NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:Nature of Operations

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (the Company) is a diversified television broadcasting company with national reach and a strong focus on providing high-quality content on our local television stations and digital platforms. The content, distributed through our broadcast platform, consists of programming provided by third-party networks and syndicators, local news, and other original programming produced by us. We also distribute our original programming, and owned and operated network affiliates, on other third-party platforms. Additionally, we own digital media products that are complementary to our extensive portfolio of television station related digital properties. Outside of our media related businesses, we operate technical services companies focused on supply and maintenance of broadcast transmission systems as well as research and development for the advancement of broadcast technology, and we manage other non-media related investments.

Our broadcast distribution platform is a single reportable segment for accounting purposes. It consists primarily of our broadcast television stations. We own, provide programming and operating services pursuant to agreements commonly referred to as local marketing agreements (LMAs), or provide sales services and other non-programming operating services pursuant to other outsourcing agreements (such as joint sales agreements (JSAs) and shared services agreements (SSAs)), to 191 stations in 89 markets. These stations broadcast 602 channels as of September 30, 2018. For the purpose of this report, these 191 stations and 602 channels are referred to as “our” stations and channels.Principles of ConsolidationThe consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) for which we are the primary beneficiary.  Noncontrolling interest represents a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities.  All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.Interim Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, such financial statements have been presented on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of equity, and consolidated statements of cash flows for these periods as adjusted for the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below.

As permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures normally included with audited consolidated financial statements and, accordingly, should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC.  The consolidated statements of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily representative of operations for an entire year.Variable Interest Entities

In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE.  We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary. 

Third-party station licensees.  Certain of our stations provide services to other station owners within the same respective market through agreements, such as LMAs, where we provide programming, sales, operational, and administrative services; and JSAs and SSAs, where we provide non-programming, sales, operational, and administrative services.  In certain cases, we have also entered into purchase agreements or options to purchase the license related assets of the licensee.  We typically own the majority of the non-license assets of the stations, and in some cases where the licensee acquired the license assets concurrent with our acquisition of the non-license assets of the station, we have provided guarantees to the bank of the licensee’s acquisition financing.  The terms of the agreements vary, but generally have initial terms of over five years with several optional renewal terms. Based on the terms of the agreements and the significance of our investment in the stations, we are the primary beneficiary when, subject to the ultimate control of the licensees, we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE through the services we provide and we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs.  The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation.  Several of these VIEs are owned by a related party, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham).  See Note 7. Related Person Transactions for more information about the arrangements with Cunningham. See Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership, Local Marketing Agreements, Joint Sales Agreements, Retransmission Consent Negotiations, and National Ownership Cap under Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies for discussion of recent changes in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules related to JSAs.

The carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above, which have been included in our consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented, were as follows (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2018		As of December 31, 2017
ASSETS
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	$	17,514	$	19,566
Other current assets	8,804		8,937
Total current assets	26,318		28,503
Program contract costs, less current portion	2,394		822
Property and equipment, net	5,575		6,215
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets	15,064		15,064
Definite-lived intangible assets, net	69,424		74,442
Other assets	2,374		5,601
Total assets	$	121,149	$	130,647
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Other current liabilities	$	19,720	$	23,564
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	18,673		23,217
Program contracts payable, less current portion	9,279		11,213
Other long-term liabilities	650		650
Total liabilities	$	48,322	$	58,644

The amounts above represent the consolidated assets and liabilities of the VIEs described above, for which we are the primary beneficiary, and have been aggregated as they all relate to our broadcast business.  Excluded from the amounts above are payments made to Cunningham under the LMAs and certain outsourcing agreements, which are treated as a prepayment of the purchase price of the stations, and capital leases between us and Cunningham, which are eliminated in consolidation.  The total payments made under these LMAs and certain JSAs, which are excluded from the liabilities above, were $46.6 million and $44.0 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.  The total capital lease liabilities, net of capital lease assets, which are excluded from the above, were $4.5 million as of both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. 

Total liabilities associated with certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs excluded from above were $117.0 million and $116.5 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, as these amounts are eliminated in consolidation.  The assets of each of these consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE.  As of September 30, 2018, all of the liabilities are non-recourse to us except for debt of certain VIEs. See Guarantees of third party debt under Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing for further discussion. The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.

Other investments.  We have several investments which are considered VIEs. However, we do not participate in the management of these entities, including the day-to-day operating decisions or other decisions which would allow us to control the entity, and therefore, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. We account for these entities using the equity method of accounting; at cost, less impairment plus observable price changes; or at fair value.

