Sinclair Broadcast Group announced record-breaking growth and new content acquisitions for its free, over-the-air multicast networks: Charge, Comet, Roar, and The Nest. This success is attributed to increased ratings and strategic expansions.
The company cited a series of initiatives contributing to the improved ratings. These include the acquisition of key series, increased distribution in top designated market areas, the rebranding of TBD to Roar, and multi-platform promotional events such as Comet Fest and CHARGECON. Nielsen data reveals a 21 percent year-over-year viewership increase for Charge, a 17 percent rise for Comet, and a 40 percent increase for Roar in the top 10 markets between January and May 2025. This growth coincided with what Sinclair described as the highest year-over-year coverage growth among Nielsen-rated broadcast networks for May 2025.
For the 2025-26 season, Sinclair has significantly boosted its programming. Charge will feature “Criminal Minds,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: NY,” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Comet’s lineup includes “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “The Outer Limits,” “Stargate SG1,” “Grimm,” and “The X-Files,” along with movie events showcasing the “Matrix” trilogy, “Spaceballs,” “The Terminator,” and various “Star Trek” films. “Interstellar” is slated for November 2026. Roar has added “Hollywood Game Night” and earlier seasons of “Weakest Link,” hosted by Jane Lynch, to its schedule, which already includes “Saturday Night Live,” “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and “Key & Peele.” Finally, The Nest will expand its reality programming with “Gene Simmons: Family Jewels,” “Wahlburgers,” and “My Ghost Story,” supplementing existing series such as “Cold Case Files,” “Ice Road Truckers,” and “Dog the Bounty Hunter.”
Adam Ware, senior vice president of growth networks at Sinclair, attributed the networks’ performance to expanded reach and content offerings. Sinclair operates 185 television stations in 85 markets and owns the Tennis Channel, its multicast networks, and NewsON, a streaming service for local news.