 2015 compared to $15.9 million during the same period in 2014.  The increases in both revenue and expenses relate primarily to the increase in alarm monitoring revenue from purchases of recurring monthly revenue, an increase in residential lot sales of certain of our real estate ventures, and an increase in Dielectric sales volume.

Income from Equity and Cost Method Investments.  Results of our equity and cost method investments in private investment funds and real estate ventures are included in income from equity and cost method investments in our consolidated statements of operations, within other operating divisions.  During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recorded income of $2.1 million related to our real estate ventures and income of $1.0 million related to certain private investment funds.  During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we recorded a loss of $0.2 million related to our real estate ventures and income of $0.3 million related to certain private investment funds.

CORPORATE AND UNALLOCATED EXPENSES

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,						Percent Change (Increase/
	2015			2014			(Decrease))
Corporate general and administrative expenses	$	0.9		$	0.9		—
Interest expense	$	45.6		$	38.6		18.1	%
Income tax provision	$	(16.4	)	$	(14.8	)	10.8	%
Research and development	$	2.5		$	—		n/m

n/m — not meaningful

Corporate general and administrative expenses.  We allocate most of our corporate general and administrative expenses to the broadcast segment.  The explanation that follows combines the corporate general and administrative expenses found in the Broadcast Segment section with the corporate general and administrative expenses found in this section, Corporate and Unallocated Expenses.  These results exclude general and administrative costs from our other operating divisions which are included in our discussion of expenses in the Other Operating Divisions section.

Corporate general and administrative expenses combined increased by $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, when compared to the same period in 2014.  We expect corporate general and administrative expenses to decrease in the second quarter of 2015 compared to first quarter of 2015.

Interest expense.  Interest expense has increased during the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to the issuance of $550.0 million of 5.625% Notes and incremental borrowings under our Bank Credit

31

Agreement. The increase in interest expense was partially offset by a decrease in interest expense due to the redemption of 8.375% Notes during 2014. See Liquidity and Capital Resources for more information.

Income tax (provision) benefit.  The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 including the effects of the noncontrolling interest was a provision of 40.4% as compared to a provision of 35.3% during the same period in 2014.  The increase in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014 is primarily due to $2.3 million of income tax provision resulting from an unfavorable resolution of a state income tax positions in 2015.

Research and development expenses. In 2014, in response to the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s request for proposal for a “physical layer” of the next-generation broadcast TV standard that could in future years replace the current digital broadcasting systems used in the United States and around the world, we launched ONE Media LLC to develop a Next Generation Broadcast Platform (“NGBP”) to provide convergence of broadcasting with wireless broadband services. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 research and development costs related to ONE Media, LLC were $2.5 million.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of March 31, 2015, we had $57.8 million in cash and cash equivalent balances and net working capital of approximately $102.6 million.  Cash generated by our operations and borrowing capacity under the Bank Credit Agreement are used as our primary sources of liquidity.  As of March 31, 2015, we had $160.0 million of borrowing capacity available on our revolving credit facility.

Effective April 30, 2015, we amended our Bank Credit Agreement to raise an additional $350.0 million in incremental term loan B commitments. The proceeds were used to pay down the outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility, and for general corporate purposes. See Subsequent Events under Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in our consolidated financial statements for further discussion. As of April 30, 2015, we had $483.0 million of borrowing capacity available on our revolving credit facility.

During January 2015, we repurchased 0.3 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $7.8 million.  The repurchase was completed using cash on hand.  As of March 31, 2015 we had $126.6 million remaining under our existing $300.0 million repurchase authorization.

We anticipate that existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from our operations and borrowing capacity under the Bank Credit Agreement will be sufficient to satisfy our debt service obligations, capital expenditure requirements, and working capital needs for the next twelve months.  For our long-term liquidity needs, in addition to the sources described above, we may rely upon the issuance of long-term debt, the issuance of equity or other instruments convertible into or exchangeable for equity, or the sale of non-core assets.  However, there can be no assurance that additional financing or capital or buyers of our non-core assets will be available, or that the terms of any transactions will be acceptable or advantageous to us.

Sources and Uses of Cash

The following table sets forth our cash flows for the periods presented (in millions):

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014
Net cash flows from operating activities	$	111.6		$	136.3
Cash flows (used in) from investing activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	$	(23.7	)	$	(11.9	)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(5.8		)	(4.3		)
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	4.2			0.7
Investments in equity and costs method investees	(2.9		)	(2.2		)
Proceeds from the termination of life insurance policies	—			17.0
Other	0.3			(1.4		)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	$	(27.9	)	$	(2.0	)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	$	7.9		$	5.9
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(25.1		)	(6.4		)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(15.7		)	(14.7		)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(7.8		)	(82.4		)
Other	(2.8		)	1.0
Net cash flows used in financing activities	$	(43.5	)	$	(96.6	)

32

Operating Activities

Net cash flows from operating activities decreased during the first quarter 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.  This decrease is primarily due to higher program payments, higher cash payments to vendors, and higher compensation expenses, partially offset by receipt of more cash from customers, which is primarily due to our acquisitions since the same period in 2014.

Investing Activities

Net cash flows used in investing activities increased during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.  This increase is primarily due to $23.6 million in capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $11.9 million in the same period in 2014 and a decrease in proceeds from insurance settlements partially offset by greater distributions from cost and equity method investments.

In the second quarter of 2015, we anticipate incurring more capital expenditures than incurred in the first quarter of 2015.

Financing Activities

Net cash flows used in financing activities decreased in the first quarter 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.  This decrease was primarily due to $7.8 million of Class A common stock repurchased in the first quarter 2015 compared to $82.4 million in the same period in 2014, partially offset by an increase in repayments of notes payable and higher proceeds as a result of increased net borrowings under our bank credit agreement and senior unsecured notes during 2014.

In May 2015, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.165 per share. Future dividends on our common shares, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on several factors including our results of operations, cash requirements and surplus, financial condition, covenant restrictions and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant.

CONTRACTUAL CASH OBLIGATIONS

As of March 31, 2015, there were no material changes to our contractual cash obligations.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Other than the foregoing, there have been no material changes from the quantitative and qualitative discussion about market risk previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2015.

The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

33

The term “internal control over financial reporting,” as defined in Rules 13a-15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, means a process designed by, or under the supervision of our Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and includes those policies and procedures that:

·pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of our assets;

·provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that our receipts and expenditures are being made in accordance with authorizations of management or our Board of Directors; and

·provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements.

Assessment of Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2015, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2015, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.  Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected.  These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.  Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management’s override of the control.  The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are party to lawsuits and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business.  Actions currently pending are in various preliminary stages and no judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions.  After reviewing developments to date with legal counsel, our management is of the opinion that the outcome of our pending and threatened matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

34

ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table summarizes repurchases of our stock in the quarter ended and year to date March 31, 2015:

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)	Average Price Per Share	Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Program	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program (in millions)
Class A Common Stock : (2)
01/01/15 – 01/31/15	304,787	25.62	304,787	$	126.6
02/01/15 – 02/28/15	—	—	—	$	126.6
03/01/15 – 03/31/15	—	—	—	$	126.6

(1)All repurchases were made in open-market transactions.

(2)On October 28, 1999, we announced a $150.0 million share repurchase program, which was renewed on February 6, 2008. On March 20, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized a new $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program.  As of March 31, 2015, the total remaining authorization was $126.6 million.

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

None.

35

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number	Description
31.1	Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).
31.2	Certification by Christopher S. Ripley, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).
32.1	Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).
32.2	Certification by Christopher S. Ripley, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

36

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the 8th day of May 2015.

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
By:	/s/ David R. Bochenek
	David R. Bochenek
	Senior Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer
	(Authorized Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)

37

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
31.1	Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).
31.2	Certification by Christopher S. Ripley, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).
32.1	Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).
32.2	Certification by Christopher S. Ripley, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

38

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, David D. Smith, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

A)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

B)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

C)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

D)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

A)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

B)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	May 8, 2015
		/s/ David D.Smith
		Signature:	David D. Smith
			Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Christopher S. Ripley, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

A)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

B)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

C)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

D)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

A)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

B)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	May 8, 2015
		/s/ Christopher S. Ripley
		Signature:	Christopher S. Ripley
			Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ending March 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David D. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ David D. Smith

David D. Smith

Chief Executive Officer

May 8, 2015

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ending March 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Christopher S. Ripley, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Christopher S. Ripley

Christopher S. Ripley

Chief Financial Officer

May 8, 2015

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Consolidated total debt	$ 3,911,000,000
Cash	57,843,000	17,682,000	317,811,000	280,104,000
Accounts and other receivables	368,696,000	383,503,000
Other current assets	107,238,000	118,476,000
Assets held for sale		6,504,000
Total current assets	533,777,000	526,165,000
Property and equipment, net	742,397,000	752,538,000
Assets held for sale	1,843,000	8,817,000
Other long-term assets	237,105,000	246,761,000
Total other long-term assets	237,105,000	255,578,000
Goodwill and other intangible assets	3,904,200,000	3,917,891,000
Total assets	5,417,479,000	5,452,172,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	245,055,000	258,371,000
Current portion of long-term debt	58,826,000	113,116,000
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	2,778,000	2,625,000
Other current liabilities	124,520,000	117,417,000
Liabilities held for sale		2,477,000
Total current liabilities	431,179,000	494,006,000
Long-term debt	3,831,823,000	3,796,666,000
Affiliate long-term debt	17,605,000	16,309,000
Other liabilities	724,432,000	739,848,000
Total liabilities	5,005,039,000	5,046,829,000
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders' equity	437,244,000	427,882,000
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(24,804,000)	(22,539,000)
Total liabilities and equity	5,417,479,000	5,452,172,000
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.375%	5.375%
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%	6.125%
6.375% Senior Notes due 2021
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.375%	6.375%
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Amount of debt guaranteed by parent	3,727,900,000
Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Amount of debt guaranteed by parent	3,779,000,000
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.375%
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2024
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.625%
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.375%
Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.375%
Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2024
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.625%
Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%
Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC | 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.375%
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Other current assets	1,627,000	5,741,000
Total current assets	1,627,000	5,741,000
Property and equipment, net	3,683,000	3,949,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	412,044,000	395,225,000
Other long-term assets	63,286,000	65,988,000
Total other long-term assets	475,330,000	461,213,000
Total assets	480,640,000	470,903,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,812,000	541,000
Current portion of long-term debt	375,000	529,000
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,509,000	1,464,000
Other current liabilities	3,026,000	1,208,000
Total current liabilities	6,722,000	3,742,000
Affiliate long-term debt	3,109,000	3,508,000
Other liabilities	33,565,000	35,771,000
Total liabilities	43,396,000	43,021,000
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders' equity	437,244,000	427,882,000
Total liabilities and equity	480,640,000	470,903,000
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash	35,551,000	3,394,000	299,883,000	237,974,000
Accounts and other receivables		164,000
Other current assets	16,261,000	12,996,000
Total current assets	51,812,000	16,554,000
Property and equipment, net	19,618,000	17,554,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	3,519,449,000	3,585,037,000
Other long-term assets	628,279,000	595,112,000
Total other long-term assets	4,147,728,000	4,180,149,000
Goodwill and other intangible assets		1,483,000
Total assets	4,219,158,000	4,215,740,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	57,224,000	46,083,000
Current portion of long-term debt	46,250,000	42,953,000
Total current liabilities	103,474,000	89,036,000
Long-term debt	3,652,382,000	3,679,004,000
Other liabilities	28,261,000	28,856,000
Total liabilities	3,784,117,000	3,796,896,000
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders' equity	435,041,000	418,844,000
Total liabilities and equity	4,219,158,000	4,215,740,000
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash	936,000	1,749,000	394,000	28,594,000
Accounts and other receivables	341,056,000	359,486,000
Other current assets	86,304,000	98,751,000
Total current assets	428,296,000	459,986,000
Property and equipment, net	554,338,000	569,372,000
Assets held for sale		1,843,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	4,129,000	3,978,000
Other long-term assets	82,312,000	90,914,000
Total other long-term assets	86,441,000	96,735,000
Goodwill and other intangible assets	3,800,607,000	3,821,985,000
Total assets	4,869,682,000	4,948,078,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	178,665,000	201,102,000
Current portion of long-term debt	1,371,000	1,302,000
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,086,000	1,182,000
Other current liabilities	113,656,000	107,867,000
Total current liabilities	294,778,000	311,453,000
Long-term debt	33,971,000	34,338,000
Affiliate long-term debt	12,587,000	12,802,000
Other liabilities	1,007,725,000	1,003,213,000
Total liabilities	1,349,061,000	1,361,806,000
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders' equity	3,520,621,000	3,586,272,000
Total liabilities and equity	4,869,682,000	4,948,078,000
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash	21,356,000	12,539,000	17,534,000	13,536,000
Accounts and other receivables	28,861,000	25,111,000
Other current assets	21,758,000	12,721,000
Assets held for sale		6,504,000
Total current assets	71,975,000	56,875,000
Property and equipment, net	172,105,000	168,762,000
Assets held for sale		6,974,000
Other long-term assets	115,725,000	115,375,000
Total other long-term assets	115,725,000	122,349,000
Goodwill and other intangible assets	217,368,000	209,724,000
Total assets	577,173,000	557,710,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	28,595,000	24,325,000
Current portion of long-term debt	10,830,000	68,332,000
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,402,000	1,026,000
Other current liabilities	9,323,000	9,749,000
Liabilities held for sale		2,477,000
Total current liabilities	50,150,000	105,909,000
Long-term debt	145,470,000	83,324,000
Affiliate long-term debt	334,367,000	319,901,000
Other liabilities	170,858,000	169,935,000
Total liabilities	700,845,000	679,069,000
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders' equity	(94,620,000)	(94,632,000)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	(29,052,000)	(26,727,000)
Total liabilities and equity	577,173,000	557,710,000
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Accounts and other receivables	(1,221,000)	(1,258,000)
Other current assets	(18,712,000)	(11,733,000)
Total current assets	(19,933,000)	(12,991,000)
Property and equipment, net	(7,347,000)	(7,099,000)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(3,935,622,000)	(3,984,240,000)
Other long-term assets	(652,497,000)	(620,628,000)
Total other long-term assets	(4,588,119,000)	(4,604,868,000)
Goodwill and other intangible assets	(113,775,000)	(115,301,000)
Total assets	(4,729,174,000)	(4,740,259,000)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(21,241,000)	(13,680,000)
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	(1,219,000)	(1,047,000)
Other current liabilities	(1,485,000)	(1,407,000)
Total current liabilities	(23,945,000)	(16,134,000)
Affiliate long-term debt	(332,458,000)	(319,902,000)
Other liabilities	(515,977,000)	(497,927,000)
Total liabilities	(872,380,000)	(833,963,000)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders' equity	(3,861,042,000)	(3,910,484,000)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	4,248,000	4,188,000
Total liabilities and equity	$ (4,729,174,000)	$ (4,740,259,000)

