LIN Media

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Yilin Pei

By Yilin Pei

LIN Media, LLC

One West Exchange Street, Suite 5A
Providence, RI 02903
401-454-2880

http://www.linmedia.com

About the Company

LIN TV logo

LIN Media was founded in 1961 under the name “LIN Broadcasting”. In 1994, “LIN Television Corporation” spun off from “LIN Broadcasting” as a public company. In 2010, the company rebranded to LIN Media, transforming to a local multimedia company but the cooperate name didn’t change.

In 2013, LIN was re-organized into LIN Media, LLC, at Delaware.[1] Nowadatries to drive brand, potential audience and revenue growth by providing by diverse platforms such as mobile products, apps and web sites. [2]

TV Stations

LIN Media Brands

LIN Media operates or services 43 stations (40 full-power and 3 low-power stations), 7 digital channels in 23 markets with 10.5% U.S. households to deliver local news, sports, community stories and entertainment programming. The 43 stations include 11 CBS affiliates, 10 FOX affiliates, 7 NBC affiliates, 5 ABC affiliates, 8 CW affiliates, 8 MNT affiliates and a TEL affiliate and the company also operates 14 multi-station markets. [3] [4] LIN Media concentrates on median-size stations and markets which is in the range of #20 DMA to #70 DMA. [5]

LIN’s Stations and Markets

As of July 13th, 2013, household rating of LIN Media was 3.7 estimated by Nielsen, the most respected global information and measurement company. The rating of LIN Media is higher than the company’s competitors, Gray, Media General and Nexstar which ratings are respectively 3.4, 2.9 and 2.2. [6] And LIN’s big- four stations’ news rating is 24% higher than national average level.[7] In addition, LIN Media also works on Unique Local Programming such as The Rhode Show in WPRI, Mardnda – Where You Live in WOTV, and The Hampton Roads Show on WAVY. [8]

LIN Digital

LIN Digital logo

LIN Media was one of the first broadcasters to build their own digital business. LIN Digital,the subsidiary of LIN Media, differentiates LIN Media from other broadcasting companies by providing unique and high-impacted digital marketing solutions to the most honored agencies and brands in U.S. and helps them to target potential audiences by customized websites, delivering high quality videos, and mobile devices. In addition, By cooperating with television and interactive analytic companies, LIN Digital also provides value evaluation of cross-platform products for advertisers. LIN DIgital is the top 30 Ad network announced by comScore, which is the most respected digital analytics company in U.S. [9]

competitor comparison of digital revenues of Q2’13

As of the second quarter of 2013, LIN Media’s digital revenue was $25.1 million which was triple of the second quarter digital revenue of Nexstar, one of the most competitive broadcasting company of LIN Media.[10]

Nowadays, LIN DIgital’s sales has reached to 32 markets including Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles. Moreover, LIN Digital released new novel products recently which connect brands cross different platforms such as videos, displays, social media and mobile by working with HYFN and Dedicated Media, the companies that LIN Media acquires major ownership. On Oct. 24th, comScore announced that LIN Digital is the #17 comScore video network. [11]

Key Executives

Vincent L. Sadusky – President & CEO

Vincent L. Sadusky

Scott M. Blumenthal – EVP Television

Scott M. Blumenthal

Richard J. Schmaeling – Senior Vice President Chief Financial Officer

Richard J. Schmaeling

Kimberly S. Davis – Vice President Human Resources

Kimberly S. Davis

For more information on LIN Media’s executives, click here.

Stock Information

LIN Media LLC Class A Common St Stock Chart – Fall of 2013

LIN Media LLC Class A Common St Stock Chart – Fall of 2012

The share price of LIN Media LLC (ticker: LIN) has increased 50.9% in the Fall of 2013 (from August 26th to November 19th). On Aug. 28th, LIN Media got the lowest share price, $16.00, and On Oct. 24th, the company reaches the highest, $26.05 a piece. At the same period of 2012, the lowest share price is $3.94 and the highest share price is $5.82. [12] The success of LIN Digital is one of the main reasons of the share price’s increase.

Financial Information

For the nine months ended September 30th of 2013, LIN Media’s net revenues were $468,448 million, which have increased 31.1% compared with 2011’s $357,292 million.

As of 2013, because of the launch of LIN Digital as well as acquiring major ownership of HYFN and Dedicated Media, the company expects that the digital revenues might over $100 million, which might increase 76% compared with 2012’s $56.8 million. The company also expects that revenues will reach to the range of $190 million to $210 million to achieve a mid 20s operation margin in 2016.[13]

Dedicated Media logo

HYFN Logo

As of the third quarter ended Sept. 30th, LIN Media’s local revenues including retransmission consent fee revenues, local advertising and TV station website revenues was $105.5 million that have increased 44% by comparing with the third quarter of 2012’s $73.3 million. [14]

In addition, LIN Media estimates that $14.7 million to $17.7 million might drop in the fourth quarter’s net revenues of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 because of the decline of significant political advertising in 2013. [15]

News

On Oct. 3rd, LIN Media held an investor conference in Austin, Texas and admitted that the company might sell some TV spectrum in FCC’s incentive auction held in 2014. That can help the company profit out of selling Class A low-power stations.

In addition, LIN Media plans to auction off WCTX, a MyNet affiliated television station located in New Haven, CT, and sign its MNT-anchored programming under ABC affiliate WTNH, and the company might make $115 million cash flow under this decision. [16]

Besides, LIN Media owned station, KHON-TV, a fox-affiliated television station located in Honolulu (#69 DMA), upgraded the newscast to high definition, switched the digital platforms and got the most advanced graphics system on Oct. 18th.[17] The improvement of technology is one of the most effective way to capture audiences.

What’s Next for LIN Media?

Public advertising is one of the foundation of LIN Media’s revenue and 2014 will have a new strong political cycle such as the heated debate of healthcare. Those political activities will give the company incremental opportunity to make profits.

For programming, Mr. Sadusky said that continuing combining high-rated sports and entertainment syndicated programming and local programming together is the most effective method in television.

As of 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, LIN Media will focus on freestyle skiing and snowboarding instead of the most popular events like ice hockey. In addition, LIN’s news stations are finding local content such as local athletes’ stories to increase coverage and attention.

Besides, LIN Media announces to keep increasing net retransmission consent fee without disclosing how many percentages they will keep. Moreover, the company plans working on shorter cycle operations with cable because of the rapid movement of the market and longer cycle operations with the networks. [18]

The company expects that the net retransmission consent fee might exceed $90 million in 2013, which might increase almost 200% compared with 2009’s $30.1 million. [19]

On Dec. 10th, LIN Media will hold a small or medium cap conference at JP Morgan. By that time, the company will discuss more about future investments and developing strategies. [20]

Competitors

Major competitors of LIN Media include Nexstar, Gray, EW Scripps, Media General and Fisher Communications. [21]

Source:

[1] LIN Media History – http://www.linmedia.com/our-company/company-history/.

[2] About LIN Media – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Communacopia-TV-Panel-9-25-13.pdf – Retrieved Date: Sept. 25th, 2013

[3] About LIN Media – http://www.linmedia.com/our-company/

[4] LIN’s long-term affiliations – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Investor-Day-Presentation_10-3-13.pdf – Retrieved Date: Oct. 3rd, 2013

[5] LIN Media’s Markets Rank Range – http://www.smallcapnetwork.com/LIN-Media-LLC-LIN-The-Next-Small-Cap-Media-or-Social-Media-Giant-SBGI-NXST-PBS/s/via/3414/article/view/p/mid/1/id/1490/ – Retrieved Date: Sept. 5th, 2013

[6] Peer Comparison of ratings – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Investor-Day-Presentation_10-3-13.pdf – Retrieved Date: Oct. 3rd, 2013

[7] LIN’s Local News Rating – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Investor-Day-Presentation_10-3-13.pdf – Retrieved Date: Oct. 3rd, 2013

[8] LIN’s Local Programmings – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Investor-Day-Presentation_10-3-13.pdf – Retrieved Date: Oct. 3rd, 2013

[9] About LIN Digital – http://www.linmedia.com/newsroom/

[10] Competitor Comparison of digital revenues of Q2’13 – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Investor-Day-Presentation_10-3-13.pdf – Retrieved Date: Oct. 3rd, 2013

[11] LIN Digital’s Video Network Rank of ComScore – http://www.lin-digital.com/pressreleases/lin-digital-debuts-top-20-comscore%E2%80%99s-video-network-rankings – Retrieved Date: Oct. 24, 2013

[12] LIN Media Class A Common St Stock Chart of the Fall 2013 – http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=LIN+Interactive#symbol=lin;range=20130826,20131115;compare=;indicator=volume;charttype=area;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;source=undefined;

[13] LIN Media Digital Revenue – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Investor-Day-Presentation_10-3-13.pdf -Retrieved Date: Oct. 3rd, 2013

[14] LIN’s Local Revenue – http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/71771/lin-media-3q-net-revenue-climbs?ref=search – Retrieved Date: NOV. 6th, 2013

[15] LIN’s Q4’13 Revenue Expectation – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-LLC-Announces-Third-Quarter-2013-Results.pdf – Retrieved Date: Nov. 6th, 2013

[16] LIN Media’s Plan of Selling Spectrum – http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/71608/to-some-selling-spectum-could-makes-sense?ref=search – Retrieved Date: Oct. 30th, 2013

[17] KHON upgraded newscasts in HD – http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/71318/khon-debuts-new-onair-look-hd-news?ref=search – Retrieved Date: Oct. 18th, 2013

[18] LIN Media’s Tech, Media & Telecom Conference -http://cc.talkpoint.com/well001/111213a_dy/?entity=21_4MWG15Q- (requires registration) – Retrieved date: NOV. 12th, 2013.

