Christopher S. Ripley has served as President & Chief Executive Officer since January 2017. From April 2014 to January 2017, he served as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Sinclair, Mr. Ripley was a managing director at UBS Investment Bank’s Global Media Group and served as head of the Los Angeles office where he managed, advised and structured various financings and merger and acquisition transactions in the broadcast and entertainment sectors. Prior to UBS, Mr. Ripley was a principal in Prime Ventures and an analyst at Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette. Mr. Ripley graduated from the University of Western Ontario, Richard Ivey School of Business, with a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Business Administration. Mr. Ripley serves as a Director of Curio Wellness.
Interview questions:
Q1: First, congratulations are in order… In June, Sinclair Broadcast Group was named to the Fortune 500 when the latest list was announced. That’s a great honor for you, your leadership team and your more than ten thousand employees across the country. Sinclair is one of just three companies on the Fortune 500 in the Baltimore area… Talk a little bit about Sinclair’s amazing growth as a diversified media company under your leadership.
Q2: You have led a strategic pivot into sports for Sinclair as you recently acquired and now own or operate 21 regional sports networks around the country, as well as The Tennis Channel… Tell us about some of your plans for delivering sports content to fans in the future.
Q3: As part of your plan to make watching sports more interactive for viewers and to grow gamification, tell us about your exciting new partnership with Bally’s and what that will mean for consumers.
Q4: Even though you are growing in sports, Sinclair remains one of the largest local news organizations in the country producing more than 2,700 hours of local news per week and providing content that matters to viewers. Sinclair owns, operates or provides services to 186 TV stations in 87 different markets around the country. Talk a little bit about Sinclair’s ongoing commitment to providing award-winning local news that matters in your various local news markets around the country.
Q5: In addition to being a leading sports and news content provider, Sinclair is also a technology company, talk a little bit about the technology and innovation behind NextGEN TV and what that will mean for consumers with improved technology and personalized content on their TVs and mobile devices.
Q6: Finally, philanthropy is such an important part of Sinclair’s role in the Baltimore region and across the country, especially during the pandemic. Last year alone, Sinclair partnered with 350 local organizations across the country and helped raise more than $37 Million for charities, schools, disaster relief and COVID-19 relief. Talk a little bit about Sinclair’s commitment to serve as a leading philanthropic corporate partner.
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
About Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is a diversified media company and leading provider of local sports and news. The Company owns and/or operates 21 RSN brands; owns, operates and/or provides services to 186 television stations in 87 markets; is a leading local news provider in the country; owns multiple national networks; and has TV stations affiliated with all the major broadcast networks. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple-platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and digital platforms. Sinclair, either directly or through its venture subsidiaries, makes equity investments in strategic companies. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. was founded in 1986, went public in 1995 and is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol SBGI.
Recent news:
Sinclair To Report Second Quarter 2021 Results On August 4, 2021 At 7:30 A.M. (Eastern Time)
Sinclair Broadcast Group’s The National Desk Announces On-Air Talent for Evening Broadcast Launching September 27
Sinclair Broadcast Group Names John McClure Vice President And Chief Information Security Officer
NewsON, the Nation’s Largest OTT Local News Service, Enhances Viewer Experience with Redesign, Upgrades and Platform Expansion
STIRR Continues to Expand Content Offerings, Adding Locally Produced News Specials to STIRR City
David Nevins is president & CEO of Nevins & Associates, a highly regarded strategic communications company and proactive public relations partner. The firm’s regional and national client base is a unique mix of organizations across a variety of industries including: healthcare, professional service firms, finance, not-for-profits, distributors, state agencies, national media companies, technology, political and grassroots campaigns, real estate development, sporting events, and more.
With more than 30 years of experience in marketing, public relations, and community and government relations, David is a talented and seasoned executive. Prior to founding Nevins & Associates in 1983, David served as the Director of Marketing for both Towson University and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In 2001, he was tapped by the CEO of Comcast to employ his marketing expertise as President of the company’s regional sports network, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. David is a Past President of the Board of Governors for the Center Club and is a former Chairman of the Board of Regents for the University System of Maryland, a position to which he was appointed by the Governor of Maryland. David has chaired the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission and the Maryland Higher Education Loan Corporation, served as President of both the Jewish National Fund and the Towson Business Association and was a member of the PNC Bank board.
David is highly involved in the business, civic, and political communities, and his many years of active leadership in numerous organizations have built a network of contacts that he regularly puts to use for the firm’s clients. For more information, visit www.nevinspr.com.