XML

DISPOSITION OF ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Aug. 01, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Assets:
Accounts receivable	$ 5,101,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,403,000
Total current assets held for sale	6,504,000
Property and equipment	1,036,000
Goodwill	2,975,000
Definite-lived intangible assets	2,962,000
Total assets held for sale	13,477,000
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,096,000
Accrued liabilities	1,360,000
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	21,000
Total liabilities held for sale	2,477,000
Non License Broadcast Assets
Assets:
Property and equipment	1,800,000	1,800,000
Allbritton
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Working capital adjustment			50,200,000
MEG Stations | WTTA & KXRM And KXTU
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Price of assets sold	93,100,000
Working capital adjustment	600,000
MEG Stations | Allbritton | WHTM
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Price of assets sold				83,400,000
Working capital adjustment				200,000
Cunningham | Allbritton | WTAT
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Price of assets sold			$ 14,000,000

XML

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 item	Dec. 31, 2013
Variable Interest Entities
Net revenues	$ 464,163,000	$ 373,881,000
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	57,843,000	317,811,000	17,682,000	280,104,000
Accounts receivable	368,696,000		383,503,000
Current portion of program contract costs	66,405,000		88,198,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	33,213,000		21,338,000
Total current assets	533,777,000		526,165,000
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	30,703,000		38,531,000
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	742,397,000		752,538,000
GOODWILL	1,951,074,000		1,964,553,000
BROADCAST LICENSES	130,915,000		135,075,000
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	1,822,211,000		1,818,263,000
OTHER ASSETS	204,559,000		208,230,000
Total assets	5,417,479,000		5,452,172,000
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	7,346,000		12,248,000
Accrued liabilities	237,709,000		246,123,000
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	58,826,000		113,116,000
Current portion of program contracts payable	83,632,000		104,922,000
Total current liabilities	431,179,000		494,006,000
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	3,831,823,000		3,796,666,000
Program contracts payable, less current portion	55,013,000		60,605,000
Total liabilities	5,005,039,000		5,046,829,000
Eliminations
CURRENT ASSETS:
Total current assets	(19,933,000)		(12,991,000)
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	(7,347,000)		(7,099,000)
Total assets	(4,729,174,000)		(4,740,259,000)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Total current liabilities	(23,945,000)		(16,134,000)
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Total liabilities	(872,380,000)		(833,963,000)
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
Variable Interest Entities
Number of licensees as VIEs	37		37
Net revenues	64,800,000	66,500,000
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	492,000		491,000
Accounts receivable	18,186,000		19,521,000
Current portion of program contract costs	9,171,000		9,544,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	411,000		297,000
Total current assets	28,260,000		29,853,000
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	6,649,000		6,922,000
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	9,291,000		9,716,000
GOODWILL	787,000		787,000
BROADCAST LICENSES	16,935,000		16,935,000
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	94,799,000		96,732,000
OTHER ASSETS	2,340,000		2,376,000
Total assets	159,061,000		163,321,000
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	66,000		68,000
Accrued liabilities	1,356,000		1,297,000
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	3,666,000		3,659,000
Current portion of program contracts payable	9,127,000		9,714,000
Total current liabilities	14,215,000		14,738,000
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	27,721,000		28,640,000
Program contracts payable, less current portion	11,381,000		10,161,000
Long term liabilities	9,718,000		8,739,000
Total liabilities	63,035,000		62,278,000
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated | Minimum
Variable Interest Entities
Initial term of certain outsourcing agreements	5 years
Consolidated VIEs | Eliminations
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options	78,000,000		78,100,000
Consolidated VIEs | Eliminations | Cunningham
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Total payments made under the LMA excluded from liabilities	35,200,000		34,400,000
Total capital leased liabilities excluded from VIE consolidation	$ 4,300,000		$ 4,300,000

XML

SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
SEGMENT DATA
Intercompany loans	$ 207,000,000	$ 172,000,000
Intercompany interest expense	5,200,000	4,900,000
Segment data
Revenue	504,775,000	412,648,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	25,189,000	24,378,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	39,980,000	24,728,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391,000	23,941,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	16,016,000	15,835,000
Operating income (loss)	84,547,000	81,000,000
Interest expense	46,648,000	39,538,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	3,146,000	98,000
Assets	5,417,479,000		5,452,172,000
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets	79
Revenue	485,122,000	397,906,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,185,000	23,517,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	37,891,000	23,163,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391,000	23,941,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,905,000	14,730,000
Operating income (loss)	87,449,000	82,121,000
Assets	4,865,380,000
Operating segments | Other operating divisions segment
Segment data
Revenue	19,653,000	14,742,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	725,000	594,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	2,089,000	1,565,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	259,000	251,000
Operating income (loss)	744,000	1,000
Interest expense	1,075,000	919,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	3,146,000	98,000
Assets	366,307,000
Corporate
Segment data
Depreciation of property and equipment	279,000	267,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	852,000	854,000
Operating income (loss)	(3,646,000)	(1,122,000)
Interest expense	45,573,000	38,619,000
Assets	$ 185,792,000

XML

ACQUISITIONS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

ACQUISITIONS

ACQUISITIONS

2. ACQUISITIONS

During 2014, we acquired a total of 21 stations in 15 markets for a purchase price of $1,434.5 million plus working capital of $47.3 million. All of these acquisitions provide expansion into additional markets and increases value based on the synergies we are achieving.

2014 Acquisitions

Allbritton.  Effective August 1, 2014, we completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of Perpetual Corporation and equity interest of Charleston Television, LLC (together the “Allbritton Companies”) for $985.0 million plus working capital of $50.2 million.  The Allbritton Companies owned and operated nine television stations in the following seven markets, all of which were affiliated with ABC: Washington, DC; Birmingham, AL; Harrisburg, PA; Little Rock / Pine Bluff, AR; Tulsa, OK; Roanoke / Lynchburg, VA; and Charleston, SC. Also included in the purchase was NewsChannel 8, a 24-hour cable/satellite news network covering the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  We financed the total purchase price with proceeds from the issuance of 5.625% senior unsecured notes, a draw on our amended bank credit agreement, and cash on hand. In connection with the acquisition, we sold the acquired assets related to the Harrisburg, PA station effective September 1, 2014.  See Note 3. Dispositions of Assets for further discussion.

MEG Stations.  Effective December 19, 2014, we completed the acquisition of four television stations in three markets from Media General, Inc. (MEG Stations) for a purchase price of $207.5 million less working capital of $1.6 million.  The acquired stations are located in the following markets: Providence, RI / New Bedford, MA; Green Bay / Appleton, WI; and Savannah, GA. We financed the purchase price with cash on hand and borrowing under our revolving credit facility. Simultaneously, we sold to Media General, our television stations in Tampa, FL and Colorado Springs, CO.  See Note 3. Dispositions of Assets for further discussion.  We financed the purchase price, net of the proceeds received from the sale of those stations, with borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

KSNV.  Effective November 1, 2014, we completed the acquisition of certain of assets of KSNV (NBC) in Las Vegas, NV from Intermountain West Communications Company (Intermountain West) for $118.5 million less working capital of $0.2 million.  In conjunction with the purchase, we assumed the rights under the affiliation agreement with NBC and swapped our KVMY call letters for the KSNV call letters.  Intermountain West continues to own and operate the station under the KVMY call letters and we do not provide any programming or sales services to this station. We financed the total purchase price with cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Other 2014 Acquisitions.  During the year ended December 31, 2014, we acquired certain assets related to eight other television stations in the following four markets: Wilkes Barre / Scranton, PA; Tallahassee, FL; Gainesville, FL; and Macon, GA.  The purchase price for these stations was $123.5 million less working capital of $1.1 million which was financed with cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

The following tables summarize the allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, including the net assets of consolidated VIEs (in thousands):

	MEG Stations			KSNV			Allbritton			Other			Total 2014 acquisitions
Accounts receivable	$	—		$	—		$	38,542		$	—		$	38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	476			67			19,890			79			20,512
Program contract costs	1,954			482			1,204			2,561			6,201
Property and equipment	23,462			8,300			46,600			8,400			86,762
Broadcast licenses	100			—			13,700			125			13,925
Definite-lived intangible assets	125,200			62,700			564,100			71,025			823,025
Other assets	—			—			20,352			1,500			21,852
Assets held for sale	—			—			83,200			—			83,200
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(2,085		)	(277		)	(8,351		)	(1,143		)	(11,856		)
Program contracts payable	(1,914		)	(481		)	(1,140		)	(2,554		)	(6,089		)
Deferred tax liability	—			—			(261,393		)	—			(261,393		)
Other long term liabilities	—			(1,200		)	(17,025		)	—			(18,225		)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired	147,193			69,591			499,679			79,993			796,456
Goodwill	58,698			48,699			535,558			42,443			685,398
Total	$	205,891		$	118,290		$	1,035,237		$	122,436		$	1,481,854

The allocations presented above are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches.  In estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair value estimates are based on, but not limited to, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates, and estimated discount rates.  The purchase prices have been allocated to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities based on estimated fair values.  The allocations related to the acquisitions are preliminary pending a final determination of the fair values of the assets and liabilities.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, we made certain immaterial measurement period adjustments to the initial purchase accounting for the acquisitions in 2014, resulting in reclassifications between certain noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities, including an decrease to property and equipment of approximately $12.5 million, an decrease to broadcast licenses of $4.1 million, an increase to definite-lived intangible assets of $33.0 million, and a decrease to goodwill of $16.5 million, as well as a corresponding decrease to depreciation of $0.6 million and an increase to amortization of $0.3 million, during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The comparable historical periods were not adjusted for these measurement period adjustments as they were not considered to be material.