The carrying amounts of our investments in these VIEs for which we are not the primary beneficiary as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $74.9 million and $115.7 million, respectively, and are included in other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Our maximum exposure is equal to the carrying value of our investments. The income and loss related to these investments are recorded in income from equity investments on our consolidated statements of operations.  We recorded losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 of $10.0 million and $33.5 million, respectively, and a loss of $1.3 million and income of $2.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.Use of EstimatesThe preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and in the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance on revenue recognition for revenue from contracts with customers, Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (ASC 606). This guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective.  The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. Since Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09 was issued, several additional ASUs have been issued and incorporated within ASC 606 to clarify various elements of the guidance. We adopted this guidance retrospectively during the first quarter of 2018. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our station advertising or distribution revenue. Under the new standard, certain barter revenue and expense related to syndicated programming is no longer recognized. See Revenue Recognition below for more information on the adoption.

In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The new guidance requires entities to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that resulted in consolidation of the investee) at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2018. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements. Equity investments without a readily determinable fair value measured utilizing the measurement alternative at cost, less impairment plus observable price changes were $20.7 million and $32.3 million, as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. There was a $10.1 million impairment to the carrying amount of one investment accounted for using the measurement alternative during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 which is recorded within loss from equity investments within our consolidated statement of operations. We also had other investments recorded at fair value of $18.7 million and $12.2 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. As a result of the adoption of this guidance, we recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings of $2.1 million for these investments, within our consolidated statement of equity.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to accounting for leases, which requires the assets and liabilities that arise from leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. Currently, only capital leases are recorded on the balance sheet. This update will require the lessee to recognize a lease liability equal to the present value of the lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term for all leases longer than 12 months. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election, by class of underlying asset, not to recognize lease assets and liabilities and recognize the lease expense for such leases, generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are still evaluating if this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated balance sheets, but we do not expect a material impact on our consolidated statements of operations. We plan to adopt using the optional transition method as well as the package of practical expedients on January 1, 2019.

In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. The new standard includes eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice as to how cash receipts and cash payments are represented in the statement of cash flows. In November 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. This new guidance requires that the statement of cash flows explain changes during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. We adopted this guidance retrospectively during the first quarter of 2018. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the adoption of this guidance resulted in an increase in cash flows from investing and financing activities of $312.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies the definition of a business with additional guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The new standard should be applied prospectively and is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2018. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2018, the FASB issued guidance, effective in the first quarter of 2018, for situations where the accounting under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740 is incomplete for certain income tax effects of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) upon issuance of an entity’s financial statements for the reporting period in which the TCJA was enacted. Any provisional amounts or adjustments to provisional amounts as a result of obtaining, preparing, or analyzing additional information about facts and circumstances related to the provisional amounts should be included in income (loss) from continuing operations as an adjustment to income tax expense in the reporting period the amounts are determined. As discussed in Income Taxes below, adjustments to the provisional amounts that are identified within a subsequent measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date will be included as an adjustment to tax expense from continuing operations in the period the amounts are determined.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software, with the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract expensed over the term of the hosting arrangement. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606 using the retrospective adoption method. The following table presents the effects of adoption on our consolidated financial statements for the comparative periods presented (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended							Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2017							September 30, 2017
	As Reported		Adoption of ASC 606			As Adjusted		As Reported		Adoption of ASC 606			As Adjusted
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements (a)	$	31,787	$	(26,359	)	$	5,428	$	91,817	$	(76,413	)	$	15,404
Expenses realized from barter arrangements (b)	$	26,696	$	(26,359	)	$	337	$	77,491	$	(76,413	)	$	1,078
Operating income	$	103,447	$	—		$	103,447	$	379,924	$	—		$	379,924
Net income	$	30,637	$	—		$	30,637	$	132,483	$	—		$	132,483
Basic EPS	$	0.30	$	—		$	0.30	$	1.34	$	—		$	1.34
Diluted EPS	$	0.30	$	—		$	0.30	$	1.32	$	—		$	1.32

(a) The remaining balance in the "as adjusted" column relates to trade revenue, which was unaffected by the adoption and has been reclassified to media revenue.

(b) The remaining balance in the "as adjusted" column relates to trade expense, which was unaffected by the adoption and has been reclassified to media production expense.

The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by type and segment (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2018						September 30, 2017
	Broadcast		Other		Total		Broadcast		Other		Total
Advertising revenue	$	365,617	$	19,629	$	385,246	$	314,930	$	16,056	$	330,986
Distribution revenue	302,780		27,913		330,693		258,841		26,517		285,358
Other media and non-media revenues	10,274		40,047		50,321		11,170		17,018		28,188
Total revenues	$	678,671	$	87,589	$	766,260	$	584,941	$	59,591	$	644,532
	Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2018						September 30, 2017
	Broadcast		Other		Total		Broadcast		Other		Total
Advertising revenue	$	1,002,734	$	57,963	$	1,060,697	$	953,254	$	38,830	$	992,084
Distribution revenue	881,836		82,675		964,511		759,632		80,355		839,987
Other media and non-media revenues	32,274		104,274		136,548		32,891		58,740		91,631
Total revenues	$	1,916,844	$	244,912	$	2,161,756	$	1,745,777	$	177,925	$	1,923,702

