Sinclair Broadcast Group has submitted formal comments to the Federal Communications Commission emphasizing the critical connection between live sports programming on free over-the-air television and the financial health of local news operations. The company argues that without strong broadcast sports content, stations across the country would struggle to maintain robust local journalism, as sports audiences generate the advertising revenue necessary to fund newsrooms and community reporting. With this Sincalir is asking the FCC to end free OTA TV on ATSC 1.0 and end ownership caps on local ABC, CBS, FOX, & NBC stations.
The filing comes in response to an FCC inquiry aimed at exploring ways to improve public access to free televised sports amid growing concerns about content moving to paid streaming services. Sinclair contends that sports remain one of the few shared cultural experiences that unite diverse audiences, fostering civic pride and everyday conversations in communities nationwide. Major events such as NFL games, college football matchups, Olympic coverage, NCAA basketball tournaments, and baseball playoffs consistently draw the largest television audiences each year. In 2025, for instance, sports accounted for 96 of the top 100 most-watched broadcasts in the United States, with NFL and college football comprising the vast majority of those programs.
Advertisers have poured substantial resources into these broadcasts. National linear television sports programming attracted roughly 17.7 billion dollars in spending during the period referenced in the comments. NFL contests alone contribute between six and seven billion dollars annually in ad revenue to the major broadcast networks. During the most recent NFL season, games represented more than 23 percent of all advertising impressions across the four largest networks. These figures underscore how sports programming serves as an economic engine for local stations, enabling them to invest in news gathering, investigative reporting, and coverage of issues that directly affect viewers in their markets.
Sinclair warns that the ongoing shift of sports rights to subscription-based streaming platforms threatens this model. As leagues and teams prioritize deals with services that require monthly fees, consumers face higher costs and greater inconvenience. According to data cited in the filing, a large majority of sports fans express frustration over the need to navigate multiple platforms to follow their favorite teams throughout a season. Nearly two-thirds describe the process as a hassle, and half report that locating games has become more difficult compared to previous years. This fragmentation also makes it harder for viewers to monitor multiple contests airing simultaneously, diminishing the communal viewing experience that free broadcast television has long provided.
The company highlights the broader public interest at stake. Professional sports leagues benefit from significant government support, including antitrust exemptions that allow collective negotiation of media rights. Taxpayers have shouldered tens of billions of dollars—estimated between 30 and 35 billion—for the construction and financing of stadiums and arenas over recent decades. On average, public funds have covered about 73 percent of these venue costs since 1970, often through property tax breaks, municipal bonds, and other incentives that reduce team expenses while costing government treasuries substantial revenue. Sinclair points out that economic analyses frequently question whether these subsidies deliver meaningful returns in jobs or local economic growth, describing many such arrangements as providing limited benefits to the communities that fund them.
To address these challenges and keep high-profile sports on free television, Sinclair recommends several policy changes. First, the FCC should eliminate outdated caps on station ownership, allowing larger broadcast groups to compete more effectively for sports rights and invest in technological upgrades. Second, the commission should establish a firm timeline for completing the transition to ATSC 3.0, the next-generation broadcast standard. With this, Sinclair wants to have a firm date when it can shut down its current ATSC 1.0 broadcasts. This would mean customers who use an antenna will need to upgrade by buying an ATSC 3.0 device or a new TV with support for it.
Without such measures, Sinclair asserts, the financial foundation supporting local broadcast news could erode further. Stations rely on the large, reliable audiences that sports deliver to attract advertisers willing to pay premium rates. Those revenues, in turn, underwrite the costs of maintaining news departments, hiring reporters, and producing in-depth coverage of local government, education, public safety, and other community matters. As streaming continues to siphon high-value programming, smaller markets and independent stations may find it increasingly difficult to sustain comprehensive news operations.
The comments reflect broader industry worries about the future of free television in an era dominated by digital platforms. Broadcast stations have historically served as a vital public service, delivering emergency alerts, weather updates, and local information without requiring subscriptions. Sports programming has long been a cornerstone of that mission, drawing viewers who might not otherwise tune in and exposing them to news segments and public service announcements. By preserving access to major sporting events on free television, policymakers can help ensure that local journalism remains viable and that communities continue to benefit from strong, independent reporting.
Sinclair’s position aligns with ongoing debates at the FCC about modernizing media ownership rules and advancing broadcast technology standards. The company’s filing underscores the interconnected nature of sports rights, advertising markets, and local news investment. As regulators consider next steps, the outcome could influence not only how Americans watch games but also the quality and reach of news coverage available in cities and towns across the country. Industry observers note that the stakes extend beyond entertainment, touching on issues of media diversity, public access to information, and the economic sustainability of traditional broadcasting in a rapidly evolving landscape.
In the coming months, the FCC will review the input from Sinclair and other stakeholders. Any decisions could shape the availability of live sports on free television for years to come and determine whether local stations can continue channeling sports-driven revenue into meaningful journalistic efforts. For now, the filing serves as a clear call to protect a broadcast model that has supported both community engagement through sports and the delivery of essential local news.
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