These intangible assets will be amortized over the estimated remaining useful lives of 15 years for network affiliations and 10 years for the decaying advertiser base.  Acquired property and equipment will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over the respective estimated remaining useful lives.  Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and noncontractual relationships, as well as expected future synergies.  Other intangible assets will be amortized over the respective weighted average useful lives ranging from 14 to 16 years. The following tables summarize the amounts allocated to definite-lived intangible assets representing the estimated fair values and estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes (in thousands):

	MEG Stations		KSNV		Allbritton		Other		Total 2014 acquisitions
Network affiliations	$	54,300	$	44,775	$	356,900	$	42,625	$	498,600
Decaying advertiser base	19,200		12,100		38,500		9,100		78,900
Other intangible assets	51,700		5,825		168,700		19,300		245,525
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$	125,200	$	62,700	$	564,100	$	71,025	$	823,025
Estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes	$	58,698	$	48,699	$	—	$	42,443	$	149,840

In connection with the acquisitions, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we incurred a total of $0.1 million, and $1.0 million, respectively, of costs primarily related to legal and other professional services, which we expensed as incurred and classified as corporate general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Pro Forma Information

The following table sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014, assuming that the above acquisitions, along with transactions necessary to finance the acquisitions, occurred at the beginning of the year preceding the year of acquisition. The pro forma results exclude acquisitions presented under Other above, as they were deemed not material both individually and in the aggregate (in thousands, except per share data):

	(Unaudited)
	2014
Total revenues	$	474,222
Net Income	$	18,401
Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	17,902
Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	0.18
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	0.18

This pro forma financial information is based on historical results of operations, adjusted for the allocation of the purchase price and other acquisition accounting adjustments, and is not indicative of what our results would have been had we operated the businesses since the beginning of the annual period presented because the pro forma results do not reflect expected synergies.  The pro forma adjustments reflect depreciation expense, amortization of intangibles and amortization of program contract costs related to the fair value adjustments of the assets acquired, additional interest expense related to the financing of the transactions, and exclusion of nonrecurring financing and transaction related costs. Depreciation and amortization expense are higher than amounts recorded in the historical financial statements of the acquirees due to the fair value adjustments recorded for long-lived tangibles and intangible assets in purchase accounting.  The pro forma revenues exclude the revenues of WHTM-TV (ABC) in Harrisburg/Lancaster/York, PA, WTTA-TV (MNT) in Tampa, FL, and KXRM/KXTU (FOX) in Colorado Springs, CO which were sold in connection with the above acquisitions.

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 5) (Bank Credit Agreement, Subsequent Event, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015
Term Loan B
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Additional debt commitment	$ 350.0
Term Loan B | LIBOR
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	2.75%
LIBOR floor (as a percent)	0.75%
Revolving Credit Facility
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Current borrowing facility	$ 483.0

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 4) (Maximum, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Maximum
Income taxes
Reduction in liability for unrecognized tax benefits related to continuing operations	$ 6.7

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ACQUISITIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 item	Dec. 19, 2014	Nov. 01, 2014	Aug. 01, 2014
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Goodwill	$ 1,951,074,000		$ 1,964,553,000
Property and equipment	(742,397,000)		(752,538,000)
Depreciation	(25,189,000)	(24,378,000)
Total Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Number of television stations			21
Number of markets			15
Cash paid			1,434,500,000
Working capital adjustment			47,300,000
2014 Acquisitions
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Accounts receivable			38,542,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			20,512,000
Program contract costs			6,201,000
Property and equipment			86,762,000
Broadcast licenses			13,925,000
Definite-lived intangible assets			823,025,000
Other assets			21,852,000
Assets held for sale			83,200,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(11,856,000)
Program contracts payable			(6,089,000)
Deferred tax liability			(261,393,000)
Other long term liabilities			(18,225,000)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			796,456,000
Goodwill			685,398,000
Total			1,481,854,000
Property and equipment	12,500,000
Decrease Broadcast licenses	4,100,000
Increase finite-lived intangible assets	33,000,000
Decrease Goodwill	16,500,000
Depreciation	600,000
Amortization	300,000
MEG Stations
Acquisitions
Number of television stations				4
Number of markets				3
Cash paid				207,500,000
Working capital adjustment				1,600,000
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			476,000
Program contract costs			1,954,000
Property and equipment			23,462,000
Broadcast licenses			100,000
Definite-lived intangible assets			125,200,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(2,085,000)
Program contracts payable			(1,914,000)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			147,193,000
Goodwill			58,698,000
Total			205,891,000
KSNV
Acquisitions
Cash paid					118,500,000
Working capital adjustment					200,000
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			67,000
Program contract costs			482,000
Property and equipment			8,300,000
Definite-lived intangible assets			62,700,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(277,000)
Program contracts payable			(481,000)
Other long term liabilities			(1,200,000)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			69,591,000
Goodwill			48,699,000
Total			118,290,000
Allbritton
Acquisitions
Number of television stations						9
Number of markets						7
Cash paid						985,000,000
Working capital adjustment						50,200,000
Interest rate (as a percent)						5.625%
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Accounts receivable			38,542,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			19,890,000
Program contract costs			1,204,000
Property and equipment			46,600,000
Broadcast licenses			13,700,000
Definite-lived intangible assets			564,100,000
Other assets			20,352,000
Assets held for sale			83,200,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(8,351,000)
Program contracts payable			(1,140,000)
Deferred tax liability			(261,393,000)
Other long term liabilities			(17,025,000)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			499,679,000
Goodwill			535,558,000
Total			1,035,237,000
Other
Acquisitions
Number of television stations			8
Number of markets			4
Cash paid			123,500,000
Working capital adjustment			1,100,000
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			79,000
Program contract costs			2,561,000
Property and equipment			8,400,000
Broadcast licenses			125,000
Definite-lived intangible assets			71,025,000
Other assets			1,500,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(1,143,000)
Program contracts payable			(2,554,000)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			79,993,000
Goodwill			42,443,000
Total			$ 122,436,000

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ACQUISITIONS (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Nov. 22, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014
Other intangible assets | Minimum
Acquisitions
Weighted-average useful life subject to amortization acquired	14 years
Other intangible assets | Maximum
Acquisitions
Weighted-average useful life subject to amortization acquired	16 years
2014 Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			$ 823,025
Estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes			149,840
2014 Acquisitions | Network affiliations
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			498,600
2014 Acquisitions | Decaying advertiser base
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			78,900
2014 Acquisitions | Other intangible assets
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			245,525
MEG Stations
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			125,200
Estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes			58,698
MEG Stations | Network affiliations
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			54,300
MEG Stations | Decaying advertiser base
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			19,200
MEG Stations | Other intangible assets
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			51,700
KSNV
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			62,700
Estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes			48,699
KSNV | Network affiliations
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			44,775
KSNV | Decaying advertiser base
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			12,100
KSNV | Other intangible assets
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			5,825
Allbritton
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			564,100
Allbritton | Network affiliations
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			356,900
Allbritton | Decaying advertiser base
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			38,500
Allbritton | Other intangible assets
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			168,700
Other
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			71,025
Estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes			42,443
Other | Network affiliations
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			42,625
Other | Decaying advertiser base
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			9,100
Other | Other intangible assets
Acquisitions
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired			$ 19,300
Barrington Broadcasting Company, LLC | Network affiliations
Acquisitions
Amortization period		15 years
Barrington Broadcasting Company, LLC | Decaying advertiser base
Acquisitions
Amortization period		10 years

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

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 interests 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 months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 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, 2014 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.  The assets of each of our 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.

Third-party station licensees.  Certain of our stations provide services to other station owners within the same respective market, 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. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we have concluded that 37 of these licensees are VIEs.  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 because, 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 because we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs.  Several of these VIEs are owned by a related party, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham).  See Note 6. Related Person Transactions for more information about the arrangements with Cunningham. The net revenues of the stations which we consolidate were $64.8 million, and $66.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively.  The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation.  See Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership and Joint Sale Agreements within Note 4. Commitment and Contingencies for discussion of recent changes in FCC rules related to JSAs.

Up until third quarter of 2014, we had consolidated Cunningham (parent entity), in addition to their stations that we perform services for, as we had previously determined that it was a VIE because it had insufficient equity at risk.  As of September 30, 2014, we concluded that Cunningham was no longer a VIE given its significant equity at risk in assets that we have no involvement with, and deconsolidated this entity, along with WTAT and WYZZ, stations that Cunningham acquired from us in July 2014 and November 2013, respectively, with which we have no continuing involvement.  As a result of the deconsolidation, we recorded the difference between the proceeds received from Cunningham for the sale of WTAT and WYZZ to additional paid in capital in the consolidated balance sheet, as well as reflected the noncontrolling interest deficit of the remaining Cunningham VIEs which represents their significant cumulative distributions made to Cunningham (parent entity) that were previously eliminated in consolidation.

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):

	March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	492	$	491
Accounts receivable	18,186		19,521
Current portion of program contract costs	9,171		9,544
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	411		297
Total current assets	28,260		29,853
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	6,649		6,922
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	9,291		9,716
GOODWILL	787		787
BROADCAST LICENSES	16,935		16,935
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	94,799		96,732
OTHER ASSETS	2,340		2,376
Total assets	$	159,061	$	163,321
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	66	$	68
Accrued liabilities	1,356		1,297
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	3,666		3,659
Current portion of program contracts payable	9,127		9,714
Total current liabilities	14,215		14,738
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	27,721		28,640
Program contracts payable, less current portion	11,381		10,161
Long term liabilities	9,718		8,739
Total liabilities	$	63,035	$	62,278

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 LMA 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 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, which are excluded from liabilities above, were $35.2 million and $34.4 million, respectively.  The total capital lease liabilities, net of capital lease assets, excluded from the above were $4.3 million for March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  Also excluded from the amounts above are liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs totaling $78.0 million and $78.1 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, as these amounts are eliminated in consolidation.  The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.

Other investments.  We have investments in other 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 March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $21.5 million and $22.7 million, respectively, which 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 $3.3 million, and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to these investments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued new 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 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, but is under review based on the FASB’s recent decision to propose a one-year deferral. Early application is not permitted and the standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued guidance on disclosure of uncertainties about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The new standard is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends the current consolidation guidance on the determination of whether an entity is a variable interest entity.  This new standard is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2016.  Early adoption is allowed, including in any interim period.  We are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on our financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends existing guidance to require the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. This new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. We are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on our financial statements.

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.

Revenue Recognition

Total revenues include: (i) cash and barter advertising revenues, net of agency commissions; (ii) retransmission consent fees; (iii) network compensation; (iv) other broadcast revenues and (v) revenues from our other operating divisions.

Advertising revenues, net of agency commissions, are recognized in the period during which time spots are aired.

Our retransmission consent agreements contain both advertising and retransmission consent elements.  We have determined that our 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 revenues are recognized as services are provided.

Share Repurchase Program

On October 28, 1999, we announced a $150.0 million share repurchase program, which was renewed on February 6, 2008.  On March 20, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program.  For the three months ended March 31, 2015, we have purchased approximately 0.3 million shares for $7.8 million.  As of March 31, 2015, the total remaining authorization was $126.6 million.

Income Taxes

Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes.  The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 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 months ended March 31, 2015 would have exceeded the statutory rate primarily due to an increase in income tax provision resulting from asettlement of a state income tax positions. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 approximated the statutory rate.

We believe it is reasonably possible that our liability for unrecognized tax benefits related to continuing operations could be reduced by up to $6.7 million, in the next twelve months, as a result of expected statute of limitations expirations, the application of limits under available state administrative practice exceptions, and the resolution of examination issues and settlements with federal and certain state tax authorities.

Reclassifications

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

Subsequent Events

Effective April 30, 2015, we entered into an amendment and restatement of our bank credit agreement. Pursuant to the Amendment, we raised an additional $350.0 million of incremental term loan B commitments, which mature in July 2021 and bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% with a 0.75% LIBOR floor. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, from the amendment of term loan B were used to pay down the outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility, and for general corporate purposes. As of April 30, 2015, we had $483.0 million borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility.