[19] LIN’s Net Retransmission Consent Fee – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Investor-Day-Presentation_10-3-13.pdf – Retrieved Date: Oct. 3rd, 2013

[20] LIN Media’s Future Cap Conference -http://www.linmedia.com/investor-relations/calendar/

[21] LIN Media’s Competitors – http://www.linmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LIN-Media-Investor-Day-Presentation_10-3-13.pdf – Retrieved Date: Oct. 3rd, 2013

Disney/ABC

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Emily Kelberman

By Emily Kelberman

Courtesy: Disney/ABC

Disney/ABC Television Group

500 Buena Vista Street

Burbank, CA 91521

818.560.1000

About the Company:

Disney/ABC Television Group operates many different platforms of media including entertainment properties, news properties, owned television stations, radio, and publishing businesses. The group includes ABC Entertainment Group, ABC News, ABC owned television properties, Disney Channels Worldwide, ABC Family, SOAPnet, as well as Disney/ABC Domestic Television and Disney Media Distribution. The company also has equity interest in A+E Networks. [1] [2] [3]

Key Executives [4]:

Courtesy: Walt Disney Company
Bob Iger

Robert Iger – Chairman & CEO of Walt Disney Company

Courtesy: Disney/ABC
Anne Sweeney

Anne Sweeney – President & Co-Chair of Disney/ABC Television Group

Courtesy: Disney/ABC
Paul Lee

Paul Lee – President, ABC Entertainment Group

Courtesy: Disney/ABC
Gary Marsh

Gary Marsh – President, Disney Channels Worldwide

For more information on Disney/ABC Television Group’s executives click here.

Financials:

Disney/ABC Television Group is apart of The Walt Disney Company’s (NYSE: DIS). This includes the company’s global entertainment, broadcast news, owned television stations, distribution, publishing, and radio business. The Walt Disney Company is also made up of other segments such as Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products, and Interactive. [5]

The company delivered strong results for the third quarter of 2013. Disney’s Media Networks Group had an operating income of $2.3 billion, up 8% from the previous quarter. Revenue rose 5% to $5.35 billion. The broadcasting division of the group fell 20% due to higher programming costs, yet Disney/ABC’s cable networks operating income was up 12% to $2.09 billion. [6]

Disney & Technology [7]:

Disney Using Tablet

Courtesy: Disney Channel [9]

Disney/ABC Television Group is taking advantage of the new technology of tablets, beginning to use it for television purposes. Disney is going to launch the first nine episodes of a new series on mobile devices and tablets before it airs on television. The show, Sheriff Callie’s Wild West, features a cat in pink cowboy hat and it hopes to reach a pre-school audience on a screen like the iPad, in which many kids have been brought up viewing. The series will premiere on the Watch Disney Junior App and also on a related website in late November 2013. The television show will then premiere on Disney Channel and Disney Junior early next year. The application keeps audiences linked to their cable operators. Viewers must enter their subscriber information in order to watch the shows on the tablet. [8] [9]

Disney Teams with Roku

Courtesy: Variety [10]

Disney and ESPN have recently reached a new deal with Roku, which is a streaming player that can deliver movies instantly from Netflix onto a television using the Internet. Now, viewers can stream live cable-TV channels and programming to their televisions if they are currently subscribing to a participating TV provider. Participating viewers can watch their programming on the devices of their choice, creating a more enjoyable viewing experience. [10]

Disney/ABC & Marvel [11]:

Courtesy: Marvel [14]

Disney has recently acquired the rights to Marvel, which allows the Disney company to use that franchise in all aspects of the company. It has been recently announced that Disney and Netflix have partnered together to bring viewers a new miniseries based on Marvel’s most popular characters.

It will exclusively start streaming on Netflix in 2015 with four serialized programs, preparing the way for a miniseries programming event. The miniseries is produced by Marvel Television and ABC Television Studios and is said to have groundbreaking live-action storytelling. This is following a previous deal with Netflix, which allows members to watch a wide range of Disney, ABC TV, and Disney channel movies wherever Netflix is available. Marvel is a well-known and loved brand with movies such as ‘Iron Man’ and ‘The Avengers’, so pioneering the new miniseries idea will hopefully take this form of live-action television viewing to the next level.

The series is going to focus on “Daredevil”, “Jessica Jones”, “Iron Fist”, and “Luke Cage” separately, leading up to an Avenger-style combination of the characters to create the miniseries titled The Defenders. This new platform that Disney is testing will enable the viewers to watch when and where they want, granting flexibility. ABC’s new show, “Marvel: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” has become a hit for the network, giving the new miniseries a promising outlook [12] [13] [14]

ESPN & College Basketball:

kentucky-michigan-state-ncaa-ratings-espn

Courtesy: Variety [15]

Fall is the season of college basketball, which is great news for ESPN, a Disney owned company. The first game of the season, Kentucky vs. Michigan, attracted four million viewers. According to Nielson, this is the second largest audience ESPN has had for a non-conference game. The Duke vs. Kansas game averaged 2.98 million viewers, which is higher than in previous years. ESPN is also thriving in the local markets. The only cable show program that was higher in the men’s 18-49 bracket was “Sons of Anarchy” on FX. The interest in college basketball seems to be growing, which will benefit Disney and ESPN. [15] [16]

Programming:

The fall season is a showcase of all the new shows ABC and other networks have to offer for the new season. Disney/ABC has recently confirmed a new singing competition called “Rising Star”. It is a show that has been breaking records in Israel, with more than half of TV audiences tuning in to watch the show. ABC is planning on airing the show in Summer 2014 with a 10-episode run. With the summer slot, it will not compete with other singing competition shows, such as Fox’s “American Idol” and NBC’s “The Voice”, seeing as those occupy fall spots. This show differs from other singing competition shows because viewers vote for live performances during real time through an application. The show reinvents the reality singing competition model with the use of new technology. Disney/ABC acquired the show from Keshet DP, parent company of Dick Clark Productions. [17] [18]

Shows to be Canceled/Renewed:

For the current 2013 season, ABC has canceled “Lucky Seven” and “Back in the Game”. A few shows such as “Betrayal”, “The Neighbors”, “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland”, “Trophy Wife”, and “Super Fun Night” with Rebel Wilson are likely to be canceled by the end of the season in May, depending on ratings.

“Last Man Standing”, “Nashville”, and “The Goldbergs” are likely to get a renewal for next season, but it will depend on the ratings. “Castle”, “The Middle”, “Once Upon a Time”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Revenge”, “Modern Family”, “Scandal”, and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” are certain to be renewed by May. [19]

ABC is now getting ready for its midseason premiere with returning shows like “The Bachelor” and “Suburgatory”, as well as four new shows. The new shows include “Resurrection”, “Killer Women”, “Mixology”, and “Mind Games”. The TV group has decided to push “Revenge” back to the 10pm slot for the midseason. [20][21][22]

Sources:

[1] About Disney/ABC Television Group

[2] Disney/ABC Careers

[3] Business Week Snapshot of Disney/ABC

[4] About Disney/ABC Executives

[5] Disney Financials

[6] LA Times – Disney Financials

[7] NY Times – Disney & Tablet

[8] Sheriff Callie – IMDB

[9] Disney Channel – About Sheriff Callie

[10] Variety- Disney Lands a Deal With Roku

[11] Yahoo Finance – Disney Press Release Regarding Marvel

[12] Wired – Marvel and Netflix Deal

[13] Variety – Marvel and Netflix

[14] Marvel Website – Logo

[15] Variety – Ratings for ESPN 2013

[16] TV by the Numbers – ESPN Ratings

[17] Variety – ABC Greenlights New Singing Competition Show

[18] TV by the Numbers – ABC’s ‘Rising Star’

[19] TV by the Numbers – ABC’s Recent Ratings

[20] Variety – ABC Midseason Premieres

[21] Hollywood Reporter – ‘Revenge’ Pushed Back

[22] Huffington Post – ABC Full Midseason Schedule

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Gallery

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Zachary Phillips

This gallery contains 16 photos.

