• by Wayne Friedman , February 18, 2015

Sinclair Broadcast Group, which posted strong fourth-quarter 2014 results reflecting big TV station acquisitions made last year, is anticipating only a slight improvement in first-quarter 2015 advertising revenues.

The Baltimore-based company posted nearly a 44% increase to $613.8 million during the fourth-quarter 2014 period. Net income was $97.1 million versus $4.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Sinclair made some $1.3 billion in TV station deals, including the $1 billion buy of Allbritton Communications.

Political advertising revenues were $80.3 million against $6.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Digital revenues improved 70.7% during the period.

Looking forward, the company expects to be "pacing flat to slightly up" in core first-quarter 2015 advertising sales -- when excluding Super Bowl, Olympic and incremental political revenues.

When factoring in all revenues -- excluding barter deals -- it anticipated results to be 22% to 23% higher in the first quarter of 2015 to $457 million. Barter and trade revenue are anticipated to be $27.0 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Sinclair’s stock was up nearly 3% before the market opened -- but then sank 4% to $25.70 after the market opened in mid-day trading activity.

Sinclair is the largest U.S. TV station group, with 376 TV stations in 79 markets reaching 37.5% of U.S. TV homes.