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ACQUISITIONS (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
ACQUISITIONS
Costs incurred in corporate, general and administrative expenses		$ 100,000	$ 1,000,000
Pro Forma Information
Total revenues	474,222,000
Net Income	18,401,000
Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ 17,902,000
Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	$ 504,775	$ 412,648
Program and production	171,015	127,039
Selling, general and administrative	117,903	97,760
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	131,310	106,849
Total operating expenses	420,228	331,648
Operating income	84,547	81,000
Interest expense	(46,648)	(39,538)
Other income (expense)	3,364	1,015
Total other expense, net	(43,284)	(38,523)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(16,427)	(14,820)
NET INCOME	24,836	27,657
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(554)	(499)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	24,282	27,158
Comprehensive income (loss)	24,920	27,696
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Selling, general and administrative	1,045	885
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	266	267
Total operating expenses	1,311	1,152
Operating income	(1,311)	(1,152)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	24,325	26,687
Interest expense	(102)	(159)
Other income (expense)	1,350	646
Total other expense, net	25,573	27,174
Income tax benefit (provision)	20	1,136
NET INCOME	24,282	27,158
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	24,282	27,158
Comprehensive income (loss)	24,920	27,696
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Program and production		76
Selling, general and administrative	14,783	14,545
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	775	1,107
Total operating expenses	15,558	15,728
Operating income	(15,558)	(15,728)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	64,465	62,264
Interest expense	(43,873)	(36,748)
Other income (expense)	(154)	296
Total other expense, net	20,438	25,812
Income tax benefit (provision)	20,615	17,267
NET INCOME	25,495	27,351
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	25,495	27,351
Comprehensive income (loss)	25,579	27,265
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	476,670	390,080
Program and production	169,693	126,733
Selling, general and administrative	99,347	80,502
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	102,360	86,390
Total operating expenses	371,400	293,625
Operating income	105,270	96,455
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(50)
Interest expense	(1,176)	(1,242)
Other income (expense)	64	93
Total other expense, net	(1,162)	(1,149)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(38,377)	(33,042)
NET INCOME	65,731	62,264
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	65,731	62,264
Comprehensive income (loss)	65,731	62,264
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	47,004	41,427
Program and production	19,849	18,411
Selling, general and administrative	2,640	2,400
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	28,250	19,160
Total operating expenses	50,739	39,971
Operating income	(3,735)	1,456
Interest expense	(6,706)	(6,553)
Other income (expense)	2,104
Total other expense, net	(4,602)	(6,553)
Income tax benefit (provision)	1,315	(181)
NET INCOME	(7,022)	(5,278)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(554)	(499)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(7,576)	(5,777)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(7,576)	(5,652)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	(18,899)	(18,859)
Program and production	(18,527)	(18,181)
Selling, general and administrative	88	(572)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	(341)	(75)
Total operating expenses	(18,780)	(18,828)
Operating income	(119)	(31)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(88,740)	(88,951)
Interest expense	5,209	5,164
Other income (expense)		(20)
Total other expense, net	(83,531)	(83,807)
NET INCOME	(83,650)	(83,838)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(83,650)	(83,838)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (83,734)	$ (83,877)

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 57,843	$ 17,682
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,387 and $4,246, respectively	368,696	383,503
Current portion of program contract costs	66,405	88,198
Income taxes receivable		3,314
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	33,213	21,338
Deferred barter costs	7,620	5,626
Assets held for sale		6,504
Total current assets	533,777	526,165
ASSETS HELD FOR SALE	1,843	8,817
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	30,703	38,531
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	742,397	752,538
GOODWILL	1,951,074	1,964,553
BROADCAST LICENSES	130,915	135,075
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	1,822,211	1,818,263
OTHER ASSETS	204,559	208,230
Total assets	5,417,479	5,452,172
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	7,346	12,248
Accrued liabilities	237,709	246,123
Income taxes payable	26,431
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	58,826	113,116
Current portion of notes and capital leases payable to affiliates	2,778	2,625
Current portion of program contracts payable	83,632	104,922
Deferred barter revenues	7,768	5,806
Deferred tax liabilities	6,689	6,689
Liabilities held for sale		2,477
Total current liabilities	431,179	494,006
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	3,831,823	3,796,666
Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion	17,605	16,309
Program contracts payable, less current portion	55,013	60,605
Deferred tax liabilities	591,245	602,243
Other long-term liabilities	78,174	77,000
Total liabilities	5,005,039	5,046,829
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 4)
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital	979,914	979,202
Accumulated deficit	(537,253)	(545,820)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(6,371)	(6,455)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders' equity	437,244	427,882
Noncontrolling interests	(24,804)	(22,539)
Total equity	412,440	405,343
Total liabilities and equity	5,417,479	5,452,172
Class A Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common Stock	695	696
Class B Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common Stock	$ 259	$ 259

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Class A Common Stock Common Stock USD ($)	Class A Common Stock	Class B Common Stock Common Stock USD ($)	Class B Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital USD ($)	Accumulated Deficit USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interest USD ($)	Total USD ($)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 741		$ 260		$ 1,094,918	$ (696,996)	$ (2,553)	$ 9,334	$ 405,704
BALANCE (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	74,145,569		26,028,357
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock						(14,696)			(14,696)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(29)				(82,342)				(82,371)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock (in shares)	(2,910,106)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	1				4,951				4,952
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (in shares)	106,453
Tax benefit on share based awards					1,342				1,342
Distributions to noncontrolling interests								(260)	(260)
Other Comprehensive Income							39		39
Net income						27,158		499	27,657
BALANCE at Mar. 31, 2014	713		260		1,018,869	(684,534)	(2,514)	9,573	342,367
BALANCE (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014	71,341,916		26,028,357
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2014	696		259		979,202	(545,820)	(6,455)	(22,539)	405,343
BALANCE (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	69,578,899	69,578,899	25,928,357	25,928,357
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock						(15,715)			(15,715)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(3)				(7,800)				(7,803)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock (in shares)	(304,787)								300,000
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	2				7,824				7,826
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (in shares)	217,803
Tax benefit on share based awards					688				688
Distributions to noncontrolling interests								(2,819)	(2,819)
Other Comprehensive Income							84		84
Net income						24,282		554	24,836
BALANCE at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 695		$ 259		$ 979,914	$ (537,253)	$ (6,371)	$ (24,804)	$ 412,440
BALANCE (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015	69,491,915	69,491,915	25,928,357	25,928,357

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income (Numerator)
Net Income	$ 24,836	$ 27,657
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(554)	(499)
Numerator for diluted earnings available to common shareholders	$ 24,282	$ 27,158
Shares (Denominator)
Weighted average common shares outstanding	95,131,000	98,824,000
Dilutive effect of stock settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options (in shares)	640,000	678,000
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	95,771,000	99,502,000
Additional Disclosures
Potentially antidilutive dilutive securities excluded from calculation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	300,000	0

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SEGMENT DATA (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

SEGMENT DATA

Schedule of segment financial information

Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in thousands):

For the three months ended March 31, 2015	Broadcast		Other Operating Divisions		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	485,122	$	19,653	$	—		$	504,775
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,185		725		279			25,189
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	37,891		2,089		—			39,980
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391		—		—			30,391
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,905		259		852			16,016
Operating income (loss)	87,449		744		(3,646		)	84,547
Interest expense	—		1,075		45,573			46,648
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		3,146		—			3,146
Assets	4,865,380		366,307		185,792			5,417,479

For the three months ended March 31, 2014	Broadcast		Other Operating Divisions		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	397,906	$	14,742	$	—		$	412,648
Depreciation of property and equipment	23,517		594		267			24,378
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	23,163		1,565		—			24,728
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	23,941		—		—			23,941
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,730		251		854			15,835
Operating income (loss)	82,121		1		(1,122		)	81,000
Interest expense	—		919		38,619			39,538
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		98		—			98

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RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Nov. 05, 2009	Aug. 01, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
Related person transactions
Total revenues	$ 504,775,000	$ 412,648,000
Entities owned by the controlling shareholders | Leased assets or facilities
Related person transactions
Amount paid	1,400,000	1,500,000
Cunningham
Related person transactions
Right to acquire capital stock (as a percent)						100.00%
Price of assets sold							78,500,000
Price for which nonvoting stock was purchased			2,000,000	1,700,000
Annual increase in aggregate purchase price (as a percent)	6.00%
Remaining purchase price	53,600,000
Total revenues	21,700,000	27,200,000
Cunningham | LMA
Related person transactions
Right to acquire capital stock (as a percent)	100.00%
Amount paid	2,300,000	3,300,000			4,700,000
Price of assets sold								14,000,000
Number of stations to which programming, sales and managerial services were provided by the entity	6
Number of additional renewal terms	3
Agreement renewal period	5 years
Operating costs reimbursement (as a percent)	100.00%
Cunningham | Minimum | LMA
Related person transactions
Percentage of net broadcast revenue used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid	3.00%
Amount used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid	5,000,000
Cunningham | Maximum
Related person transactions
Amount of purchase price reduction from quarterly installments									29,100,000
Cunningham license related assets
Related person transactions
Agreement renewal period	8 years
Amount of guarantee on the bank debt	3,000,000
Total revenues	1,700,000	1,500,000
Amount received	1,300,000	800,000
Atlantic Automotive | Leased assets or facilities
Related person transactions
Annual rent	100,000	300,000
Number of real estate ventures	1
Atlantic Automotive | Vehicles and related vehicle services
Related person transactions
Amount paid	0	0
Atlantic Automotive | Maximum | Advertising time
Related person transactions
Amount received	400,000	100,000
President and Chief Executive Officer | Leased assets or facilities | Real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD
Related person transactions
Number of restaurants owned by a related party	3
Number of real estate ventures	1
President and Chief Executive Officer | Leased assets or facilities | Real estate ventures in Towson, MD
Related person transactions
Annual rent	100,000	100,000
Number of restaurants owned by a related party	1
Number of real estate ventures	1
President and Chief Executive Officer | Maximum | Leased assets or facilities | Real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD
Related person transactions
Amount received	100,000	100,000
Controlling shareholders | Maximum | Charter Aircraft
Related person transactions
Aircraft expense	$ 300,000	$ 300,000

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Schedule of condensed consolidating balance sheet

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.		Sinclair Television Group, Inc.		Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Cash	$	—	$	35,551	$	936	$	21,356		$	—		$	57,843
Accounts and other receivables	—		—		341,056		28,861			(1,221		)	368,696
Other current assets	1,627		16,261		86,304		21,758			(18,712		)	107,238
Total current assets	1,627		51,812		428,296		71,975			(19,933		)	533,777
Property and equipment, net	3,683		19,618		554,338		172,105			(7,347		)	742,397
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	412,044		3,519,449		4,129		—			(3,935,622		)	—
Other long-term assets	63,286		628,279		82,312		115,725			(652,497		)	237,105
Total other long-term assets	475,330		4,147,728		86,441		115,725			(4,588,119		)	237,105
Goodwill and other intangible assets	—		—		3,800,607		217,368			(113,775		)	3,904,200
Total assets	$	480,640	$	4,219,158	$	4,869,682	$	577,173		$	(4,729,174	)	$	5,417,479
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,812	$	57,224	$	178,665	$	28,595		$	(21,241	)	$	245,055
Current portion of long-term debt	375		46,250		1,371		10,830			—			58,826
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,509		—		1,086		1,402			(1,219		)	2,778
Other current liabilities	3,026		—		113,656		9,323			(1,485		)	124,520
Total current liabilities	6,722		103,474		294,778		50,150			(23,945		)	431,179
Long-term debt	—		3,652,382		33,971		145,470			—			3,831,823
Affiliate long-term debt	3,109		—		12,587		334,367			(332,458		)	17,605
Other liabilities	33,565		28,261		1,007,725		170,858			(515,977		)	724,432
Total liabilities	43,396		3,784,117		1,349,061		700,845			(872,380		)	5,005,039
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)	437,244		435,041		3,520,621		(94,620		)	(3,861,042		)	437,244
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	—		—		—		(29,052		)	4,248			(24,804		)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	$	480,640	$	4,219,158	$	4,869,682	$	577,173		$	(4,729,174	)	$	5,417,479