By Zack Phillips Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. 10706 Beaver Dam Road Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030 (410) 568-1500 http://www.sbgi.net ABOUT THE COMPANY [2]: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (SBG), founded in 1986, currently owns, operates, programs, or provides sales services to 163 … Continue reading →

Univision

Posted on April 9, 2013 by jgalvare

by Juan Alvarez

(Photo courtesy of Univision Corporate website) [4]

605 3rd Ave.
New York, NY, 10158 United States
(212) 455-5200

http://corporate.univision.com

http://www.univision.com/

Key Figures

(Picture Courtesy of Univision Corporate Website) [1]

Randy Falco

Joined Univision Communications in June 2011 as President and Chief Executive Officer. Before joining the company he was Chairman and CEO of AOL. Since his arrival, Univision has added three new cable networks and steadily increased its net revenue. [1]

Cesar Conde
(Picture Courtesy of Univision Corporate Website)[1]

Cesar Conde

Mr. Conde is president of the Univision Networks and is responsible for every television network including Univision Network, Unimas and Univision Cable Network. He is also responsible for the Univision Studios which were established in 2009. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Univision Communications. [1]

Andrew W. Hobson
(Picture Courtesy of Univision Corporate Website)[1]

Andrew W. Hobson

Joined Univision Communications in 1993 as Executive Vice President of Univision Network. In 2007 he became Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Univision Communications playing a vital role in the company’s recent financial growth. [1]

Profile

Univision Communications is the leading spanish broadcaster in America with a pedigree of television, radio and interactive media operations. The company’s primary audience are Latin American families in the United States. Univision Communications runs the top-rated Univision Network, as well as sister networks UniMas and Galavision. In addition, the company owns and operates about 60 local TV stations and 70 radio stations all across the nation and an online division which owns and distributes a network of online and mobile products like Univision.com. Some major competitors include TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V, Liberman Broadcasting, Inc. and NBCUniversal Media, LLC. [2] Some of the most successful current programs are Sabado Gigante, which has been on the air since 1997, and Primer Impacto since 1994.

The following video summarizes what Univision’s vision consists on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsf76kXaiKw

Television: The television segment owns a large number of TV stations and networks of which the most successful is Univision Network, the driving force behind the company. Univision Network has the largest spanish speaking television audience in the world and has reached parity with the 5 major english television networks outranking The CW several times. The television department also owns UniMas a spanish language broadcast television network, as well as Galavision a cable network in the U.S. In addition to the three major networks the company recently added three single format 24-hour cable networks: Univision Deportes Network, ForoTV and Univision Telenovelas. In 2009 the company founded Univision Studios, their own production division. Last year the company announced the creation of Fusion, an english language joint venture with ABC targeted at hispanic americans. [3]

Univision and ABC joint venture (photo courtesy of mediabistro.com) [10]

Radio: The radio segment owns and operates 69 radio stations in the United States. In 2003 Univision completed the acquisition of the Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation to form Univision Radio, the largest spanish language radio broadcasting company in the United States. In addition, the company founded Univision America this past summer, which is a spanish talk radio network that operates in major states like California, Texas and Florida. [3]

Univision America (photo courtesy of mediamoves.com) [11]

Interactive Media: This segment is responsible for operating a network of online products of which Univision.com is the most important. Univision interactive media was launched in 2009 to house Univision Movil and Univision.com, an online publisher that features entertainment, news and information. The interactive media segment also includes UVideos, a bilingual digital network and Univision Partner Group, a publishing network. [3]

Univision.com Homepage
(photo courtesy of Univision.com) [12]

History

In 1955 KWEX-TV, the first full time Spanish language station in America was founded. The station changed owners several times until in 1968 the new owners decided to name it Spanish International Network after buying channels in New Jersey and LA. By the mid 1970s the company had grown into a national network in the United States. In 1986 a Partnership of Televisa (a major media production company) and Hallmark cards bought the network formally naming it UNIVISION. Univision online was launched in 2000. [4]

In the past decade Univision Communications has grown in many fronts of the industry launching UniMas, formerly known as Telefutura (2002), Univision Radio (2003), Univision Studios (2009) and Univision Interactive media (2009). [4]

Financials

During 2012 Univision Communications Inc. reported a steady rise in their financials. Both their OIBDA and their total net revenue increased in comparison to the previous numbers of 2011. For the full year, net revenue increased 7.4 percent to $2,442.0 million from $2,273.5 million in 2011 and OIBDA increased 7.4 percent to $1,003.2 million from $933.9 million in 2011. Moreover the increase took place in each of the three media production areas of the company (Television, Radio and Digital). [5]

(photo courtesy of Univision Corporate financial statement 2012) [5]

In the News

January [6]:

The new revamped UniMas was launched coast to coast on January 7th premiering two prime time series that same night: Made In Cartagena and Quien eres tu.

(photo courtesy of underconsideration.com)

“Quinceañera” the groundbreaking production that catapulted Thalia and Adela Noriega is being rebroadcasted by Univision Telenovelas on January 7th.
Univision Communications announced a partnership with Samsung to carry their digital video network UVideos, in all 2013 Samsung smart TVs and connected devices.
Univision Network launches new talent competition show “Lo que mas quieres” on January 27th.

Lo que Mas Quieres ad campaign (photo courtesy of latinospost.com) [13]

February [7]:

Univision’s “Despierta America” established itself as the fastest growing morning show in the current season regardless of language registering its seven month of consecutive growth among adults 18-49 and 25-54.

Despierta America (photo courtesy of tucuentas. com) [14]

Univision’s “Premios Lo Nuestro“, which is Television’s longest running Latin music award show, aired on Feb 21 reaching 11.6 million viewers and making Univision No. 2 network for the night among adults 18-34 for fourth consecutive year.
WXTV Univision 41 New York received 22 Emmy Award nominations. According to Nielsen, Univision 41 was also the #1 newscast in the 6pm slot during the month of January.
On February 11 ABC and Univision announced their joint venture news and lifestyle network for Hispanics is being named Fusion and is set to launch during the second half of 2013.
Univision set milestone as the No 4. network in February sweeps ahead of NBC. Univision out performed NBC establishing a 26% margin among adults 18-49 and a 47% among adults 18-14.

The following video demonstrates the recent rating success of Univision.

UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC from Univision Insights on Vimeo.

March [8]:

Premiere of new romantic comedy telenovela “Porque el amor manda” on Univision Network set for March 11.
“Nuestra Belleza Latina” a beauty competition show is set to launch its seventh season March 10 on Univision Network. The show includes sponsors like AT&T and Subway.

Seventh season of Nuestra Belleza Latina (photo courtesy of lagranciudad.net) [15]

The season finale of “Por ella soy Eva” made Univision stations #1 among adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 in several cities like Los Angeles and Houston and Chicago.
On March 11 Univision Radio and TuneIn announced an alliance to extend the reach of 50 terrestrial stations via TuneIn.
Univision Studios announced the premiere of “Arranque de Pasion, La historia de Ela“, an original webnovela produced exclusively for Univision Online and mobile properties set to begin April 1.

Arranque de Pasion webseries (photo courtesy of univision.com) [16]

Univision signs a major contract with DirecTV enabling the satellite provider to carry all of Univision’s own and operated broadcast stations, as well as the network feeds for Univision, UniMas, and Galavision.

Future of Univision

ABC News and Univision News merge to create Fusion in 2013
(photo courtesy of Univision Corporate Website) [4]

When it comes to its future Univision Communications seems stronger than ever. If the current trends continue the network could become a recurrent top four in the United States Television market because of the constant increase of the Latino population. Furthermore, Univision is on the verge of launching a great number of new series including “Los Heroes del Norte” (NotiMas) and “Que Bonito Amor“ (Univision), which are two long awaited primetime series set to premiere this April. Last but not least, Univision News is focusing greatly on the creation of the new joint venture with ABC news called Fusion (to be launched sometime this year). The new network will be carried by 5 cable operators and will serve 50 millions Hispanics; a number expected to double by 2050 [9]. This measures are expected to further enhance the company’s presence in the multimedia market during the next decades.

