Sinclair Proposes Merger with Scripps, Highlights Strategic Benefits Amid Rejection
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 17 2025
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
- Merger Proposal Rejected: Sinclair expressed disappointment over Scripps' rejection of its merger proposal, despite prior encouragement for discussions, indicating missed strategic integration opportunities between the two companies.
- Strategic Benefits Highlighted: Sinclair asserted that its proposal addressed Scripps' concerns regarding communities, employees, and shareholders while delivering significant strategic and financial benefits, potentially benefiting shareholders of both companies.
- Premium Advantage: The proposal is noted to include a substantial premium over Scripps' current share price, suggesting that Sinclair's merger plan is financially attractive for Scripps' shareholders.
- Call for Dialogue: Sinclair urged Scripps to engage in further discussions to ensure that Scripps' shareholders receive a full evaluation of the merger opportunity, reflecting a commitment to shareholder interests.
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Analyst Views on SBGI
Wall Street analysts forecast SBGI stock price to rise
5 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 14.610
Low
15.00
Averages
19.20
High
27.00
Current: 14.610
Low
15.00
Averages
19.20
High
27.00
About SBGI
Sinclair, Inc. is a diversified media company and a provider of local news and sports. The Company operates through two segments: Local Media and Tennis. Its Local Media segment consists primarily of broadcast television stations, which the Company owns, operates or to which the Company provides services, and includes multicast networks and original content. The Tennis segment consists primarily of Tennis Channel, a cable network which includes coverage of most of tennis' top tournaments and original professional sport and tennis lifestyle shows; the Tennis Channel International subscription and streaming service; Tennis Channel streaming service; TennisChannel 2, a 24-hours a day free ad-supported streaming television channel, and Tennis.com. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to approximately 185 television stations in 85 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks. Its multicast networks include CHARGE, Comet, ROAR, and The Nest.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Conference Call Participation: Participants must dial 888-506-0062 and enter code 752142 at least two minutes prior to the start time to ensure smooth access, with media members allowed to join in listen-only mode.
- Live Webcast and Replay: The conference call will be webcast live on Sinclair's website, with a replay available exclusively on the site after the call, ensuring investors and media can access relevant information at their convenience.
- Information Access Channels: Sinclair regularly uses its website to disseminate important information, allowing investors to access press releases and non-GAAP reconciliations at www.sbgi.net, enhancing transparency and ease of information retrieval.
See More
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- Rejection of Acquisition Offer: Scripps rejected Sinclair's $7 per share cash and stock offer last month, indicating a preference for executing its standalone plan, which may prompt Sinclair to adopt more aggressive strategies moving forward.
- Shareholder Structure Impact: Sinclair has held over an 8% stake in Scripps since November, and may initiate a proxy fight for board seats, intensifying competition and confrontation between the two companies.
- Ongoing Business Review: Sinclair also stated that its strategic review of its broadcast business and the separation of Ventures will continue, indicating that the company is seeking internal optimization and strategic adjustments beyond the acquisition attempts.
See More
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See More
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- Valuation Imbalance: With a market cap of $1.18 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $1.05 billion, Newsmax's forward EV/sales ratio stands at 5.1, significantly higher than competitors like Fox Corp at 2 and Sinclair at 1.45, indicating a persistent overvaluation.
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See More
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Impact of Economic Factors: The sluggishness in dealmaking was attributed to tariff uncertainties, high interest rates, and a complex regulatory environment under the Trump administration, which created a cautious atmosphere among executives and bankers.
Sector-Specific Trends: While deal value increased significantly due to large transactions, middle-market deal volume remained low, particularly in the automotive and retail sectors, which faced challenges from tariffs and changing consumer dynamics.
Future Outlook: As the year progressed, there was a resurgence in deal activity, particularly in the banking sector, with expectations for a more active M&A landscape in 2026, driven by a more favorable regulatory environment and ongoing consolidation trends.
See More