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

(in thousands)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.		Sinclair Television Group, Inc.		Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Cash	$	—	$	3,394	$	1,749	$	12,539		$	—		$	17,682
Accounts and other receivables	—		164		359,486		25,111			(1,258		)	383,503
Other current assets	5,741		12,996		98,751		12,721			(11,733		)	118,476
Assets held for sale	—		—		—		6,504			—			6,504
Total current assets	5,741		16,554		459,986		56,875			(12,991		)	526,165
Property and equipment, net	3,949		17,554		569,372		168,762			(7,099		)	752,538
Assets held for sale	—		—		1,843		6,974			—			8,817
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	395,225		3,585,037		3,978		—			(3,984,240		)	—
Other long-term assets	65,988		595,112		90,914		115,375			(620,628		)	246,761
Total other long-term assets	461,213		4,180,149		96,735		122,349			(4,604,868		)	255,578
Goodwill and other intangible assets	—		1,483		3,821,985		209,724			(115,301		)	3,917,891
Total assets	$	470,903	$	4,215,740	$	4,948,078	$	557,710		$	(4,740,259	)	$	5,452,172
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	541	$	46,083	$	201,102	$	24,325		$	(13,680	)	$	258,371
Current portion of long-term debt	529		42,953		1,302		68,332			—			113,116
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,464		—		1,182		1,026			(1,047		)	2,625
Other current liabilities	1,208		—		107,867		9,749			(1,407		)	117,417
Liabilities held for sale	—		—		—		2,477			—			2,477
Total current liabilities	3,742		89,036		311,453		105,909			(16,134		)	494,006
Long-term debt	—		3,679,004		34,338		83,324			—			3,796,666
Affiliate long-term debt	3,508		—		12,802		319,901			(319,902		)	16,309
Other liabilities	35,771		28,856		1,003,213		169,935			(497,927		)	739,848
Total liabilities	43,021		3,796,896		1,361,806		679,069			(833,963		)	5,046,829
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)	427,882		418,844		3,586,272		(94,632		)	(3,910,484		)	427,882
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	—		—		—		(26,727		)	4,188			(22,539		)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	$	470,903	$	4,215,740	$	4,948,078	$	557,710		$	(4,740,259	)	$	5,452,172

Schedule of condensed consolidating statement of operations and comprehensive income

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Net revenue	$	—		$	—		$	476,670		$	47,004		$	(18,899	)	$	504,775
Program and production	—			—			169,693			19,849			(18,527		)	171,015
Selling, general and administrative	1,045			14,783			99,347			2,640			88			117,903
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	266			775			102,360			28,250			(341		)	131,310
Total operating expenses	1,311			15,558			371,400			50,739			(18,780		)	420,228
Operating (loss) income	(1,311		)	(15,558		)	105,270			(3,735		)	(119		)	84,547
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	24,325			64,465			(50		)	—			(88,740		)	—
Interest expense	(102		)	(43,873		)	(1,176		)	(6,706		)	5,209			(46,648		)
Other income (expense)	1,350			(154		)	64			2,104			—			3,364
Total other income (expense)	25,573			20,438			(1,162		)	(4,602		)	(83,531		)	(43,284		)
Income tax benefit (provision)	20			20,615			(38,377		)	1,315			—			(16,427		)
Net income (loss)	24,282			25,495			65,731			(7,022		)	(83,650		)	24,836
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			(554		)	—			(554		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	24,282		$	25,495		$	65,731		$	(7,576	)	$	(83,650	)	$	24,282
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	24,920		$	25,579		$	65,731		$	(7,576	)	$	(83,734	)	$	24,920

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Net revenue	$	—		$	—		$	390,080		$	41,427		$	(18,859	)	$	412,648
Program and production	—			76			126,733			18,411			(18,181		)	127,039
Selling, general and administrative	885			14,545			80,502			2,400			(572		)	97,760
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	267			1,107			86,390			19,160			(75		)	106,849
Total operating expenses	1,152			15,728			293,625			39,971			(18,828		)	331,648
Operating (loss) income	(1,152		)	(15,728		)	96,455			1,456			(31		)	81,000
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	26,687			62,264			—			—			(88,951		)	—
Interest expense	(159		)	(36,748		)	(1,242		)	(6,553		)	5,164			(39,538		)
Other income (expense)	646			296			93			—			(20		)	1,015
Total other income (expense)	27,174			25,812			(1,149		)	(6,553		)	(83,807		)	(38,523		)
Income tax benefit (provision)	1,136			17,267			(33,042		)	(181		)	—			(14,820		)
Net income (loss)	27,158			27,351			62,264			(5,278		)	(83,838		)	27,657
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			(499		)	—			(499		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	27,158		$	27,351		$	62,264		$	(5,777	)	$	(83,838	)	$	27,158
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	27,696		$	27,265		$	62,264		$	(5,652	)	$	(83,877	)	$	27,696

Schedule of condensed consolidating statement of cash flows

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$	6,591		$	(25,325	)	$	139,443		$	(13,488	)	$	4,398		$	111,619
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	—			(2,912		)	(20,309		)	(635		)	208			(23,648		)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	—			—			—			(5,744		)	—			(5,744		)
Distributions from equity and costs method investees	1,425			419			—			2,308			—			4,152
Investments in equity and cost method investees	—			(1,100		)	—			(1,845		)	—			(2,945		)
Other, net	—			—			272			—			—			272
Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities	1,425			(3,593		)	(20,037		)	(5,916		)	208			(27,913		)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	—			—			—			7,866			—			7,866
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(508		)	(23,514		)	56			(1,089		)	—			(25,055		)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(15,715		)	—			—			—			—			(15,715		)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(7,803		)	—			—			—			—			(7,803		)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	15,323			84,589			(120,275		)	24,969			(4,606		)	—
Other, net	687			—			—			(3,525		)	—			(2,838		)
Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities	(8,016		)	61,075			(120,219		)	28,221			(4,606		)	(43,545		)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	—			32,157			(813		)	8,817			—			40,161
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	—			3,394			1,749			12,539			—			17,682
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	—		$	35,551		$	936		$	21,356		$	—		$	57,843

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$	13,532		$	(8,180	)	$	124,353		$	6,472		$	83		$	136,260
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	—			(1,721		)	(9,587		)	(599		)	—			(11,907		)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	—			—			—			(4,323		)	—			(4,323		)
Decrease in restricted cash	—			(900		)	221			—			—			(679		)
Investments in equity and cost method investees	—			—			—			(2,154		)	—			(2,154		)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies	—			17,042			—			—						17,042
Other, net	—			—			—			55			—			55
Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities	—			14,421			(9,366		)	(7,021		)	—			(1,966		)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	—			—			—			5,885			—			5,885
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(132		)	(4,335		)	(268		)	(1,661		)	—			(6,396		)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(14,719		)	—			—			—			23			(14,696		)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(82,371		)	—			—			—			—			(82,371		)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	82,043			60,147			(142,667		)	583			(106		)	—
Other, net	1,647			(144		)	(252		)	(260		)	—			991
Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities	(13,532		)	55,668			(143,187		)	4,547			(83		)	(96,587		)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	—			61,909			(28,200		)	3,998			—			37,707
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	—			237,974			28,594			13,536			—			280,104
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	—		$	299,883		$	394		$	17,534		$	—		$	317,811

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 24,836	$ 27,657
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment	25,189	24,378
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	39,980	24,728
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391	23,941
Stock-based compensation	7,057	4,769
Deferred tax benefit	(9,963)	(7,361)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Decrease in accounts receivable	19,619	17,498
(Decrease) increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(10,472)	37,997
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(15,418)	16,626
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable	29,786	(11,517)
Payments on program contracts payable	(27,624)	(23,966)
Real estate held for development and sale	(3,006)	(2,349)
Other, net	1,244	3,859
Net cash flows from operating activities	111,619	136,260
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(23,648)	(11,907)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(5,744)	(4,323)
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	4,152	739
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(2,945)	(2,154)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies		17,042
Other, net	272	(1,363)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(27,913)	(1,966)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	7,866	5,885
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(25,055)	(6,396)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(15,715)	(14,696)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(7,803)	(82,371)
Noncontrolling interests distributions	(2,819)	(260)
Other, net	(19)	1,251
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(43,545)	(96,587)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	40,161	37,707
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	17,682	280,104
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 57,843	$ 317,811

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars)	$ 4,387,000	$ 4,246,000
Total assets of variable interest entities (in dollars)	159,100,000	163,300,000
Total liabilities of variable interest entities (in dollars)	$ 31,600,000	$ 30,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	69,491,915	69,578,899
Common Stock, shares outstanding	69,491,915	69,578,899
Class B Common Stock
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized	140,000,000	140,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	25,928,357	25,928,357
Common Stock, shares outstanding	25,928,357	25,928,357

XML

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

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 interests 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.

Variable Interest Entities

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.  The assets of each of our 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.

Third-party station licensees.  Certain of our stations provide services to other station owners within the same respective market, 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. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we have concluded that 37 of these licensees are VIEs.  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 because, 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 because we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs.  Several of these VIEs are owned by a related party, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham).  See Note 6. Related Person Transactions for more information about the arrangements with Cunningham. The net revenues of the stations which we consolidate were $64.8 million, and $66.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively.  The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation.  See Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership and Joint Sale Agreements within Note 4. Commitment and Contingencies for discussion of recent changes in FCC rules related to JSAs.

Up until third quarter of 2014, we had consolidated Cunningham (parent entity), in addition to their stations that we perform services for, as we had previously determined that it was a VIE because it had insufficient equity at risk.  As of September 30, 2014, we concluded that Cunningham was no longer a VIE given its significant equity at risk in assets that we have no involvement with, and deconsolidated this entity, along with WTAT and WYZZ, stations that Cunningham acquired from us in July 2014 and November 2013, respectively, with which we have no continuing involvement.  As a result of the deconsolidation, we recorded the difference between the proceeds received from Cunningham for the sale of WTAT and WYZZ to additional paid in capital in the consolidated balance sheet, as well as reflected the noncontrolling interest deficit of the remaining Cunningham VIEs which represents their significant cumulative distributions made to Cunningham (parent entity) that were previously eliminated in consolidation.

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):

	March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	492	$	491
Accounts receivable	18,186		19,521
Current portion of program contract costs	9,171		9,544
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	411		297
Total current assets	28,260		29,853
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	6,649		6,922
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	9,291		9,716
GOODWILL	787		787
BROADCAST LICENSES	16,935		16,935
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	94,799		96,732
OTHER ASSETS	2,340		2,376
Total assets	$	159,061	$	163,321
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	66	$	68
Accrued liabilities	1,356		1,297
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	3,666		3,659
Current portion of program contracts payable	9,127		9,714
Total current liabilities	14,215		14,738
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	27,721		28,640
Program contracts payable, less current portion	11,381		10,161
Long term liabilities	9,718		8,739
Total liabilities	$	63,035	$	62,278

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 LMA 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 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, which are excluded from liabilities above, were $35.2 million and $34.4 million, respectively.  The total capital lease liabilities, net of capital lease assets, excluded from the above were $4.3 million for March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  Also excluded from the amounts above are liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs totaling $78.0 million and $78.1 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, as these amounts are eliminated in consolidation.  The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.

Other investments.  We have investments in other 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 March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $21.5 million and $22.7 million, respectively, which 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 $3.3 million, and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to these investments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued new 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 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, but is under review based on the FASB’s recent decision to propose a one-year deferral. Early application is not permitted and the standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued guidance on disclosure of uncertainties about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The new standard is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends the current consolidation guidance on the determination of whether an entity is a variable interest entity.  This new standard is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2016.  Early adoption is allowed, including in any interim period.  We are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on our financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends existing guidance to require the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. This new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. We are currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on our financial statements.

Use of Estimates

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.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Total revenues include: (i) cash and barter advertising revenues, net of agency commissions; (ii) retransmission consent fees; (iii) network compensation; (iv) other broadcast revenues and (v) revenues from our other operating divisions.

