The second quarter of 2025 proved challenging for Sinclair Broadcast Group, as their financial report revealed a significant impact from the reduced volume of political advertising. This off-year for political ads resulted in a considerable decrease in revenue compared to the same period in 2024.
The company's announcement detailed a mere $6 million collected in political advertising, a sharp contrast to the $40 million generated during the comparable period in 2024. This decline directly contributed to an overall revenue decrease of 5%, bringing the total to $784 million. Consequently, Sinclair reported a net loss of $64 million for the quarter, a stark difference from the $17 million profit recorded in the second quarter of 2024.
However, a closer examination of the "core" advertising revenue, excluding political ad income, reveals a positive trend. Sinclair experienced a year-over-year increase of $17 million in this core sector. Furthermore, the company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on its Class A and Class B common stock, payable on September 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 29, 2025.