Sources

1. Key Executives http://corporate.univision.com/corporate/executive-leadership/#axzz2PxOlER2b

2. Univision Company Information Hoovers http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Univision_Communications_Inc.a9ff6a528ba4bf61.html

3. Company Overview Bloomberg http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=352350

4. The Univision Story http://corporate.univision.com/corporate/#axzz2PxRZSjvT

5. Financial Statement 2012 http://corporate.univision.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FINAL-Press-Release-Q2-2012-1.pdf

6. January Press Releases http://corporate.univision.com/corporate/press/press-releases/?date=2013-1#axzz2PxUQXB7G

7. February Press Releases http://corporate.univision.com/corporate/press/press-releases/?date=2013-2#.UWPlYqvwIx4

8. March Press Releases http://corporate.univision.com/corporate/press/press-releases/?date=2013-3#.UWPldavwIx4

9. April Press Releases http://corporate.univision.com/corporate/press/press-releases/?date=2013-4#.UWPlnKvwIx4

10. ABC / Univision picture http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/files/2012/08/abc-news-univision-logo.jpg

11. Univision America logo http://www.mediamoves.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/UNIVISION_America-logo-e1338509306117.jpg

12. Univision.com www.univision.com

13. Lo Que Mas Quieres ad campaign http://images.latinospost.com/data/images/full/11264/lo-que-mas-quieres.jpg?w=600

14. Despierta America promo https://www.tucuentas.com/images/product/pic_1315599492.jpg

15. Nuestra Belleza Latina picture http://lagranciudad.net/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Nuestra-belleza-latina.jpg

16. Arranque de Pasion promo http://univisionnetworks.com/assets/uploads/homepages/ArranqueDePasion1.jpg

Disney/ABC Television

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Richard Calabro

by Richie Calabro

Courtesy: Disney/ABC

Disney/ABC Television Group

500 South Buena Visita Street

Burbank, California 91521

Anne Sweeney – President
Courtesy: Disney/ABC

If you’re a TV watcher, a fan of sports, entertainment or movies, it is highly likely that at one point you have stumbled upon content that has been produced by Disney/ABC. The Disney/ABC Television group operates all kinds of entertainment platforms such as ESPN, ABC News, Lifetime, The History Channel and Disney’s wide network of films just to name a few. This vast encompassing company employees nearly 150,000 in the United States and around the world, can be seen in 97 million homes and has yearly revenue of in the tens of billions.[1]

Programming

2013 has been a banner year so far for the ABC/Television group. There has been a lot of exciting changes going on within the company in terms of programming, digital innovation and strategic partnership. One of those partnerships, a crossover plan between Marvel Comics and Disney/ABC, looks to be a revolutionary experiment for the TV industry. [2]

Courtesy: Hollywood Reporter

Under the proposed plan announced at the end of March, a wide range of the network’s scheduled television programming would be affected by bringing them into the Marvel world through a series of crossover events with the upcoming Avengers related show S.H.I.E.L.D.

“With each major story line other stories in ongoing books are brought in, featuring characters that might not otherwise be seen in the main event,” said Joss Whedon, director of the movie The Avengers. [3] Other shows that are possibly in the mix are Once Upon A Time, Scandal, Red Widow and Rookie Blue. The plan is sure to be an interesting event to watch and if successful, will look to be duplicated by other networks.

Courtesy: Politico

Disney/ABC and Univision

Strategic partnership has been a theme so far this spring for Disney/ABC. In early February, ABC and Univision announced a fresh and exciting news and lifestyle network for U.S. Hispanics. The new network, called Fusion, is set to launch in the fall of 2013. [4] The new network will bring together the powerful journalistic and reporting assets of ABC News and Univision, creating a unified place for U.S. Hispanics to go for news surrounding their world and culture. “Our collaboration will bring unmatched reporting capabilities and understanding of issues and entertainment that resonate with the Hispanic community,”says Anne Sweeney, President of Disney/ABC. [5]

Courtesy: Mediabistro

Fusion will be able to reach millions of Hispanic and American viewers, already having 5 of the nations largest cable distributors on board to broadcast the content. The network will focus mainly on issues relevant to U.S. Hispanics like the economy, health, entertainment and immigration. [6]

Good Morning America At The Top

For years NBC’s “The Today Show” had been at the top of the morning show network ratings. However, this past February, ABC’s Good Morning America won the first quarter ratings for the first time since the mid-1990s. [7] GMA’s rise in popularity is due in part to the heart wrenching story of anchor Robin Roberts’ battle with a rare blood disease and the public relations nightmare that was Matt Lauer and Anne Curry.

Courtesy: TV Listings

GMA topped the morning show wars for the first quarter of 2013 in total viewers. They won the critical 25-54 demographic over the Today show, averaging an audience of 5.389 million. It was the first time the top-rated morning show has won the quarter in total viewers since 1994. GMA also won for the second quarter in a row in the 25-54 demo, first time since the second and third quarters of 1994. [8] It is thought that Robin Roberts’ illness has helped GMA jump NBC. The disease, myelodysplastic syndrome, causes the body to produce fewer red blood cells and forced Roberts to have a bone marrow transplant that came from her sister. Below is a clip of Robin Roberts’ journey.

Digital Innovation

Along with the many programming feats Disney/ABC has achieved this spring, there has been a new wave of digital innovation that has swept across the company. Disney/ABC announced in the middle of March plans to develop a live streaming TV app that can be groundbreaking in an industry where smart phones and tablets are becoming more prevalent and a danger to TV audiences. [9] The company has plans to continue work on a new live streaming television app for its broadcast network ABC that will make the platform’s content available to cable and satellite subscribers.

Courtesy: Disney/ABC

Although ABC is a free over-the-air public network, the streaming capabilities would only be available to cable and satellite subscribers so that Disney would not upset providers. [10]

Disney/ABC is no stranger to making groundbreaking digital application moves. The launch of the “Watch ESPN” app has been a phenomenal success for the company. It has expanded viewership on all platforms making content more accessible on the go.

This comes at a monumental time for digital innovation at Disney/ABC. Recently it was announced that the Disney/ABC app released several years ago ahead of the first iPad, has reached 10 million downloads. [11] With the reaching of this mark, the app has become one of the most successfully downloaded applications of all time.

ABC.com Comedy Shorts

With the success of recent comedy shorts in the past and the desire to boost exposure online, Disney/ABC has recently announced plans to add more digital elements to its network. [12]

Courtesy: Disney/ABC

In an effort to expand offerings online, the network will debut pop culture and show related videos under its ABC.comedy platform. The first will be Taye Diggs Destroys Hip Hop and Dancing With the Stars Judge Bruno Tonioli’s Writer’s Room.

“Humor is a hallmark of the ABC Network, so it makes sense that we infuse our digital video content with as much comedy as possible,” said Chris Thomes, Vice President of Disney/ABC Television Group’s Digital Media Studio. [13]

The ABC comedy series began in fall 2011 with video recaps for the network’s Wednesday comedies and grew the following year to include comedic rundowns of the network’s dramas. The success of Modern Family’s Halloween short has inspired the push for new content on this platform.

Sources

[1] LA Times: Disney/ABC Television Group Workforce

[2] Geek Exchange: Disney/ABC Crossover Plan

[3] Geek Exchange: Disney/ABC Crossover Plan

[4] ABC News: Network Gets New Name

[5] Mediabistro: Univision Channel to be Called Fusion

[6] ABC News: Network Gets New Name

[7] Deadline: GMA Wins First Quarter

[8] ABC News: GMA Beats NBC’s Win Streak

[9] Apple Insider: Disney’s ABC Working on New Live App

[10] Apple Insider: Disney’s ABC Working on New Live App

[11] Media Daily News: App Reaches 10 Million Downloads

[12] Hollywood Reporter: ABC to Debut Comedy Shorts

[13] TV Broadway: Taye Diggs Partners For New Comedy Shorts

Hearst Television, Inc.

Posted on April 8, 2013 by vtwasser

By Val Wasserstein

[12] Hearst Television, Inc. logo on their homepage

Hearst Television, Inc.
300 West 57^th Street
New York, NY 10019-3789
Tel: (212) 887-6800/Fax: (212) 887-6855
www.hearsttelevision.com

Hearst Corporation: Overview

[13] Hearst Corporation official logo

Hearst Corporation dates all the way back to 1887 when William Randolph Hearst founded the company as an owner of newspapers. Today, the company’s holdings include a wide variety of media such as newspapers, magazines, television stations, cable networks, business publishing, Internet businesses, and real estate. Hearst prides itself on becoming one of the nation’s largest diversified media and information companies. [1]

Hearst Television: Company Overview

Hearst Television, Inc., wholly owned by Hearst Corporation, holds 29 television stations and 2 radio stations across the United States. This broadcasting company was formerly known as Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. and later changed its name to Hearst Television, Inc. in June 2009. The company was founded in 1994. The television stations are viewed in approxiately 18% of US homes making Hearst Television, Inc. one of the largest US television station groups. Hearst Television Inc. owns 13 ABC affiliated channels, 10 NBC affiliated channels, and 2 CBS affiliated channels. The company is also known for its integration of local broadcast television and the Internet through its partnership with Internet Broadcasting. Hearst Television Inc. is also a leader in the “application of digital broadcast spectrum for new local informational services.” [2]

[14] Affiliates of Hearst Television, Inc.

Hearst Television Inc. employs approximately 3,000 full-time employees and their major competitors include Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., Raycom Media Inc., and Local TV, LLC. [3]

Hearst Television station group has won a multitude of awards. The company has been given six consecutive Walter Cronkite Awards (presented by University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication) for their excellence in television political journalism. The stations also have receeived awards for excellence in journalism, programming, and community service (e.g. the Peabody, the duPont-Columbia University Journalism Award, the Sigma Delta Chi Award, the Garbiel, the Ad Council Silver Bell, the National Headliner Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Emmy). [4]

Executives

David J. Barrett-- Chairman & CEO, Hearst Television Inc.

