<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
FROM THE  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS OF SINCLAIR
BROADCAST  GROUP,  INC. FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                            1
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                               2,341
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      112,313
<ALLOWANCES>                                         2,472
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   167,770
<PP&E>                                             154,333
<DEPRECIATION>                                      11,711
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,707,297
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              173,645
<BONDS>                                            400,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                             11
<COMMON>                                               349
<OTHER-SE>                                         236,893
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     1,707,297
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   378,488
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      289,585
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  84,314
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      8,067
<INCOME-TAX>                                         6,936
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  1,131
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         1,131
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.03