Advertising Revenue. We generate advertising revenue primarily from the sale of advertising spots/impressions on our broadcast television and digital platforms. Advertising revenue is recognized in the period in which the advertising spots/impressions are delivered. In arrangements where we provide audience ratings guarantees; to the extent that there is a ratings shortfall, we will defer a portion of revenue until the ratings shortfall is settled. The term of our advertising arrangements is generally less than one year and the timing between when an advertisement is aired and when payment is due is not significant. In certain circumstances, we require customers to pay in advance; payments received in advance of satisfying our performance obligations are reflected as deferred revenue.

Distribution Revenue. The Company generates distribution revenue through fees received from multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and virtual MVPDs for the right to distribute our stations and other properties on their respective distribution platforms. We have determined that these arrangements represent licenses of intellectual property. Distribution arrangements are generally governed by multi-year contracts and the underlying fees are based upon a monthly amount per subscriber. We recognize revenue associated with these licensing arrangements when our customers distribute our stations and other properties on their respective distribution platforms, which is when our performance obligation has been satisfied. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions. We expense sales commissions when incurred because the period of benefit for these costs is one year or less. These costs are recorded within media selling, general and administrative expenses. In accordance with ASC 606, we do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) distribution arrangements which are accounted for as a sales/usage based royalty.

Arrangements with Multiple Performance Obligations. Our contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenues to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price which is generally based on the prices charged to customers.

Deferred Revenues. We record deferred revenues when cash payments are received or due in advance of our performance, including amounts which are refundable. Deferred revenues as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $127.6 million and $49.5 million, respectively. The increase in deferred revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was primarily driven by amounts received or due in advance of satisfying our performance obligations, offset by revenues recognized, including $28.8 million of revenues recognized that were included in the deferred revenues balance as of December 31, 2017. Deferred revenues for the periods ended September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $31.3 million and $31.7 million, respectively. The decrease in deferred revenues as of the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily driven by revenues recognized, including $17.2 million of revenues recognized that were included in the deferred revenue as of December 31, 2016, offset by amounts received or due in advance of satisfying our performance obligations.Income Taxes

Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes.  The tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is based on the estimated effective tax rate applicable for the full year after taking into account discrete tax items and the effects of the noncontrolling interests. We provide a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if we determine that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  In evaluating our ability to realize net deferred tax assets, we consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, including our past operating results, tax planning strategies and forecasts of future taxable income.  In considering these sources of taxable income, we must make certain judgments that are based on the plans and estimates used to manage our underlying businesses on a long-term basis.  A valuation allowance has been provided for deferred tax assets related to a substantial portion of our available state net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards, based on past operating results, expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary book/tax basis differences, alternative tax strategies and projected future taxable income.

Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to $15.0 million of federal tax credits related to investments in sustainability initiatives. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to a $17.7 million permanent tax benefit recognized from an IRS tax ruling on the treatment of the gain from the sale of certain broadcast spectrum in connection with the Broadcast Incentive Auction, as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets, and $21.2 million of federal tax credits related to investments in sustainability initiatives. Our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 approximated the statutory rate.

Pursuant to the guidance within SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118), as of September 30, 2018, the Company continues to analyze certain aspects of the TCJA and refine its assessment. The ultimate impact of the TCJA may differ from the provisional amounts recorded by the Company at December 31, 2017 due to its continued analysis or further regulatory guidance that may be issued as a result of the TCJA. Pursuant to SAB 118, adjustments to the provisional amounts that are identified within a subsequent measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date will be included as an adjustment to tax expense from continuing operations in the period the amounts are determined.Share Repurchase ProgramOn September 6, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. On August 9, 2018, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $1.0 billion share repurchase authorization. There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we repurchased approximately 1.6 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $45.9 million. From October 1, 2018 through November 7, 2018, we repurchased an additional 3.4 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $96.7 million. As of November 7, 2018, the total remaining repurchase authorization was $946.4 million.Network Affiliation AgreementsIn August 2018, as a result of the termination of the Tribune transaction (including the sale of certain stations to FOX), FOX Broadcasting Company exercised its option to terminate the agreement entered May 8, 2018 which renewed affiliations with 22 of the Company's FOX affiliates, as well as affiliations with 4 FOX affiliates to which the Company provides services. As a result, such affiliation agreements currently have an end date of January 31, 2019 and new affiliation agreements for such stations must be negotiated and entered into.Subsequent Events    In November 2018, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on December 17, 2018 to holders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2018.ReclassificationsCertain reclassifications have been made to prior years' consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year's presentation.