[15] Chairman & CEO, Hearst Television Inc. — David J. Barrett

“The advent of new media platforms is an exciting opportunity for Hearst Television to further advance engagement with local communities. Technology is providing us with new opportunities to reach our viewers, enhance our news-gathering efforts,and provide a broad range of advertising and marketing solutions for our customers.” [5]

–David J. Barrett, Chairman & CEO, Hearst Television Inc.

Broadcasting Office
David J. Barrett, Chairman & CEO of Hearst Television, Inc.
Jordan Wertlieb, President of Hearst Television, Inc.
Frank Biancuzzo, Senior Vice President of Hearst Television, Inc.
John J. Drain, Senior Vice President, Finance of Hearst Television, Inc.
Roger Keating, Senior Vice President of Hearst Television, Inc.

Assets

TV Stations
WCVB – Boston, MA – ABC affiliate
WMUR – Manchester, NH – ABC affiliate
WMOR – Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL – NC affiliate
WESH – Orlando, FL – NBC affiliate
WKCF – Orlando, FL – CW affiliate
WTAE – Pittsburgh, PA – ABC affiliate
WBAL – Baltimore, MD – NBC affiliate
WYFF – Greenville-Spartanburg, SC – NBC affiliate
WPBF – West Palm Beach, FL – ABC affiliate
WGAL – Lancaster, PA – NBC affiliate
WXII – Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC – NBC affiliate
WLKY – Louisville, KY – CBS affiliate
WMTW – Portland-Auburn, ME – ABC affiliate
WPTZ – Burlington, VT – NBC affiliate
WNNE – Plattsburgh, NY – NBC affiliate
KMBC – Kansas City, MO – ABC affiliate
KCWE – Kansas City, MO – CW affiliate
WISN – Milwaukee, WI – ABC affiliate
WLWT – Cincinnati, OH – NBC affiliate
KOCO – Oklahoma City, OK – ABC affiliate
WDSU – New Orleans, LA – NBC affiliate
KCCI – Des Moines, IA – CBS affiliate
KETV – Omaha, NE – ABC affiliate
WAPT – Jackson, MS – ABC affiliate
KHBS – Fort Smith, AR – ABC affiliate
KHOG – Fayettville, AR – ABC affiliate
KCRA – Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, CA – NBC affiliate
KQCA – Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, CA – MNT affiliate
KOAT – Albuquerque, NM – ABC affiliate
KITV – Honolulu, HI – ABC affiliate
KSBW – Monterey-Salinas, CA – NBC affiliate

RADIO STATIONS
WBAL 1090 – Baltimore, MD
WIYY 97.9 – Baltimore MD [6]

Finances

On June 3, 2009 the Hearst Corporation acquired outstanding shares of Series A Common Stock of Hearst-Argyle that it did not already own. Since August 5, 2009, Hearst Television Inc., once the company merged to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hearst, stopped filing and sharing periodic and annual reports to the public making it no longer a SEC reporting company. [7]

In Recent News

On December 6, 2012 Hearst Corporation announced new executive leadership positions. David J. Barrett would be the new chairman and CEO of Hearst Television and Jordan Wertlieb would become president. All changes were effective immediately. [8]

In Hearst Corporation CEO Frank A. Bennack Jr.’s 2012 Annual Review letter, he emphasized how much the year brought on “tremendous growth for Hearst Television’s on-air and digital revenues.” It was reported that eighty percent of Hearst Television Inc.’s newscasts hold first or second place rankings. [9]

[16] Hearst Television Inc.’s 2012 Annual Review Letter

The election year of 2012 also helped the company with stations in key primary and swing states, redesigned websites and the new Election 2012 app. The app allowed for consumers to access “up-to-the-minute and in-depth election-related national content as well as content from the company’s news stations in 25 markets stretching from Portland, Maine to Honolulu.” [10]

[17] Election 2012 app for iPhones & smartphones

On April 3, 2013 Hearst Television Inc. announced the renewal of its alliance with PolitiFact, the fact checking website of the Tampa Bay Times. “In one recurring feature of the exclusive partnership, Hearst Television’s Washington, D.C., Bureau produced segments on PolitiFact’s fact-checking about the presidential campaign using the website’s much-discussed ‘Truth-O-Meter‘.” [11]

[18] PolitiFact logo

Sources

[1] Hearst Corporation

[2] Hearst Television: About Our Company

[3] Hoovers Company Profile: Hearst Television Inc.

[4] Hearst Television: About Our Company

[5] Hearst Corporation: Hearst Television, Inc.

[6] Hearst Television Inc.: Our Stations

[7] Hearst Television: Annual Reports

[8] Hearst Television, Inc. – Press Release

[9] Hearst 2012 Annual Review

[10] Hearst Television, Inc. – Press Release

[11] Hearst TV and PolitiFact Renew Alliance

[12] Hearst Television Image

[13] Hearst Corporation Image

[14] Hearst Television: About Our Company Image

[15] David J. Barrett Image

[16] Hearst Corporation 2012 Annual Review Image

[17] Election 2012 App Image

[18] PolitiFact Image

Lionsgate Entertainment

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Taylor Kowalski

Taylor Kowalski

Courtesy of Lionsgate Entertainment [1]

Company Contact Information

Los Angeles Address:

Lionsgate Corporate

2700 Colorado Ave.

Santa Monica, CA 90404

(310)-449-9200

[1]

Executives

Jon Feltheimer, CEO since March 2000.

Michael Burns, Vice Chairman since March 2000.

Steve Beeks, President since February 2004

Joe Drake, Preisdent of the Motion Picture Group since August 2007

Jim Keegan, Chief Financial Officer since April 2002

[1]

Company Overview

Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation is a leading multimedia entertainment company that maintains a presence in film and television production and distribution, home and family entertainment, digital distribution, as well as international distribution and new channel platforms. Committed to low overhead, entrepreneurial business models, cost discipline, and niche focus, Lionsgate has recently seen the success of their 12-year growth strategy, which led to Lionsgate becoming a major name in the world marketplace. [6]

Lionsgate Film’s list of successful films includes The Hunger Games, The Saw Saga, and a long list of Tyler Perry’s films. In addition, Lionsgate Television’s current programming includes successes such as FX’s Anger Management, AMC’s Mad Men, ABC’s Nashville, and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie.

Other Lionsgate holdings and subsidiaries include Lionsgate Music and Publishing, Tigergate, Mandate Pictures, Maple Pictures, Kix, Epix, Thrill, TVGuide.com, FEARnet.com, Debmar-Mercury, Elevation Sales, and Break.com.

Brief History

Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation was founded by Frank Giustra in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia. A majority of the funding for its founding was put forth by Yorktown Securities, a bank with stake in Frank Giustra’s mining assets. [2]

To further itself in the industry, Lionsgate acquired other small production houses, purchasing Cinepix Film Properties, which was then dubbed Lionsgate Films, as well as North Shore Studios, then renamed to be Lionsgate Studios. After more purchases, the Lionsgate Media subsidiary was founded to produce content for television. [2]

After Feltheimer became CEO, Lionsgate Entertainment acquired Trimark Pictures for approximately $50 million in June of 2000. Lionsgate also purchased Artisan Entertainment in 2003. They went on to purchase Rebus Film Distribution of the United Kingdom in October 2005, which became Lionsgate UK on February 23^rd, 2006. Also in 2006, Lionsgate sold Lionsgate Studios to Bosa Development Corporation. In June of 2007, Lionsgate Music and Publishing was founded. [2]

In 2009, Lionsgate acquired the TV Guide Network. [3]

In January of 2012, Lionsgate acquired Summit Entertainment, the producers of The Twilight Saga, which helped Lionsgate cross the $1 billion dollar threshold for the first time. This success is also attributed to the release of The Hunger Games. [1]

Courtesy of The Hunger Games [16]

Competitors

DreamWorks Studios

Imagine Entertainment

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Incorporated

[18]

Finances

As the fiscal year ended March 31^st, 2013, the annual financial reports for Lionsgate have not been released yet.

Their first-quarter financial report for 2013 reported revenue of $471.8 million, with a price of $.33 per share with the first quarter of fiscal 2013 ending June 30, 2012. [4]

The second-quarter earnings release reports revenue of $707.0 million with a price of $.56 per share with the second quarter of fiscal 2013 ending September 30, 2012. [4]

The third-quarter earnings release reports revenue of $743.6 million with a price of $.28 per share with the third quarter of fiscal 2013 ending December 31, 2012. [4]

View Available Financial Reports

Courtesy of Yahoo Finance [5]

At the closing of April 5^th, Lionsgate’s stock had gone up .74 of a point, a 3.29% increase.

