Sinclair Names Rebecca Hanson Senior Vice President, Strategy and Policy

BALTIMORE, Nov. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) announced that Rebecca Hanson has been named Senior Vice President, Strategy and Policy and will be responsible for the development and oversight of a new Washington office dedicated to a broad range of policy and business matters.  Ms. Hanson will report to David Smith and will join Sinclair on January 2, 2014.  The announcement was made by President and CEO, David Smith.

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In making the announcement, Mr. Smith said, "As Sinclair continues to grow into the nation's largest television station group, we need a presence in Washington to navigate the challenges and opportunities that we will face in the coming years.  Rebecca's experience at the FCC and in the wireless and media industries makes her uniquely qualified to lead this office." 

"Sinclair is a bold and innovative company that is passionate about the role of broadcasting in our national communications infrastructure," said Ms. Hanson. "I am excited to join David's team at this key juncture in the company's expansion."

Ms. Hanson comes to Sinclair from the Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission, where she was Senior Advisor, Broadcast Spectrum, and served on the Incentive Auction Task Force as the point person for broadcaster participation and issues affecting non-participating broadcasters.  Prior to joining the FCC from 2007 to 2009, she was the Vice President, Strategic Initiatives at Sprint Nextel, where she was responsible for the launch and long-term growth strategy for the WiMAX network and a member of the deal team leading the financing and merger with Clearwire for a national spectrum footprint.  From 2006 to 2007 she was a consultant focusing on business planning and deal execution for various digital media companies.  Prior to that and from 2000, she held the positions of Senior Vice President, Business Development, and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at XM Satellite Radio, Inc., where she was the lead negotiator for key strategic alliances and partnerships in the areas of programming, marketing, distribution, acquisitions/joint ventures and product development.  She began her career as an attorney with Brownstein and Zeidman from 1993 to 1996 and then Shaw Pittman (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) from 1996 to 2000, where she specialized in the areas of technology, commercial finance, and venture capital.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., the largest and one of the most diversified television broadcasting companies, owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 164 television stations in 77 markets, pro forma for pending transactions.  Sinclair's television group is affiliated with all major networks and will reach approximately 38.7% of all U.S. television households. For more information, please visit Sinclair's website at www.sbgi.net.  

SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.