WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000912752
<NAME>                        Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                             1,000  
<CURRENCY>                                           US DOLLAR  
                                                                
                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     9-MOS                                         
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       DEC-31-1997  
<PERIOD-START>                                          JAN-01-1998  
<PERIOD-END>                                            SEP-30-1998  
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                   1  
<CASH>                                                        7,408  
<SECURITIES>                                                      0  
<RECEIVABLES>                                               158,751  
<ALLOWANCES>                                                  5,657  
<INVENTORY>                                                       0  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            333,683  
<PP&E>                                                      347,195  
<DEPRECIATION>                                             (61,773)  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            3,847,829  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       275,476  
<BONDS>                                                     750,000  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       200,000  
<PREFERRED>                                                      35  
<COMMON>                                                        965  
<OTHER-SE>                                                  828,130  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                              3,847,829  
<SALES>                                                           0  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                            496,345  
<CGS>                                                             0  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                               376,646  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                  0  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                  0  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           95,315  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                              13,634  
<INCOME-TAX>                                                  8,900  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                           4,734  
<DISCONTINUED>                                                    0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            (11,063)  
<CHANGES>                                                         0  
<NET-INCOME>                                                (6,329)  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                (0.15)<a>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                (0.15)<a>
        
<FN>                                                                            
a)   This information has been prepared in accordance with SFAS No 128, Earnings
     per Share.  The basic and diluted  EPS  calculations  have been  entered in
     place of primary and diluted, respectively.
</FN>