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Sinclair Broadcast Group timeline

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May 2017: Sinclair Broadcast Group said it will buy Tribune Media Company for $3.9 billion after the FCC loosened rules on TV station ownership in late April.

April 2017: Sinclair said it would buy stock of New York-based Bonten Media Group Holdings for $240 million, adding 14 stations to its holdings.

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December 2016: Sinclair denied that it gave favorable coverage to Donald Trump's presidential campaign on its local news programs in exchange for access.

December 2016: Sinclair said it would launch TBD, a first-of-its kind over-the-air TV network showing digital programming.

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June 2016: Sinclair ranked 913th on the Fortune 1000, making the list for the first time.

March 2016: Sinclair joint venture with Coherent Logix begins testing next generation broadcast system for high-definition TV viewing on mobile devices.

February 2016: Sinclair said it would buy the Tennis Channel for $350 million.

July 2015: Sinclair formed a joint venture with a company owned by former Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner to create, produce and distribute first-run syndicated television shows and also announced launch of partnership with MGM to create broadcast science fiction channel Comet TV.

September 2014: Sinclair agreed to acquire Las Vegas NBC affiliate KSNV for $120 million.

July 2014: Sinclair said it would launch American Sports Network to broadcast live events, including football, basketball and other sports, from more than 50 colleges and universities.

May 2014: Sinclair launched OneMedia with Coherent Logix to develop an alternative broadcast standard allowing ultra high-definition signals to be transmitted to multiple devices.

September 2013: Sinclair agreed to buy eight TV stations from New Age Media for $90 million

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July 2013: Sinclair agrees to pay $985 million for seven ABC affiliates and a local D.C. news channel from Allbritton Communications.

June 2013: Sinclair reached an agreement to buy Titan Television Broadcast Group, owner of four television stations in three markets, for $115.4 million, and take over Titan's sales and service agreements with two more stations. Separately, Sinclair agreed to buy Dielectric, a manufacturer of transmission antennas.

April 2013: Sinclair announced a deal to acquire Fisher Communications Inc., with 20 stations, for $373 million.

March 2013: Sinclair agreed to buy 18 stations from Barrington Broadcasting Group for $370 million.

February 2013: Sinclair agreed to $99 million deal to purchase four stations from Cox Media Group for $99 million.

July 2012: Sinclair agreed to buy six television stations from Newport Television for $412.5 million.

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November 2011: Sinclair announced $385 million deal to buy eight stations from Freedom Communications.

September 2011: Sinclair agreed to buy the seven stations from Four Points Media for $200 million.

May 2011: Sinclair acquired Ring of Honor wrestling franchise.

October 2009: Sinclair staved off bankruptcy fear with refinancing of some of its debt.

July 2009: Faced with falling advertising revenue from automakers amid the recession, Sinclair warned it might seek bankruptcy protection.

March 2007: Sinclair reached deal with Comcast to secure retransmission fees for its broadcast signals, ending a long-running fight.

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2005: Sinclair completed build out of digital platform and begins seeking compensation from cable providers for its programming.

October 2004: Sinclair stirred controversy again with plans to air an anti-John Kerry documentary prior to the presidential election.

April 2004: Sinclair criticized for not airing an Nightline episode on its ABC affiliates that read the names of American service members killed in Iraq.

1999: Sinclair sold off radio stations and moved headquarters from WBFF studio in Baltimore to office in Hunt Valley.

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1998: Sinclair acquired Heritage, Sullivan Broadcasting and Max Media, growing to 59 television stations in 39 markets and 51 radio stations in 10 markets.

1997: With Federal Communications Commission approval to switch broadcasting from analog to digital, Sinclair proposed multi-channel programming.

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1996: After passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Sinclair acquired River City Broadcasting, expanding it to 28 stations in 21 markets plus 23 radio stations in seven markets.

1995: Sinclair went public with 13 stations in eight markets, raising $111.5 million.

1994: Sinclair doubled in size with acquisition of four stations in Baltimore and Milwaukee.

1986: Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. was formed with three TV stations from Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Columbus.

1971: The company was founded by Julian Sinclair Smith as the Chesapeake Television Corp. with founding television station property WBFF (channel 45) in Baltimore.


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