With blockbuster films such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire being released in 2013, Lionsgate is likely to have a comparable year to that of 2012, during which the release of franchised movies, including The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games, led to more than $2.5 billion being made at the worldwide box office in 2012. [6]

Recent News

Courtesy of IMDB [14]

January 22, 2013– Lionsgate’s comic-based film DREDD achieved a DVD and Blu-Ray release that made it the best-selling new release title of the year. DREDD also became the top film download of the week, beating out all other films in digital sales as well. This feat adds to Lionsgate’s list of films that have made up for a lacking box office performance through DVD and Blu-Ray sales, helping Lionsgate be the industry leader in DVD-to-box office conversion. [7]

Official DREDD Trailer

February 12 and 13, 2013– Media Investor Gordon Crawford joined Lionsgate’s board of directors, increasing the size of the board to 13 members. In addition, Wayne Levin signed a long-term agreement to act as Lionsgate’s General Counsel and Chief Strategic Officer. [8] [9]

March 5, 2013– Andrew Kramer was named Chief Operating Officer of International Distribution. [10]

BD-2-wallpapers-breaking-dawn-part-2-32962100-1680-1050

Courtesy of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 [15]

March 5, 2013– Lionsgate reported that Summit Entertainment’s The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 sold 3.85 million DVD’s and Blu-Rays in its first weekend of release. This news is more significant due to the fact that 27% of the sales were Blu-Ray copies, up from the 22% seen for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, which further indicates the growing acceptance of the Blu-Ray format. Similarly, 20% more transactions were electronic, such as Video On Demand, for this film. [11]

Official Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Trailer

March 21^,2013– Lionsgate and the new digital entertainment service M-GO announced that they are partnering to bring Lionsgate’s library of films and television programs, such as The Hunger Games, Twilight, Madea, and Mad Men, to the digital service for customers to purchase or rent. [12]

Courtesy of TV Guide [15]

March 26, 2013– CBS Corporation and Lionsgate officially partner in a 50/50 ownership of the TV Guide Network as well as TVGuide.com, a cable channel that reaches 80 million households. [3]

Future

Though Lionsgate may not have as profitable of a fiscal year in 2013 and 2014 due to The Twilight Saga wrapping up and no longer overlapping The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as well as the rest of the trilogy are sure to be box office successes for Lionsgate.

Other upcoming films for Lionsgate include The Big Wedding, We the Peeples, You’re Next, I, Frankenstein, and Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas. Lionsgate is also planning to add to the Texas Chainsaw 3D franchise. [13]

Official We The Peeples Trailer

Official You’re Next Trailer

Official Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas Trailer

In addition, Summit Entertainment’s upcoming 2013 slate includes Now You See Me, Red 2, The Tomb, and Ender’s Game.

Sources

1. Lionsgate Official Website http://www.lionsgate.com

2. Lionsgate History http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/lions-gate-entertainment-corporation-history/

3. Lionsgate and CBS for TV Guide Network http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-eyes-sale-tv-guide-282649

4. Lionsgate Quarterly Earnings http://investors.lionsgate.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62796&p=quarterlyEarnings

5. Yahoo Finance Report http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=LGF

6. Lionsgate Company Overview http://investors.lionsgate.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62796&p=irol-homeprofile

7. DREDD Press Release http://investors.lionsgate.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62796&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1776610&highlight=

8. Gordon Crawford Press Release http://investors.lionsgate.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62796&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1784145&highlight=

9. Wayne Levin Press Release http://investors.lionsgate.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62796&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1784588&highlight=

10. Andrew Kramer Press Release http://investors.lionsgate.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62796&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1792410&highlight=

11. Twilight Press Release http://investors.lionsgate.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62796&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1792214&highlight=

12. M-GO Press Release http://investors.lionsgate.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62796&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1798829&highlight=

13. Lionsgate Films http://www.lionsgate.com/?section=film

14. DREDD on IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/

15. Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Photo Page http://www.breakingdawn-themovie.com

16. The Hunger Games Official Website http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/index.html

17. TV Guide Network http://www.tvguide.com

18. Yahoo Finance, Lionsgate Competitors http://finance.yahoo.com/q/co?s=LGF+Competitors

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Posted on April 2, 2013 by vapane

by Victoria Pane

[14]

Sinclair Broadcasting Group Inc. is one of the largest broadcast companies to date. SBG owns and operates programs or provides sales services to 112 TV stations that span 61 markets nationwide. Sinclair Broadcasting Group reaches about 29.8% of U.S. TV households. Station affiliates include FOX, ABC, MyTV, CW, CBS, NBC, MTN and Azteca.

Headquarters Address: 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030

Telephone– (410)-568-1500

Social Media- Facebook LinkedIn

[15]

Executives

David Smith– Chief Executive Officer

David Amy-Chief Financial Officer

Steven Marks– Chief Operating Officer

Barry Faber-Executive Vice President

David Bochenek-Chief Accounting Officer

History

Located in Hunts Valley, Maryland, the Chesapeake Television Corporation was founded by Julian Sinclair Smith in 1971. Station ownership started in Baltimore (WBFF), Pittsburgh (WPTT/WPMY) and Columbus (WTTE). The last of the remaining stocks were bought by Smith’s four son is 1985 and since then the company has been named Sinclair Broadcasting Group. David B. Smith has served as

url President and CEO since 1988, while the other three brothers hold various executive positions. With the help of the brothers the company has done nothing but grow in audience size and content range. The year 1995 changed it all when the company became publicly traded. Sinclair owns the majority of its stations, but they do operate some affiliates for the networks using local marketing agreements.

Picture above[16]

Screen shot 2013-04-01 at 9.09.23 PM

See all stations under Sinclair’s control here

Picture Right [17]

Recent News

Since the beginning of the New Year SBG has been placing new General Managers in many of its markets across the country. On January 2, 2013. Noreen Parker was named GM of WTTA-TV (MY TV Tampa Bay) in Tampa, Florida. On January 3^rd Sinclair announced that Jim Lapiana would be the new GM of WPGH-TV (Fox 53) and WPMY-TV (MNT 22) in Pittsburgh. Also on January 3^rd Ronna Corrente was named GM of WDKY-TV (Fox 31) in Lexington, Kentucky. And lastly on March 7^th, Terry Gaughan was named GM of WCGV-TV (My 24) and WVTV-TV (CW 18) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Another major piece of employee news is Steve Pruett joined senior management team as Chief Operating Officer of Chesapeake TV. Pruett has meny years of experience in the media, up until recently he was the CEO of Communication Corporations of America (CCA). Along with being the COO of Sinclair Television Group in the mid-sized market, Marks will also oversee the Company’s most recent strategy for small markets.

During February, Sinclair Broadcasting Group made a deal hoping to create initiative for small market television. The company signed an agreement to purchase stock and broadcasting assets of four television stations owned by COX Media Group. The deal was set for $99 million. These stations operate four different markets and reach about 0.9% of U.S. TV households. David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair was quoted: “Over the past 18 months, we have led the industry’s consolidation efforts in the mid-sized markets, purchasing 30 TV stations and creating over $400 million of equity value. We believe our platform size and leadership position allow us to bring meaningful purchasing power and negotiating leverage to these stations. Including synergies, we believe the CMG stations can generate approximately $20 million of cash flow, on average.”

[6]

Also in February of this year, Sinclair reached an agreement with DirecTV regarding the retransmission consent agreement. They have entered a short-term extension to the existing contract so that both parties will be able to enter into a formal agreement. In conclusion, DirecTV will continue to carry all of Sinclair’s stations.

On February 28^th SBG announced an agreement to purchase 18 television stations owned by Barrington Broadcast Group, LLC for $370 million. It also entered agreements to operate or provide sales services for another six stations. These 24 stations are located in 15 different markets and reach 3.4% of U.S TV households. David Smith commented: “This week, we launched our small market television group when we announced we would be acquiring certain of the COX Media television stations. The Barrington stations are an important part of that strategy, providing meaningful scale to the group. Including synergies, we believe the Barrington stations can generate approximately $71 million of cash flow, on average.”

Screen shot 2013-04-01 at 11.38.43 AM [8]

Conflicts with FCC ownership rules have forced Sinclair to sell its station WSYT (Fox) in Syracuse, NY and assign its local marketing agreement and purchasing option on WNYS (MNT) in Syracuse. The Company also sold its station WYZZ (Fox) in Peoria, IL. The license assets of four stations will be bought by Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation and Howard Stirk Holdings (newly formed and controlled by Armstrong Williams who is the founder and CEO of Graham Williams Group).

On April 2nd, SBG announced its full support of MobileDTV. Over the next six months, the Company will being to broadcast 10 mobile-cable signals in nine different markets. This is in partnership with Cunningham Broadcasting Company that broadcasts two stations in Columbus, Ohio (WSYX-TV and WTTE-TV). Consumers in these markets will be able to use MobileDTV on their smartphones or tablets to enjoy local over-the-air broadcasting for free simply by installing a plug-in adaptor. Sinclair has long been a mobile tv advocate has committed to offer some FOX affiliates on this developing platform. MobileDTV is expected to help with targeted advertising and the TV anywhere anytime for consumers.

Find a list of available stations and markets here.