Advertising revenues, net of agency commissions, are recognized in the period during which time spots are aired.

Our retransmission consent agreements contain both advertising and retransmission consent elements.  We have determined that our 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 revenues are recognized as services are provided.

Share Repurchase Program

Share Repurchase Program

On October 28, 1999, we announced a $150.0 million share repurchase program, which was renewed on February 6, 2008.  On March 20, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program.  For the three months ended March 31, 2015, we have purchased approximately 0.3 million shares for $7.8 million.  As of March 31, 2015, the total remaining authorization was $126.6 million.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes.  The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 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 months ended March 31, 2015 would have exceeded the statutory rate primarily due to an increase in income tax provision resulting from a settlement of a state income tax positions. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 approximated the statutory rate.

We believe it is reasonably possible that our liability for unrecognized tax benefits related to continuing operations could be reduced by up to $6.7 million, in the next twelve months, as a result of expected statute of limitations expirations, the application of limits under available state administrative practice exceptions, and the resolution of examination issues and settlements with federal and certain state tax authorities.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

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

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events

Effective April 30, 2015, we entered into an amendment and restatement of our bank credit agreement. Pursuant to the Amendment, we raised an additional $350.0 million of incremental term loan B commitments, which mature in July 2021 and bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% with a 0.75% LIBOR floor. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, from the amendment of term loan B were used to pay down the outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility, and for general corporate purposes. As of April 30, 2015, we had $483.0 million borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility.

XML

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	May 04, 2015
Entity Listings
Entity Registrant Name	SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000912752
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Class A Common Stock
Entity Listings
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		69,518,193
Class B Common Stock
Entity Listings
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		25,928,357

XML

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Schedule of carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of VIEs

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):

	March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	492	$	491
Accounts receivable	18,186		19,521
Current portion of program contract costs	9,171		9,544
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	411		297
Total current assets	28,260		29,853
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	6,649		6,922
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	9,291		9,716
GOODWILL	787		787
BROADCAST LICENSES	16,935		16,935
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	94,799		96,732
OTHER ASSETS	2,340		2,376
Total assets	$	159,061	$	163,321
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	66	$	68
Accrued liabilities	1,356		1,297
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	3,666		3,659
Current portion of program contracts payable	9,127		9,714
Total current liabilities	14,215		14,738
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	27,721		28,640
Program contracts payable, less current portion	11,381		10,161
Long term liabilities	9,718		8,739
Total liabilities	$	63,035	$	62,278

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
REVENUES:
Station broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions	$ 464,163	$ 373,881
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements	20,959	24,025
Other operating divisions revenues	19,653	14,742
Total revenues	504,775	412,648
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Station production expenses	171,015	127,039
Station selling, general and administrative expenses	101,887	81,925
Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements	17,412	21,477
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391	23,941
Other operating divisions expenses	15,823	12,325
Depreciation of property and equipment	25,189	24,378
Corporate general and administrative expenses	16,016	15,835
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets	39,980	24,728
Research and development expenses	2,515
Total operating expenses	420,228	331,648
Operating income	84,547	81,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(46,648)	(39,538)
Income from equity and cost method investments	3,146	98
Other income, net	218	917
Total other expense, net	(43,284)	(38,523)
Income before income taxes	41,263	42,477
INCOME TAX PROVISION	(16,427)	(14,820)
NET INCOME	24,836	27,657
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(554)	(499)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 24,282	$ 27,158
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.165	$ 0.15
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.27
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.27
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	95,131	98,824
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	95,771	99,502

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EARNINGS PER SHARE

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE

5. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table reconciles income (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in our computations of diluted earnings per share for the periods presented (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014
Income (Numerator)
Net Income	$	24,836		$	27,657
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(554		)	(499		)
Numerator for diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders	$	24,282		$	27,158
Shares (Denominator)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	95,131			98,824
Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options	640			678
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	95,771			99,502

Potentially dilutive securities which would have an anti-dilutive effect were 0.3 million shares of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2015.  There were no anti-dilutive shares for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The increase in anti-dilutive securities is primarily related to stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options with exercise prices less than the share price as of March 31, 2015.

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

4. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

Litigation

We are a party to lawsuits and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business.  Actions currently pending are in various stages and no material judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions.  After reviewing developments to date with legal counsel, our management is of the opinion that the outcome of our pending and threatened matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows.

Various parties have filed petitions to deny our applications or our LMA partners’ applications for the following stations’ license renewals: WXLV-TV, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; WMYV-TV, Greensboro, North Carolina; WLFL-TV, Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina; WRDC-TV, Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina; WLOS-TV, Asheville, North Carolina; WCIV-TV, Charleston, South Carolina (formerly WMMP-TV); WMYA-TV, Anderson, South Carolina; WICS-TV Springfield, Illinois; WBFF-TV, Baltimore, Maryland; WTTE-TV, Columbus, Ohio; WRGT-TV, Dayton, Ohio; WVAH-TV, Charleston / Huntington, West Virginia; WCGV-TV, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and WTTO-TV in Birmingham, AL. The FCC is in the process of considering the renewal applications and we believe the petitions have no merit.

Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership and Joint Sale Agreements

On March 12, 2014, the FCC issued a public notice on the processing of broadcast television applications proposing sharing arrangements and contingent interests.  The public notice indicated that the FCC will closely scrutinize any broadcast assignment or transfer application that proposes that two or more stations in the same market that will enter into an agreement to share facilities, employees and/or services or to jointly acquire programming or sell advertising including through a JSA, LMA or similar agreement and enter into an option, right of first refusal, put /call arrangement or other similar contingent interest, or a loan guarantee. We cannot now predict what actions the FCC may require in connection with the processing of applications for FCC consent to future transactions.  In addition, on April 15, 2014, the FCC issued an order amending its multiple ownership rules to provide that, where two television stations are located in the same market, and a party with an attributable interest in one station sells more than 15% of the ad time per week of the other station, the party selling such ad time shall be treated as if it had an attributable ownership interest in the second station.  The imputed ownership interest would be evaluated to determine whether it complies with the FCC’s ownership rules that limit the number of stations in which parties may hold attributable interests.  The amended rule also requires that every JSA contain certain certifications that the licensee maintains ultimate control of the station subject to such contract, and that such JSAs be filed with the Commission and made available for public review.  That amended rule is the subject of an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  We cannot predict the outcome of that appeal.  Under the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR), which became law on December 4, 2014,  parties to preexisting JSAs have until December 19, 2016 to come into compliance with these new rules by.   A bill has been introduced into Congress proposing to permanently grandfather preexisting JSAs, but we cannot predict its likelihood of enactment.  Among other things, the law could limit our ability to create duopolies or other two-station operations in certain markets.  We are currently evaluating whether to seek one or more waivers of the new rules, or to modify or terminate our current JSAs. We cannot predict whether we will be able to terminate or restructure such arrangements on terms that are as advantageous to us as the current arrangements.  The revenues of these JSA arrangements we earned for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were $10.9 million and $11.0 million, respectively.

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS: (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

Schedule of carrying value and fair value of notes and debentures

The carrying value and fair value of our notes and debentures for the periods presented (in thousands):

	As of March 31, 2015				As of December 31, 2014
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Level 2:
6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021	$	350,000	$	370,563	$	350,000	$	355,800
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022	500,000		523,005		500,000		503,475
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024	550,000		562,375		550,000		532,813
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021	600,000		616,500		600,000		595,068
Term Loan A	341,183		334,359		348,073		341,982
Term Loan B	1,034,450		1,036,559		1,035,883		1,029,997
Revolver credit facility	323,000		323,000		338,000		338,000
Debt of variable interest entities	29,296		29,296		30,167		30,167
Debt of other operating divisions	126,502		126,502		118,822		118,822

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ACQUISITIONS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

ACQUISITIONS

Schedule of allocated fair value of acquired assets and liabilities assumed

The following tables summarize the allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, including the net assets of consolidated VIEs (in thousands):

	MEG Stations			KSNV			Allbritton			Other			Total 2014 acquisitions
Accounts receivable	$	—		$	—		$	38,542		$	—		$	38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	476			67			19,890			79			20,512
Program contract costs	1,954			482			1,204			2,561			6,201
Property and equipment	23,462			8,300			46,600			8,400			86,762
Broadcast licenses	100			—			13,700			125			13,925
Definite-lived intangible assets	125,200			62,700			564,100			71,025			823,025
Other assets	—			—			20,352			1,500			21,852
Assets held for sale	—			—			83,200			—			83,200
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(2,085		)	(277		)	(8,351		)	(1,143		)	(11,856		)
Program contracts payable	(1,914		)	(481		)	(1,140		)	(2,554		)	(6,089		)
Deferred tax liability	—			—			(261,393		)	—			(261,393		)
Other long term liabilities	—			(1,200		)	(17,025		)	—			(18,225		)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired	147,193			69,591			499,679			79,993			796,456
Goodwill	58,698			48,699			535,558			42,443			685,398
Total	$	205,891		$	118,290		$	1,035,237		$	122,436		$	1,481,854

Schedule of allocated to definite-lived intangible assets

The following tables summarize the amounts allocated to definite-lived intangible assets representing the estimated fair values and estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes (in thousands):

	MEG Stations		KSNV		Allbritton		Other		Total 2014 acquisitions
Network affiliations	$	54,300	$	44,775	$	356,900	$	42,625	$	498,600
Decaying advertiser base	19,200		12,100		38,500		9,100		78,900
Other intangible assets	51,700		5,825		168,700		19,300		245,525
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$	125,200	$	62,700	$	564,100	$	71,025	$	823,025
Estimated goodwill deductible for tax purposes	$	58,698	$	48,699	$	—	$	42,443	$	149,840

Schedule of unaudited pro forma results of operations

The following table sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014, assuming that the above acquisitions, along with transactions necessary to finance the acquisitions, occurred at the beginning of the year preceding the year of acquisition. The pro forma results exclude acquisitions presented under Other above, as they were deemed not material both individually and in the aggregate (in thousands, except per share data):

	(Unaudited)
	2014
Total revenues	$	474,222
Net Income	$	18,401
Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	17,902
Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	0.18
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	0.18

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

Accounting guidance provides for valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost).  A fair value hierarchy using three broad levels prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The following is a brief description of those three levels:

· Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

· Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

· Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

The carrying value and fair value of our notes and debentures for the periods presented (in thousands):

	As of March 31, 2015				As of December 31, 2014
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Level 2:
6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021	$	350,000	$	370,563	$	350,000	$	355,800
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022	500,000		523,005		500,000		503,475
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024	550,000		562,375		550,000		532,813
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021	600,000		616,500		600,000		595,068
Term Loan A	341,183		334,359		348,073		341,982
Term Loan B	1,034,450		1,036,559		1,035,883		1,029,997
Revolver credit facility	323,000		323,000		338,000		338,000
Debt of variable interest entities	29,296		29,296		30,167		30,167
Debt of other operating divisions	126,502		126,502		118,822		118,822

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RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

6. RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Transactions with our controlling shareholders

David, Frederick, J. Duncan and Robert Smith (collectively, the controlling shareholders) are brothers and hold substantially all of the Class B Common Stock and some of our Class A Common Stock.  We engaged in the following transactions with them and/or entities in which they have substantial interests.

Leases.  Certain assets used by us and our operating subsidiaries are leased from Cunningham Communications Inc., Keyser Investment Group, Gerstell Development Limited Partnership and Beaver Dam, LLC (entities owned by the controlling shareholders).  Lease payments made to these entities were $1.4 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Charter Aircraft.We lease aircraft owned by certain controlling shareholders.  We incurred expenses of $0.3 million during both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation

As of March 31, 2015, Cunningham was the owner-operator and FCC licensee of: WNUV-TV Baltimore, Maryland; WRGT-TV Dayton, Ohio; WVAH-TV Charleston, West Virginia; WMYA-TV Anderson, South Carolina; WTTE-TV Columbus, Ohio; WDBB-TV Birmingham, Alabama; WBSF-TV Flint, Michigan; and WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV Traverse City/Cadillac, Michigan (collectively, the Cunningham Stations), as well as WTAT-TV Charleston, South Carolina, and WYZZ Peoria/Bloomington, IL.

