• by Wayne Friedman , November 2, 2016

Sinclair Broadcast Group, the large TV station company, made big advertising gains in the third quarter -- with political looking for bigger gains by the end of the year.

Media revenues, excluding its barter advertising, improved 27.5% to $635.3 million against $498.2 million in the third quarter of 2015. Political revenues were $45 million against $7.8 million in the third quarter of 2015.

The company expects its fourth quarter to have even better results -- advertising revenues to rise 34% to 37% to about $732.6 million to $748.6 million, with political advertising totaling $120 million to $130 million versus $12 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Pivotal Research Group says Sinclair already posted a 19% gain in political advertising for the month of October versus the same month a year before -- outperforming the overall market of 17 local TV station groups, which sank 5% for the month.

For the third quarter, Sinclair says revenues from digital platforms gained 25% in the third quarter compared to the third quarter.

Total revenues increased 26.5% to $693.8 million versus $548.4 million in the prior-year period. Net income grew 17% to $50.8 million.

Sinclair’s stock closed down 0.7% on Wednesday to $24.85.