Anticipated Q4 2024 Local Media Income for Sinclair Falls Short of Estimations
Sinclair, Inc., a leading broadcasting company, has announced its preliminary results for the fourth quarter of 2024. The company expects its Local Media segment's combined preliminary media programming and production expenses and media selling, general, and administrative expenses to be between $580 million and $582 million. This figure is slightly lower than the previously disclosed guidance of $589 million to $590 million.
The preliminary results, unaudited estimates only, are subject to revision, according to the company. Sinclair, Inc. plans to report its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings results at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. A conference call to discuss the results will follow at 4:30 pm ET.
In terms of revenue, Sinclair's political advertising revenue is expected to be approximately $203 million. The company has not disclosed any new figures for media revenues in this paragraph. However, it expects Local Media segment fourth-quarter 2024 media revenues to be between $931 million and $933 million. Sinclair's other media revenue is expected to be approximately $37 million, and its distribution revenue is expected to be between $392 million and $393 million.
The preliminary figures show distribution revenue higher than expected, while non-political ad revenue indicated a weakening ad market. Sinclair, Inc. has not disclosed any new figures for political advertising revenue, core (nonpolitical) advertising revenue, or other media revenue in this paragraph.
Looking ahead, most 2025 projections of local broadcast-TV ad revenue indicate that core advertising excluding political will decline for the industry. However, industry projections from BIA Advisory Services indicate that total U.S. local advertising revenue will reach approximately $169 billion to $171 billion in 2025, with core local TV advertising expected to grow by about 6.1% supported by sectors like legal and auto.
This growth is underpinned by a significant shift toward Connected TV (CTV) and Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, which are forecast to capture 29.3% of all local advertising spending as ad-supported streaming platforms now account for about 73.6% of TV viewing. This transition gives broadcasters opportunities to regain audiences and leverage targetable ad inventory through CTV/OTT strategies, even as traditional linear TV ad revenues face pressure.
In Q2 2025, Sinclair, Inc. reported that its core advertising revenue declined by 4.7% year over year due to macroeconomic and tariff pressures and lower political ad spending, reflecting some headwinds in traditional broadcast advertising.
In other news, Sinclair, Inc. has announced new debt offerings. More details about these offerings will be disclosed during the earnings call.
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- Sinclair, Inc., a broadcaster, anticipates its Local Media segment's distribution revenue to be between $392 million and $393 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
- In terms of personal-finance, Sinclair, Inc.'s political advertising revenue is expected to be approximately $203 million for the same period.
- The company plans to broadcast its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings results, followed by a broadcaster call, at 4 p.m. ET on Feb. 26, 2025.
- Industry projections suggest that the local broadcast-TV ad revenue will decline for core advertising excluding political in 2025, but the total U.S. local advertising revenue will reach approximately $169 billion to $171 billion.
- According to BIA Advisory Services, ad-supported streaming platforms will account for about 73.6% of TV viewing, capturing 29.3% of all local advertising spending through Connected TV (CTV) and Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms.
- Sinclair, Inc. has recently announced new debt offerings, with further details to be discussed during the upcoming earnings call.