During the first quarter of 2013, the estate of Carolyn C. Smith, a mother of our controlling shareholders, distributed all of the non-voting stock owned by the estate to our controlling shareholders, and a portion was repurchased by Cunningham for $1.7 million in the aggregate.  During the second quarter of 2014, Cunningham purchased the remaining amount of non-voting stock from the controlling shareholders for an aggregate purchase price of $2.0 million.  The estate of Mrs. Smith currently owns all of the voting stock.  The sale of the voting stock by the estate to an unrelated party is pending approval of the FCC.  We also had options from the trusts, which granted us the right to acquire, subject to applicable FCC rules and regulations, 100% of the voting and nonvoting stock of Cunningham, up until September 30, 2014, when these options were terminated. As discussed under Variable Interest Entities in Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, during the third quarter of 2014, we deconsolidated Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation as we determined it was no longer a VIE.  We continue to consolidate certain of its subsidiaries with which we continue to have variable interests through various arrangements related to the Cunningham Stations discussed further below.

As of March 31, 2015, certain of our stations provide programming, sales and managerial services pursuant to LMAs to six of the Cunningham stations: WNUV-TV, WRGT-TV, WVAH-TV, WMYA-TV, WTTE-TV, and WDBB-TV (collectively, the Cunningham LMA Stations). Each of these LMAs has a current term that expires on July 1, 2016 and there are three additional 5- year renewal terms remaining with final expiration on July 1, 2031. We also executed purchase agreements to acquire the license related assets of these stations from Cunningham, which grant us the right to acquire, and grant Cunningham the right to require us to acquire, subject to applicable FCC rules and regulations, 100% of the capital stock or the assets of these individual subsidiaries of Cunningham.  Our applications to acquire these license related assets are pending FCC approval.  The LMA and purchase agreement with WTAT-TV was terminated concurrent with Cunningham’s purchase of the non-license assets of this station from us for $14.0 million, effective August 1, 2014.  We no longer have any continuing involvement in the operations of this station.

Pursuant to the terms of the LMAs, options and other agreements, beginning on January 1, 2013, we were obligated to pay Cunningham an annual LMA fee for the television stations equal to the greater of (i) 3% of each station’s annual net broadcast revenue and (ii) $5.0 million. The aggregate purchase price of the television stations, which was originally $78.5 million pursuant to certain acquisition or merger agreements subject to 6% annual increases, was decreased by each payment made by us to Cunningham, through 2012, of $29.1 million in the aggregate. Additionally, we reimburse these Cunningham LMA Stations for 100% of their operating costs. In July 2014, concurrent with the termination of the LMA with WTAT-TV, the total LMA fee for the remaining Cunningham LMA Stations was reduced by $4.7 million to remove the fee associated with WTAT-TV.  The remaining aggregate purchase price of these stations, excluding WTAT-TV, as of March 31, 2015 was approximately $53.6 million.

We made payments to Cunningham under our LMAs with these stations of $2.3 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, Cunningham LMA Stations provided us with approximately $21.7 million and $27.2 million, respectively, of total revenue.

Cunningham owns the license related assets of WBSF-TV and WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV. We provide certain non-programming related sales, operational and administrative services to these stations pursuant to certain outsourcing agreements. The agreements with WBSF-TV and WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV expire in November 2021 and August 2015, respectively, and each has renewal provisions for successive eight year periods. Additionally, we have provided a guarantee on the bank debt of these licensees of $3.0 million as of March 31, 2015. Under these arrangements, we earned $1.3 million and $0.8 million from the services we perform for these stations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As we consolidate the licensees as VIEs, the amounts we earn under the arrangements are eliminated in consolidation and the gross revenues of the stations are reported within our consolidated statement of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, our consolidated revenues include $1.7 million and $1.5 million related to these stations, respectively.

Atlantic Automotive Corporation

We sold advertising time to and purchased vehicles and related vehicle services from Atlantic Automotive Corporation (Atlantic Automotive), a holding company that owns automobile dealerships and an automobile leasing company.  David D. Smith, our President and Chief Executive Officer, has a controlling interest in, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Atlantic Automotive.  We received payments for advertising totaling $0.4 million and less than $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  No payments for vehicles or vehicles related services from Atlantic Automotive were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.  Additionally, in August 2011, Atlantic Automotive entered into an office lease agreement with Towson City Center, LLC (Towson City Center), a subsidiary of one of our real estate ventures. Atlantic Automotive paid $0.1 million and $0.3 million in rent during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

Leased property by real estate ventures

Certain of our real estate ventures have entered into leases with entities owned by David Smith to lease restaurant space. There are leases for three restaurants in a building owned by one of our consolidated real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD. Total rent received under these leases was $0.1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. There is also one lease for a restaurant in a building owned by one of our real estate ventures, accounted for under the equity method, in Towson, MD.  This investment received $0.1 million in rent pursuant to the lease for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

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SEGMENT DATA

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

SEGMENT DATA

SEGMENT DATA

7. SEGMENT DATA

We measure segment performance based on operating income (loss).  Our broadcast segment includes stations in 79 markets located throughout the continental United States. Our other operating divisions primarily consist of sign design and fabrication; regional security alarm operating and bulk acquisitions; manufacturing and service of broadcast antennas; service of broadcast transmitters; and real estate ventures. All of our other operating divisions are located within the United States.  Corporate costs primarily include our costs to operate as a public company and to operate our corporate headquarters location.  Other Operating Divisions and Corporate are not reportable segments but are included for reconciliation purposes.  We had approximately $207.0 million and $172.0 million of intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other operating divisions and corporate as of March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  We had $5.2 million and $4.9 million in intercompany interest expense related to intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other operating divisions and corporate for the three months ending March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. All other intercompany transactions are immaterial.

Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in thousands):

For the three months ended March 31, 2015	Broadcast		Other Operating Divisions		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	485,122	$	19,653	$	—		$	504,775
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,185		725		279			25,189
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	37,891		2,089		—			39,980
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391		—		—			30,391
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,905		259		852			16,016
Operating income (loss)	87,449		744		(3,646		)	84,547
Interest expense	—		1,075		45,573			46,648
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		3,146		—			3,146
Assets	4,865,380		366,307		185,792			5,417,479

For the three months ended March 31, 2014	Broadcast		Other Operating Divisions		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	397,906	$	14,742	$	—		$	412,648
Depreciation of property and equipment	23,517		594		267			24,378
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	23,163		1,565		—			24,728
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	23,941		—		—			23,941
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,730		251		854			15,835
Operating income (loss)	82,121		1		(1,122		)	81,000
Interest expense	—		919		38,619			39,538
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		98		—			98

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

9. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Sinclair Television Group, Inc. (STG), a wholly-owned subsidiary and the television operating subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (SBG), is the primary obligor under the Bank Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Notes, the 5.625% Notes, 6.125% Notes, and 6.375% Notes. Our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as of March 31, 2015, were obligations or securities of SBG and not obligations or securities of STG.  SBG is a guarantor under the Bank Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Notes, 5.625% Notes, 6.125% Notes, and 6.375% Notes. As of March 31, 2015, our consolidated total debt of $3,911.0 million included $3,779.0 million of debt related to STG and its subsidiaries of which SBG guaranteed $3,727.9 million.

SBG, KDSM, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBG, and STG’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (guarantor subsidiaries), have fully and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to certain customary automatic release provisions, all of STG’s obligations.  Those guarantees are joint and several.  There are certain contractual restrictions on the ability of SBG, STG or KDSM, LLC to obtain funds from their subsidiaries in the form of dividends or loans.

The following condensed consolidating financial statements present the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows of SBG, STG, KDSM, LLC and the guarantor subsidiaries, the direct and indirect non-guarantor subsidiaries of SBG and the eliminations necessary to arrive at our information on a consolidated basis.

These statements are presented in accordance with the disclosure requirements under SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 3-10.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.		Sinclair Television Group, Inc.		Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Cash	$	—	$	35,551	$	936	$	21,356		$	—		$	57,843
Accounts and other receivables	—		—		341,056		28,861			(1,221		)	368,696
Other current assets	1,627		16,261		86,304		21,758			(18,712		)	107,238
Total current assets	1,627		51,812		428,296		71,975			(19,933		)	533,777
Property and equipment, net	3,683		19,618		554,338		172,105			(7,347		)	742,397
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	412,044		3,519,449		4,129		—			(3,935,622		)	—
Other long-term assets	63,286		628,279		82,312		115,725			(652,497		)	237,105
Total other long-term assets	475,330		4,147,728		86,441		115,725			(4,588,119		)	237,105
Goodwill and other intangible assets	—		—		3,800,607		217,368			(113,775		)	3,904,200
Total assets	$	480,640	$	4,219,158	$	4,869,682	$	577,173		$	(4,729,174	)	$	5,417,479
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,812	$	57,224	$	178,665	$	28,595		$	(21,241	)	$	245,055
Current portion of long-term debt	375		46,250		1,371		10,830			—			58,826
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,509		—		1,086		1,402			(1,219		)	2,778
Other current liabilities	3,026		—		113,656		9,323			(1,485		)	124,520
Total current liabilities	6,722		103,474		294,778		50,150			(23,945		)	431,179
Long-term debt	—		3,652,382		33,971		145,470			—			3,831,823
Affiliate long-term debt	3,109		—		12,587		334,367			(332,458		)	17,605
Other liabilities	33,565		28,261		1,007,725		170,858			(515,977		)	724,432
Total liabilities	43,396		3,784,117		1,349,061		700,845			(872,380		)	5,005,039
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)	437,244		435,041		3,520,621		(94,620		)	(3,861,042		)	437,244
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	—		—		—		(29,052		)	4,248			(24,804		)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	$	480,640	$	4,219,158	$	4,869,682	$	577,173		$	(4,729,174	)	$	5,417,479

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

(in thousands)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.		Sinclair Television Group, Inc.		Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Cash	$	—	$	3,394	$	1,749	$	12,539		$	—		$	17,682
Accounts and other receivables	—		164		359,486		25,111			(1,258		)	383,503
Other current assets	5,741		12,996		98,751		12,721			(11,733		)	118,476
Assets held for sale	—		—		—		6,504			—			6,504
Total current assets	5,741		16,554		459,986		56,875			(12,991		)	526,165
Property and equipment, net	3,949		17,554		569,372		168,762			(7,099		)	752,538
Assets held for sale	—		—		1,843		6,974			—			8,817
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	395,225		3,585,037		3,978		—			(3,984,240		)	—
Other long-term assets	65,988		595,112		90,914		115,375			(620,628		)	246,761
Total other long-term assets	461,213		4,180,149		96,735		122,349			(4,604,868		)	255,578
Goodwill and other intangible assets	—		1,483		3,821,985		209,724			(115,301		)	3,917,891
Total assets	$	470,903	$	4,215,740	$	4,948,078	$	557,710		$	(4,740,259	)	$	5,452,172
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	541	$	46,083	$	201,102	$	24,325		$	(13,680	)	$	258,371
Current portion of long-term debt	529		42,953		1,302		68,332			—			113,116
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt	1,464		—		1,182		1,026			(1,047		)	2,625
Other current liabilities	1,208		—		107,867		9,749			(1,407		)	117,417
Liabilities held for sale	—		—		—		2,477			—			2,477
Total current liabilities	3,742		89,036		311,453		105,909			(16,134		)	494,006
Long-term debt	—		3,679,004		34,338		83,324			—			3,796,666
Affiliate long-term debt	3,508		—		12,802		319,901			(319,902		)	16,309
Other liabilities	35,771		28,856		1,003,213		169,935			(497,927		)	739,848
Total liabilities	43,021		3,796,896		1,361,806		679,069			(833,963		)	5,046,829
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)	427,882		418,844		3,586,272		(94,632		)	(3,910,484		)	427,882
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	—		—		—		(26,727		)	4,188			(22,539		)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	$	470,903	$	4,215,740	$	4,948,078	$	557,710		$	(4,740,259	)	$	5,452,172

