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Sinclair, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 3 lowered, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA both rose: Total revenue was $840 million, up 7% from $784 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $149 million, up 45% from $103 million. Source
  • Political advertising led the growth: Political advertising revenue was $59 million against $6 million a year earlier. The company tied the revenue growth mainly to political advertising. Source
  • Local Media Adjusted EBITDA rose: Local Media Adjusted EBITDA was $149 million against $99 million, on total revenue of $731 million against $679 million. Source
  • Political revenue rose on midterm cycle: Political advertising revenue was $59 million in the quarter against $6 million, and $77 million for the six months against $12 million. Source
  • Core advertising revenue declined: Core advertising revenue was $308 million, down 3% from $316 million a year earlier and up 1% from $305 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Debt reduced by $320 million: The company reduced debt by $320 million in the quarter, including a $150 million paydown on its accounts receivable facility. Source
  • Liquidity about $1.4 billion: Total liquidity was about $1.4 billion, made up of $604 million in cash plus undrawn revolver and accounts receivable facility capacity. Source

“Political advertising maintained significant momentum during the quarter as we move further into the 2026 midterm election cycle.”

CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA, consolidated SourceFull year 2026$730 million-$760 millionRaised from $700 million-$740 million
Adjusted EBITDA, Local Media SourceFull year 2026$710 to 740 (millions)Raised from $680 to 720 (millions)
Total revenue, consolidated SourceFull year 2026$3,400 to 3,540 (millions)Kept
Total revenue, Local Media SourceFull year 2026$3,000 to 3,120 (millions)Kept
Distribution revenue, consolidated SourceFull year 2026$1,720 to 1,790 (millions)Kept
Distribution revenue, Local Media SourceFull year 2026$1,510 to 1,570 (millions)Kept
Core advertising revenue, consolidated SourceFull year 2026$1,220 to 1,280 (millions)Lowered from $1,260 to 1,320 (millions)
Core advertising revenue, Local Media SourceFull year 2026$1,040 to 1,090 (millions)Lowered from $1,080 to 1,130 (millions)
Political advertising revenue SourceFull year 2026at least $375 millionRaised from at least $333 million
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$75 to 80 (millions)Kept
Net interest expense SourceFull year 2026$290 to $295 (millions)Lowered from $300 to 310 (millions)
Net cash tax payments SourceFull year 2026Approx. $50 (millions)Raised from $34 to 45 (millions)

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $730 million-$760 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Local Media Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $710 to 740 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Political advertising revenue guidance raised from at least $333 million to at least $375 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Core advertising revenue guidance lowered; the company cited political demand and advertiser caution. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Net interest expense guidance lowered from $300 to 310 million to $290 to $295 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Net cash tax payments guidance raised from $34 to 45 million to approximately $50 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Total revenue and distribution revenue guidance for the company and Local Media unchanged. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditure guidance unchanged at $75 to 80 million. Source
  • New: Station count rose to 178 from 177 in the first-quarter release. Source
  • New: Management said it retired about $25 million of its B7 term loan in early July, after the quarter end. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA both rose: Total revenue was $840 million, up 7% from $784 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $149 million, up 45% from $103 million. Source
  • Political advertising led the growth: Political advertising revenue was $59 million against $6 million a year earlier. The company tied the revenue growth mainly to political advertising. Source
  • Net loss widened year over year: Net loss attributable to Sinclair was $76 million, against $64 million a year earlier, after an income tax provision of $112 million. Source
  • Six-month Adjusted EBITDA rose 28%: For the six months, total revenue was $1,647 million, up 6%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $275 million, up 28%. Source

Segments: Local Media and Tennis

  • Local Media Adjusted EBITDA rose: Local Media Adjusted EBITDA was $149 million against $99 million, on total revenue of $731 million against $679 million. Source
  • Tennis Adjusted EBITDA declined: Tennis revenue was $70 million against $68 million. Its media programming and production expenses were $43 million against $39 million, and its Adjusted EBITDA was $8 million against $13 million. Source
  • Tennis Channel engagement grew: Tennis Channel reported growth in engagement across linear, streaming and direct-to-consumer platforms, with several second-quarter events reaching record audiences. Source

“Traditional MVPD subscriber trends also continued to show signs of modest stabilization.”

CEO

Political advertising and demand

  • Political revenue rose on midterm cycle: Political advertising revenue was $59 million in the quarter against $6 million, and $77 million for the six months against $12 million. Source
  • Stations span 39 political markets: Stations span 39 markets across the top-10 states by projected political spend. The company listed 6 competitive Senate races, 7 gubernatorial races and 33 House races. Source
  • Political demand crowded out core inventory: Management said political demand crowded out core advertising inventory in its most competitive markets. Source

Core advertising and distribution

  • Core advertising revenue declined: Core advertising revenue was $308 million, down 3% from $316 million a year earlier and up 1% from $305 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Distribution revenue rose year over year: Distribution revenue was $444 million, up 2% from $434 million a year earlier, and down 3% from $458 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Local Media core advertising declined: Local Media core advertising revenue was $260 million against $272 million a year earlier. Tennis core advertising was $14 million against $13 million. Source

“Based on our second quarter performance and current political trends, we are increasing our full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance.”

CEO

Costs and operating income

  • Media programming costs held steady: Media programming and production expenses were $424 million against $420 million, and $836 million for the six months against $838 million. Source
  • Media selling costs rose: Media selling, general and administrative expenses were $217 million against $200 million, an increase of $17 million. Source
  • Operating income rose: Operating income was $50 million against $21 million a year earlier. Corporate general and administrative expenses were $45 million in both periods. Source

Balance sheet and liquidity

  • Debt reduced by $320 million: The company reduced debt by $320 million in the quarter, including a $150 million paydown on its accounts receivable facility. Source
  • Total debt at $4,059 million: Total Company debt was $4,059 million at June 30, all of it indebtedness of STG. Source
  • Liquidity about $1.4 billion: Total liquidity was about $1.4 billion, made up of $604 million in cash plus undrawn revolver and accounts receivable facility capacity. Source
  • Leverage ratios within covenant levels: The first-out first lien leverage ratio was 1.8x against a 3.5x covenant, and the total leverage ratio was 5.2x against a 7.0x covenant, as defined in the STG bank credit agreement. Source

Cash flow and shareholder payouts

  • Operating cash flow was $109 million: Net cash flows from operating activities were $109 million for the six months, against $127 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital expenditures of $20 million: Capital expenditures were $20 million in the second quarter, and the company kept its full-year capital expenditure guidance unchanged. Source
  • Quarterly dividend paid at $0.25: The company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share in June. Dividends paid for the six months were $36 million. Source
  • Common shares outstanding increased: Common shares outstanding were 72,263,077 at June 30, including 48,507,841 Class A shares and 23,755,236 Class B shares. Source

Content, stations and audience

  • World Cup audiences set records: Record-setting 2026 FIFA World Cup audiences were showcased across the FOX affiliate portfolio, with engagement extending to digital and podcast platforms. Source
  • AMP Media extended advertiser reach: AMP Media brands extended engagement and advertiser reach beyond traditional linear television, the company said. Source
  • Station count rose to 178: The company owns, operates or services 178 television stations, up from 177 in the first-quarter release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital expenditures Source$20 million in the second quarter of 2026
Traditional MVPD subscriber trend Sourcemodest stabilization

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited caution among advertisers in a handful of cost-pressured categories. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management updated the full-year 2026 guidance it had reaffirmed in April, raising Adjusted EBITDA and lowering core advertising revenue. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.