<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000912752
<NAME>                        SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                                   US DOLLAR

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           8,362
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  187,484
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,795
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,043,002
<PP&E>                                         332,676
<DEPRECIATION>                                  82,242
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,985,002
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          294,730
<BONDS>                                        750,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          200,000
<PREFERRED>                                         35
<COMMON>                                           970
<OTHER-SE>                                     802,740
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,985,002
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               529,090
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  409,240
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,174
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             132,622
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,946
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,893
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (23,839)
<DISCONTINUED>                                  12,187
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (11,652)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (.20)<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.20)<F1>


<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>