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Net revenue	$	—		$	—		$	476,670		$	47,004		$	(18,899	)	$	504,775
Program and production	—			—			169,693			19,849			(18,527		)	171,015
Selling, general and administrative	1,045			14,783			99,347			2,640			88			117,903
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	266			775			102,360			28,250			(341		)	131,310
Total operating expenses	1,311			15,558			371,400			50,739			(18,780		)	420,228
Operating (loss) income	(1,311		)	(15,558		)	105,270			(3,735		)	(119		)	84,547
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	24,325			64,465			(50		)	—			(88,740		)	—
Interest expense	(102		)	(43,873		)	(1,176		)	(6,706		)	5,209			(46,648		)
Other income (expense)	1,350			(154		)	64			2,104			—			3,364
Total other income (expense)	25,573			20,438			(1,162		)	(4,602		)	(83,531		)	(43,284		)
Income tax benefit (provision)	20			20,615			(38,377		)	1,315			—			(16,427		)
Net income (loss)	24,282			25,495			65,731			(7,022		)	(83,650		)	24,836
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			(554		)	—			(554		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	24,282		$	25,495		$	65,731		$	(7,576	)	$	(83,650	)	$	24,282
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	24,920		$	25,579		$	65,731		$	(7,576	)	$	(83,734	)	$	24,920

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
Net revenue	$	—		$	—		$	390,080		$	41,427		$	(18,859	)	$	412,648
Program and production	—			76			126,733			18,411			(18,181		)	127,039
Selling, general and administrative	885			14,545			80,502			2,400			(572		)	97,760
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	267			1,107			86,390			19,160			(75		)	106,849
Total operating expenses	1,152			15,728			293,625			39,971			(18,828		)	331,648
Operating (loss) income	(1,152		)	(15,728		)	96,455			1,456			(31		)	81,000
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	26,687			62,264			—			—			(88,951		)	—
Interest expense	(159		)	(36,748		)	(1,242		)	(6,553		)	5,164			(39,538		)
Other income (expense)	646			296			93			—			(20		)	1,015
Total other income (expense)	27,174			25,812			(1,149		)	(6,553		)	(83,807		)	(38,523		)
Income tax benefit (provision)	1,136			17,267			(33,042		)	(181		)	—			(14,820		)
Net income (loss)	27,158			27,351			62,264			(5,278		)	(83,838		)	27,657
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			(499		)	—			(499		)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	27,158		$	27,351		$	62,264		$	(5,777	)	$	(83,838	)	$	27,158
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	27,696		$	27,265		$	62,264		$	(5,652	)	$	(83,877	)	$	27,696

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$	6,591		$	(25,325	)	$	139,443		$	(13,488	)	$	4,398		$	111,619
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	—			(2,912		)	(20,309		)	(635		)	208			(23,648		)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	—			—			—			(5,744		)	—			(5,744		)
Distributions from equity and costs method investees	1,425			419			—			2,308			—			4,152
Investments in equity and cost method investees	—			(1,100		)	—			(1,845		)	—			(2,945		)
Other, net	—			—			272			—			—			272
Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities	1,425			(3,593		)	(20,037		)	(5,916		)	208			(27,913		)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	—			—			—			7,866			—			7,866
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(508		)	(23,514		)	56			(1,089		)	—			(25,055		)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(15,715		)	—			—			—			—			(15,715		)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(7,803		)	—			—			—			—			(7,803		)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	15,323			84,589			(120,275		)	24,969			(4,606		)	—
Other, net	687			—			—			(3,525		)	—			(2,838		)
Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities	(8,016		)	61,075			(120,219		)	28,221			(4,606		)	(43,545		)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	—			32,157			(813		)	8,817			—			40,161
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	—			3,394			1,749			12,539			—			17,682
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	—		$	35,551		$	936		$	21,356		$	—		$	57,843

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

(in thousands) (unaudited)

	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.			Sinclair Television Group, Inc.			Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Sinclair Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$	13,532		$	(8,180	)	$	124,353		$	6,472		$	83		$	136,260
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	—			(1,721		)	(9,587		)	(599		)	—			(11,907		)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	—			—			—			(4,323		)	—			(4,323		)
Decrease in restricted cash	—			(900		)	221			—			—			(679		)
Investments in equity and cost method investees	—			—			—			(2,154		)	—			(2,154		)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies	—			17,042			—			—						17,042
Other, net	—			—			—			55			—			55
Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities	—			14,421			(9,366		)	(7,021		)	—			(1,966		)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	—			—			—			5,885			—			5,885
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(132		)	(4,335		)	(268		)	(1,661		)	—			(6,396		)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(14,719		)	—			—			—			23			(14,696		)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(82,371		)	—			—			—			—			(82,371		)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	82,043			60,147			(142,667		)	583			(106		)	—
Other, net	1,647			(144		)	(252		)	(260		)	—			991
Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities	(13,532		)	55,668			(143,187		)	4,547			(83		)	(96,587		)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	—			61,909			(28,200		)	3,998			—			37,707
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	—			237,974			28,594			13,536			—			280,104
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	—		$	299,883		$	394		$	17,534		$	—		$	317,811

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 item	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 15, 2014 item	Aug. 01, 2014 item
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Number of television stations in the same market entering into an agreement	2
Number of television stations with attributable interest			1
Percentage of ad time to be considered an owner			15.00%
Number of waivers sought	1
Revenue	$ 504,775,000	$ 412,648,000
JSA
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Revenue	10,900,000	11,000,000
Allbritton
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Number of markets				7
Cunningham | Allbritton | WTAT
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Price of assets sold				14,000,000

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Schedule of reconciliation of income (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in computation of diluted earnings per share

The following table reconciles income (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in our computations of diluted earnings per share for the periods presented (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014
Income (Numerator)
Net Income	$	24,836		$	27,657
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(554		)	(499		)
Numerator for diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders	$	24,282		$	27,158
Shares (Denominator)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	95,131			98,824
Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options	640			678
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	95,771			99,502

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entities
Income from equity and cost method investments	$ 3,146,000	$ 98,000
VIEs which are not primary beneficiary
Variable Interest Entities
Carrying amount	21,500,000		22,700,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	$ 3,300,000	$ 200,000

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 111,619	$ 136,260
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(23,648)	(11,907)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(5,744)	(4,323)
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	4,152	739
Decrease in restricted cash		(679)
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(2,945)	(2,154)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies		17,042
Other, net	272	55
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(27,913)	(1,966)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	7,866	5,885
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(25,055)	(6,396)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B common stock	(15,715)	(14,696)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(7,803)	(82,371)
Other, net	(2,838)	991
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(43,545)	(96,587)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	40,161	37,707
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	17,682	280,104
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	57,843	317,811
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	6,591	13,532
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	1,425
Net cash flows used in investing activities	1,425
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(508)	(132)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B common stock	(15,715)	(14,719)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(7,803)	(82,371)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	15,323	82,043
Other, net	687	1,647
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(8,016)	(13,532)
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(25,325)	(8,180)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(2,912)	(1,721)
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	419
Decrease in restricted cash		(900)
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(1,100)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies		17,042
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(3,593)	14,421
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(23,514)	(4,335)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	84,589	60,147
Other, net		(144)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	61,075	55,668
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	32,157	61,909
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	3,394	237,974
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	35,551	299,883
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	139,443	124,353
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(20,309)	(9,587)
Decrease in restricted cash		221
Other, net	272
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(20,037)	(9,366)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	56	(268)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(120,275)	(142,667)
Other, net		(252)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(120,219)	(143,187)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(813)	(28,200)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	1,749	28,594
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	936	394
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(13,488)	6,472
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(635)	(599)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(5,744)	(4,323)
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	2,308
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(1,845)	(2,154)
Other, net		55
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(5,916)	(7,021)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	7,866	5,885
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(1,089)	(1,661)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	24,969	583
Other, net	(3,525)	(260)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	28,221	4,547
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	8,817	3,998
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	12,539	13,536
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	21,356	17,534
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	4,398	83
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	208
Net cash flows used in investing activities	208
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B common stock		23
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(4,606)	(106)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	$ (4,606)	$ (83)

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net income	$ 24,836	$ 27,657
Amortization of net periodic pension benefit costs, net of taxes	84	(86)
Unrealized gain on investments, net of taxes		125
Comprehensive income	24,920	27,696
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(554)	(499)
Comprehensive income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ 24,366	$ 27,197

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DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

DISPOSITION OF ASSETS:

DISPOSITION OF ASSETS:

3. DISPOSITION OF ASSETS:

Dispositions related to station acquisitions

As discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions, in the fourth quarter of 2014, we completed the acquisition of certain broadcast assets from Media General.  Simultaneously, we sold to Media General the broadcast assets of WTTA (MNT) in Tampa, FL and KXRM/KXTU (FOX) in Colorado Springs, CO for $93.1 million less working capital of $0.6 million.

Concurrent with the acquisition of the Allbritton companies discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions, due to FCC multiple ownership rules, we sold WHTM (ABC) in Harrisburg/Lancaster/York, PA to Media General in September 2014 for $83.4 million, less working capital of $0.2 million and the non-license assets of WTAT (FOX) in Charleston, SC to Cunningham for $14.0 million, effective August 1, 2014.  WHTM was acquired from the Allbritton companies and assets of WHTM were classified as assets held for sale in the Allbritton purchase price allocation.  We did not recognize a gain or loss on this transaction. Prior to the sale of WTAT, we operated the station under an LMA and purchase agreement with Cunningham.  This sale was accounted for as a transaction between parties under common control.  See Note 6. Related Person Transaction for further discussion.

Assets Held for Sale

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) guidance on reporting assets held for sale, we reported our assets and liabilities related to Triangle Sign & Service, LLC (Triangle) as held for sale in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014. It is no longer our intent to divest of Triangle and therefore the assets and liabilities were no longer classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2015. The results of operations related to Triangle are included within the results of continuing operations as the criteria for classification as discontinued operations was not met.

As of December 31, 2014, the major classes of assets and liabilities of the group reported as held for sale on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet are shown below:

	December 31, 2014
Assets:
Accounts receivable	$	5,101
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,403
Total current assets held for sale	6,504
Property and equipment (a)	1,036
Goodwill	2,975
Definite-lived intangible assets	2,962
Total assets held for sale	$	13,477
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,096
Accrued liabilities	1,360
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	21
Total liabilities held for sale	$	2,477

(a) Excluded from the above is $1.8 million in held for sale assets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 related to certain real estate assets within our broadcast segment.

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 3) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 20, 2014	Feb. 06, 2008
Share Repurchase Program
Share repurchase program, authorized amount			$ 150,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Number of shares repurchased	0.3
Value of shares repurchased	7,803,000	82,371,000
Total remaining authorization amount	$ 126,600,000

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
6.375% Senior Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.375%	6.375%
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%	6.125%
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.625%	5.625%
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.375%	5.375%
Carrying Value | Revolving Credit Facility
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	323,000	338,000
Carrying Value | 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	350,000	350,000
Carrying Value | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	500,000	500,000
Carrying Value | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	550,000	550,000
Carrying Value | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	600,000	600,000
Carrying Value | Term Loan A
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	341,183	348,073
Carrying Value | Term Loan B
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	1,034,450	1,035,883
Carrying Value | Debt of variable interest entities
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	29,296	30,167
Carrying Value | Debt of other operating divisions
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	126,502	118,822
Level 2 | Fair Value | Revolving Credit Facility
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	323,000	338,000
Level 2 | Fair Value | 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	370,563	355,800
Level 2 | Fair Value | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	523,005	503,475
Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	562,375	532,813
Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	616,500	595,068
Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan A
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	334,359	341,982
Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan B
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	1,036,559	1,029,997
Level 2 | Fair Value | Debt of variable interest entities
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	29,296	30,167
Level 2 | Fair Value | Debt of other operating divisions
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Fair Value	126,502	118,822

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DISPOSITION OF ASSETS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

DISPOSITION OF ASSETS:

Schedule of major classes of assets and liabilities of the group reported as held for sale

	December 31, 2014
Assets:
Accounts receivable	$	5,101
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,403
Total current assets held for sale	6,504
Property and equipment (a)	1,036
Goodwill	2,975
Definite-lived intangible assets	2,962
Total assets held for sale	$	13,477
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,096
Accrued liabilities	1,360
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	21
Total liabilities held for sale	$	2,477

(a) Excluded from the above is $1.8 million in held for sale assets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 related to certain real estate assets within our broadcast segment.