Comet, CHARGE! and TBD. Deliver Highest Viewership in Networks’ History

As Multicast Universe Grows, Sinclair-Owned Networks See Double-Digit Increases in Key Dayparts

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC., a subsidiary of Sinclair Inc., (Nasdaq: SBGI) is pleased to announce Comet, CHARGE! and TBD., the company’s free, over-the-air, national networks have continued to see rapid growth, delivering the highest viewership in the networks’ history, with double-digit ratings increases.

For the full year of 2023, among total viewers, the networks experienced unprecedented year over year growth, with Comet +17%, CHARGE +37% and TBD +10%*. The trend continued in January 2024 with Comet +28%, CHARGE +11% and TBD +7% compared to January 2023.

With continued investment in strong series programming, including the series launches of Grimm, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Whose Line is it Anyway?, Key & Peele and Punk’d, combined with premium affiliate distribution gains in the top 10 DMAs, the networks have emerged as leaders in the multicast TV sector.

Comet, featuring sci-fi and fantasy entertainment franchises, in addition to its total year ratings growth the network saw its highest quarter ever for total day in Q4 '23, up 28% year-over-year.

Key programming highlights include:

• Grimm, which launched on Comet in Jul ‘23, has increased viewership among P25-54 each quarter. In Jan ‘24 Grimm was up +39% from its premiere and +79% from last years' time period.
• The X-Files increased +7% among total viewers for prime time and late fringe in Q4 2023 versus 2022.
• Comet's recently launched Mega Movie Saturday franchise, a themed movie marathon airing each month, increased +42% among P25-54 versus the 2023 the time period average, reaching an average of over 1 million total viewers weekly.

CHARGE! with a lineup of high-profile police procedural dramas, saw its highest prime time and late fringe ever among total viewers in November 2023, with December 2023 and January 2024 ranking as the second and third highest rated months respectively. Additionally, November 2023 was the network’s highest ratings ever for total day.

Key programming highlights include:

• Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which launched in Oct ‘23, led CHARGE to its highest quarter ever in Q4 ‘23 with 100% increase year-over-year in primetime among P25-54
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent has continued to increase from its premiere, up +14% among P25-54 and +31% among W25-54 in Jan '24

TBD., the free TV home of big stars and big comedy, with a lineup of ground-breaking, funny franchises, increased +29% in 2023 for total viewers in daytime and delivered its highest rated month ever (Jan '24) among all viewers.

Key programming highlights include:

• The launches of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Key & Peele, and Punk'd in Dec ‘23 led to an increase of + 80% among P25-54 and another +17% increase in Jan ‘24.
• Whose Line Is It Anyway? is the network’s highest rated program ever, comprising 7 out of TBD's top 10 telecasts ever, with its highest averaging 75,000 P25-54.

The Growth Networks Group continued to secure distribution upgrades throughout 2023 and into 2024, through new affiliations with major broadcast groups including the CBS stations (Comet in New York on WCBS channel 2.5 and in San Francisco on KPIX channel 5.5; CHARGE in Los Angeles on KCAL channel 9.3, in Chicago on WBBM channel 2.5 and in Philadelphia on KYW channel 3.5.)

Additionally, Sinclair launched The Nest, its fourth multicast network, (Oct ‘23) offering “comfort food” programming comprised of home improvement, true crime, factual reality series, and celebrity-driven family shows targeting key audience profiles including female viewers in all age groups.

“The results speak for themselves. Viewers are turning away from traditional cable TV networks and discovering new linear viewing alternatives on free, over-the-air multicast TV. As viewers move, advertisers follow, and we are excited to welcome top brands to Comet, CHARGE and TBD,” said Adam Ware, SVP, Growth Networks Group. “We are bullish on the future of multicast TV and are continuing to invest in the sector, including adding more networks like The Nest, which has already delivered strong growth in just its first few months,” said Ware.

For more information, program schedules and a location finder, please visit: https://sbgi.net/networks/.

About Sinclair Broadcast Group:

Sinclair Broadcast Group is a subsidiary of Sinclair Inc., (Nasdaq: SBGI) a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD. and The Nest; and owns and provides services to 21 regional sports network brands. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation’s largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.

*Source: Nielsen L+SD P2+ Imp, Total Day (M-Su/9am-3am), 2023 vs 2022
Comet Source: Nielsen L+SD P25-54 Imp, Grimm airings M-F/3pm-8pm, Q3'23-Jan'24 & Jan'23 time period
Comet Source: Nielsen L+SD P2+ Imp quarterly, Total Day (M-Su/9am-3am), Q4'23, all quarters & Jan'24
Comet Source: Nielsen L+SD 11/18/23, 12/16/23 & 1/20/24 Sat/2-10pm P2+ Reach and P25-54 Imp vs 2023 2-10pm time period
Charge Source: Nielsen L+SD P2+ Imp, Primetime (M-Su/8pm-1am) and Total Day (M-Su/9am-3am), Nov'23, Dec'23, & Jan'24 vs all months
Charge Source: Nielsen L+SD Imp, Primetime (M-Su/8pm-1am) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (M-Su/9pm-1am), Q4'22, Q4'23, & Jan'24
TBD Source: Nielsen L+SD Imp, M-Su/7pm-12am, Q4'22, Q4'23, & Jan'24
TBD Source: Nielsen L+SD Imp, Daytime (M-F/9am-4pm)

Category: General