SBGI Financial Reports

[13]

Sinclair announced its first quarter of 2013 estimates of a net broadcast revenue of about $251.9 millon to $254.9 millon. Also an EBITDA of approximately $90.3 million to $93.3 million. The Board of Directors declared a $0.15 dividend to all Class A and B stock holders as of close on March 1st, 2013. The dividend became payable on March 15th.

Listen to the First Quarter Earnings Webcast and Conference call here

Financial Events Calendar

May 1, 2013- First Quarter 2013 Earnings Report

June 6, 2013- Annual Shareholders Meeting

August 7, 2013- Second Quarter Earnings Report

November 6, 2013- Third Quarter 2013 Earnings Report

Industry Conferences

March 4-6 dbAccess Media, Internet and Telecom Conference Palm Beach, FL.

April 8-9 Wells Fargo Investor Forum at NAB Las Vegas, NV.

May 7-9 Jefferies 2013 Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference The Westin, NYC

May 20-22 Barclay’s High Yield and Syndicated Loan Conference Chicago, IL.

May 30^th– The Benchmark One on One Investor Conference Milwaukee, WI.

Sept 30-Oct 2 Deutsche Bank’s 21^st Annual Leveraged Finance Conference Scottsdale AZ.

Sources

1.http://www.sbgi.net/about/history.shtml

2.http://www.sbgi.net/about/profile.shtml

3.http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Parker%20Tampa_kv9j79fq.shtml

4.http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Lapiana%20Pittsburgh_nf4w27hf.shtml

5.http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Corrente%20Lexington_y574z5b9.shtml

6.http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/_q81qytdm.shtml

7.http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/_8tv8hrf9.shtml

8.http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/_7xfvjv6f.shtml

9.http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/_vhm639mg.shtml

10.http://broadcastengineering.com/company-news/sinclair-broadcast-group-buys-18-barrington-tv-stations

11.http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-03-01/news/bs-bz-sinclair-acquisition-20130301_1_sinclair-s-ceo-stations-directv-customers

12.http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/MobileDTV13_t7j41d11.shtml

13.http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SBGI.O

14/15.http://www.sbgi.net/

16.http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-david-smith-2010-photo,0,4271489.photo

17. http://www.sbgi.net/business/television.shtml

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Posted on April 1, 2013 by scmccabe

S. Catherine McCabe

Sinclair Broadcasting Group

– Image courtesy of sbgi.net

Overview

The Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., based in Baltimore, Maryland, is a diverse television broadcasting company, which owns and operates over one hundred stations in over sixty markets around the country. It also provides programming and sales services for its stations under local market agreements (LMA), a concept that was pioneered by SBG in the 1990s. It reaches almost 30% of households in the United States and is one of the biggest broadcasting groups in the country. [1]

History

The Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., was founded in 1986 by the four sons of Julian Sinclair Smith, a pioneer in ultra high frequency (UHF) television broadcasting. Julian Smith started the company as the Chesapeake Television Corporation in 1971; under which name Sinclair broadcasted one of the first UHF stations in the country from their flagship station WBFF-TV. UHF broadcasting immediately became a major part in the television industry and started to become more involved with their father’s company in the 1980s.

Julian Smith’s sons began acquiring other UHF stations and quickly saw the Chesapeake Television Corporation become a major consolidator in the industry. The name was changed to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1985. In 1990 the Smith brothers bought the remaining shares of SBG, owned by their parents, and immediately began acquiring more stations. It was not long before SBG became one of the largest media distributers in the country. [2]

– Image courtesy of jhu.edu

Smith Brothers

David D. Smith

David D. Smith is currently serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sinclair Broadcast Group and has held the position since 1988. He was a major part it’s founding in 1986 and has help a position on the Board of Directors since. Before Sinclair, Smith was an officer and director at Comark Communications, a manufacturer of high power transmitters for UHF television companies, which he founded. [3]

Frederick G. Smith

Dr. Frederick G. Smith was an oral and maxillofacial surgeon before coming to Sinclair as the Vice President. He took that position in 1990 and has served on the Board of Directors since 1986. Dr. Smith also serves as a director or trustee of Sinclair Ventures, Inc., the Freven Foundation, Gerstell Academy, University of Maryland at Baltimore Foundation, St. Joseph’s Hospital, The Sinclair Relief Fund, Bay Television Inc., Cunningham Communications Inc., Gerstell Development, LP, Keyser Investment Group, Inc. and Beaver Dam, LLC. [3]

J. Duncan Smith

J. Duncan Smith who started off building and operating television stations in Pittsburgh, PA; Columbus, OH; Bloomington, IN; and multiple cities in Florida, now serves as the Vice President, Secretary and a Director of Sinclair. He has been with Sinclair since it’s founding in 1986. Before Sinclair, Duncan also worked with David at Comark Communications. [3]

Robert E. Smith

Robert E. Smith served as the Vice President and Treasurer of Sinclair from 1988 to 1998. he later resigned from this position to shift focus to a commercial real estate investment firm which he started. He still holds a position on the Board of Directors which he has held since 1986. Before Sinclair, Robert also worked at Comark Communications with his brothers. [3]

Affiliates

-Image courtesy of sbgi.net

Sinclair has stations in over sixty markets across the country and they have agreements with 8 different networks. These include 27 FOX, 20 MyTV, 20 CW, 17 ABC, 15 CBS, 11 NBC, 1 Azteca and 1 Independent affiliate. [4]

Investments

In the past Sinclair has made very strategic investments over a variety of different industries. They currently hold interest in over five different companies. These include: [5]

Sterling Venture Partners a private equity firm that invests $5 million to $100 million in early-stage and expansion-stage health care, software, education, industrial technology and business services companies.
-Image courtesy of sbgi.net

Allegiance Capital a private mezzanine venture capital fund, which invests in the subordinated debt and equity of privately held companies.
-Image courtesy of sbgi.net

Patriot Capital provides structured debt and mezzanine financing to small businesses.
-Image courtesy of sbgi.net

Ring of Honor wrestling programing known for its athleticism and professional wrestling.
-Image courtesy of sbgi.net

Triangle Sign and Service private company that fabricates, installs and services commercial signs across the country.
– Image courtesy of sbgi.net

Alarm Funding Associates security funding and acquisition company helping full service alarm operating companies.
– Image courtesy of sbgi.net

Bay Creek a planned community on almost 1,800 acres surrounding Cape Charles.

-Image courtesy of sbgi.net

In Recent News

On May 21st, 2011 Sinclair announced the acquisition of the “Ring of Honor” wrestling franchise. It is the third largest wrestling promotion in the country. Sinclair believes their backing and the power of the relationship between television and wrestling will allow ROH to become a household brand. It will premiere on Sinclair’s vast network of stations, as well as access for people outside of their markets online. ROH will be led by Chief Operating Officer, Joe Koff who was previously the director of sales at Sinclair Broadcasting Group. [6]

On September 8th, 2011 it was announced that Sinclair would be purchasing Four Points Media group for $200 million from affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. In this deal they acquired seven different stations from five extremely strong markets in Salt Lake City, West Palm Beach Austin, Texas and Providence, Rhode Island. The acquisition was finalized in January 2012 when they finally received approval from the FCC. [7] [8]

On November 2nd, 2011 Sinclair purchased the broadcast assets of Freedom Communications for $385 million. Freedom Communications reaches over 2% of households over seven different markets. The FCC granted them approval for this deal on March 13, 2012 even though Sinclair had already been managing all of Freedom Communications’ stations since December of 2011. [9]

On February 28th, 2013, Sinclair acquired 24 stations from Barrington Broadcasting Group, LLC. for $370 million. Sinclair will buy 18 of the 24 stations and then will operate and provide sales services for the other 6 stations. They are currently waiting on approval of the FCC and antitrust clearance. However, due to FCC rules, Sinclair has chosen to sell it’s FOX affiliate in Syracuse, NY. They will then purchase a MNT affiliate in Syracuse under a local marketing agreement. Sinclair also announced the purchase certain COX Media stations. They are predicting the combination of these two deals will result in about $232 million of increased equity and $2.85 per share. [10]

Sinclair Broadcast Group has a history of struggling to come to retransmission agreements with the different cable providers. In the past they have had issues with both Time Warner Cable and Comcast and most recently they have finished negotiations with Dish Network and DirecTV. During their negotiations with the Dish Network, Sinclair threatened to black out over seventy channels if they did not come to an agreement by August 13, 2012. Dish Network claimed that Sinclair was charging more than any other broadcaster to carry their channels and Sinclair had doubts of whether or not they would be able to come to an agreement. They did not reach an agreement until August 16, 2012, but fortunately there was no lost signal during the extension. Similar circumstances surrounded their retransmission agreement with DirecTV, however they were able to come to an agreement just hours before 87 channels were due to go black. This deal was made on February 28, 2013. [11] [12]

Sources:

[1] SBG Company Profile http://www.sbgi.net/about/profile.shtml

[2] SBG History http://www.sbgi.net/about/history.shtml

[3] SBG Directors http://www.sbgi.net/corp_governance/directors.shtml

[4] SBG Affiliates http://www.sbgi.net/business/television.shtml

[5] SBG Investments http://www.sbgi.net/business/ventures.shtml

[6] SBG News Release- Ring of Honor Acquired http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/ROH-2_9c2yxbl4.shtml

[7] TV News Check- Four Points Media Acquisition http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/53840/sinclair-buys-four-points-media-for-200m

[8] TV News Check-Four Points Media Acquisition http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/56431/sinclair-closes-four-points-media-acquisition

[9] SBG News Release- Freedom Communications acquisition http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Freedom_dbzq8g62.shtml

[10] SBG News Release- Barrington Broadcast Acquisition http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/_7xfvjv6f.shtml

[11] The Daily News- Sinclair TV Blackout http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_6b4bfd54-e61e-11e1-8cf8-001a4bcf887a.html

[12] TV News Check- Sinclair and DirecTV deal http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/65829/sinclair-and-directv-make-retrans-deal

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Posted on September 19, 2012 by stgeer

by Steven Geer

Logo courtesy of www.sbg.net

Headquarters – 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030

Telephone – (410)-568-1500

Social Media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter (@sbgi)

Brief History

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/photo/262/262314-Credit_Nicholas_Griner_Baltimore_Business_Journal.jpg

David B. Smith, President & CEO – Photo courtesy of Nicholas Griner, Baltimore Business Journal

Sinclair Broadcasting Group is a telecommunications company located in Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA. Founded as Chesapeake Television Corporation in 1971 by Julian Sinclair Smith, its station ownership started in Balitmore (WBFF), Pittsburgh (WPTT/WPMY) and Columbus (WTTE). In 1985, the remaining stocks of the business were bought out by Smith’s four sons and its name was changed to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Since 1988, David B. Smith has served as President & CEO while the remaining brothers hold executive positions as well. Their leadership brought the company to a new level, expanding both its audience reach and content variety. In 1995, the company became publicly traded on NASDAQ with the symbol SBGI [1][2].

Sinclair Broadcasting was a pioneer of local marketing agreements in the early 1990’s. Though many stations are owned and operated by Sinclair, others are affiliated through LMA’s. Sinclair’s stations are affiliated with major networks like Fox, NBC, CBS, and ABC. Also, this company was one of the first to experiment with “prepackaged” news programs, produced by the news organization, News Central [3].

Sinclair has a diverse array of holdings outside telecommunications as well. Ring of Honor Wrestling is just one of their many subsidiaries. They air the content they produce in certain markets and upload some episodes to YouTube.

Here is Ring Of Honor Episode 54 from October 11, 2012:

Recent Acquisitions and News

A buying spree in 2011 and early 2012 added the assets of Four Points Media Group, the Freedom Communications stations group, and six stations from Newport Television [4][5][6]. Sinclair Broadcast Group now operates the largest number of local television stations in the United States.

Their most recent acquisitions closed December 1, 2012 and include stations in new and previously established markets. In addition to increasing the audience reach of Sinclair 3%, these purchases also increased the number of affiliated stations in Sinclair’s portfolio. Some of the stations now owned by Sinclair are WTTA (MNT) Tampa, KBTV (FOX) Beaumont, WKRC (CBS) Cincinnati, WOAI (NBC) San Antonio, WHP (CBS) Harrisburg, WPMI (NBC) and WJTC (IND) Mobile, KSAS (FOX) Wichita, and WHAM (ABC) Rochester.

See all of Sinclair’s holdings and their information here.

Sinclair’s Markets – Map courtesy of Sinclair Broadcast Group

The failure of New Central and Sinclair’s profile as a “profit first, journalism second” broadcaster prompted the company to shift its focus to quality news in local markets. Sinclair’s recent acquisitions included many local news stations, atypical purchases for the company, but smart because of their powerful local presence. Sinclair has even joined the National Association of Broadcasters, a sign that they’re willingness to participate in Washington alongside competitors [7].

Hurricane Sandy had a large impact on many viewers in Sinclair’s markets, creating an opportunity for the company to serve its local constituents. During the storm, Sinclair provided non-stop coverage by “simulcasting” the news programs online. This allowed those without power to access it using mobiles phones and tablets. Online streaming and other technology platforms are being considered at Sinclair Group. Chief tech executive Del Parks spoke for the company claiming that the multiscreen experience is, “a very personal thing for our news operations.” Simulcasting was also used this fall in local office campaigns within certain Sinclair markets by streaming town hall debates on their website [8].

On November 13, 2012 it was announced that Sinclair Broadcasting would be partnering with Datasphere, a technology company aimed at small business solutions in major media and reaching the hyperlocal market. Sinclair’s television station websites will be retrofitted with Datasphere’s event calendars for local event lists in each market. An example of this calendar can be seen on WBFF Baltimore’s event website. This will be used alongside a whole new technology platform at Sinclair Group. It is a full-sized service that connects local small businesses to media companies for advertising needs. Datasphere’s services will be introduced into 21 markets including Austin, Baltimore, Columbus, Dayton, Nashville and San Antonio [9].

Sinclair attends many industry conferences. Their next conference is the JP Morgan Global HYLFC in Miami Beach, February 25-27, 2013.

Financial Overview

Sinclair’s income statement for December 2, 2012 shows the stock price settling at $11.03; this is still low compared to their period of $14.00+ shares back in 2003-2004. This company has battled through the economic recession, however, showing staggering growth in returns over a three year period. In fact, they’ve quadrupled the 3 year return percentage of their competitor Belo Corporation from 2009 to 2012 [10].

SBGI Total Returns Comparison

Chart courtesy of www.ycharts.com

Three year returns are a significant figure for a long-term shareholder of this company. High returns indicate a growing business. Sinclair has rebounded from the recession and continues to show steady growth.

High third quarter revenues this year were reported following Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath. The 44% increase from $181 million to $260 million was attributed to political advertising associated with the campaign season and a spike in automotive advertising on Sinclair’s stations. After reaching retransmission agreements with networks like Comcast and Dish, Sinclair found that higher retransmissions revenues also contributed to the figure [11][12].

Hear or watch the rebroadcast of the 3rd quarter 2012 earnings results here.

Sinclair’s financial calendar is as follows:

February 6, 2013 – Fourth Quarter 2012 Earnings Report
May 1, 2013 – First Quarter 2013 Earnings Report
June 16, 2013 – Annual Shareholders Meeting
August 7, 2013 – Second Quarter 2013 Earnings Report
November 6, 2013 – Third Quarter 2013 Earnings Report

Controversies

Sinclair Broadcasting, though successful and respected in the industry, is not immune to scrutiny by its competition and the public eye. The company is known for blatantly taking sides on social and political issues including political campaigns. A conservative bias can be noticed in the programming Sinclair chooses to air around election time. Even so, they deny any partisanship and claim to only be informing and engaging the public.

Photo courtesy of cbs12.com

The 2012 Presidential Campaign was another opportunity for Sinclair to garner the profits of political advertising at the cost of their audience’s scheduled news programming. The decision to preempt regular programs in order to air the “ABC 6 Election Special – VOTE 2012” didn’t sit well with supporters of Obama [13]. The special was aired in markets all located in battleground states.

A writer for The Baltimore Sun wrote in an article that, “the only thing that was lower than the attack-ad-dominated style of campaigning by both sides was the performance of an increasingly superficial and partisan press,” [14][15]. Sinclair has since rejected the criticism, claiming that the specials were focused on the issues and not so much the candidates, and that the markets where they were aired had more “news value.” [16]

Watch a recap of the election special here.

In a dispute with Dish Network this past August, Sinclair was ready to black out 74 of its stations carried by Dish when they wouldn’t accept a new retransmission agreement. A public exchange of words between the two companies resulted in high tensions and little motivation for Sinclair to bargain with the distributor. Dish claimed that Sinclair was charging more than any other broadcaster, resulting in higher subscription fees for customers. Sinclair, however, views retransmission fees as an important resource for the company. A multi-year consent agreement was finally reached after several weeks. Sinclair has become increasingly aggressive towards television providers and retransmission fees. Similar disputes between Mediacom, Time Warner, and Comcast all ended with agreements favoring Sinclair [17].

Sources

[1]: http://www.sbgi.net/about/history.shtml

[2]: http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/sbgi

[3]: http://www.sbgi.net/about/profile.shtml

[4]: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/473517-Sinclair_Grabs_Four_Points_Stations_for_200_Mil.php

[5]: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/sinclairbroadcast-acquisition-idUSL4E8IJ3M120120719

[6]: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/us-sinclairbroadcast-acquisition-idUSBRE86I0OY20120719

[7]: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/481963-Local_TV_s_Death_Star_Gets_in_Sync.php

[8]: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/63574/second-screens-now-a-necessity-at-sinclair

[9]: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/13/4981878/datasphere-teams-up-with-sinclair.html

[10]: http://ycharts.com/companies/SBGI/performance

[11]: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hmOfM9u5nekq4hbPyXAmLOj9OErg?docId=365c480866ce41d9b245673a0f614900