Sinclair announced on Thursday that it has licensed a number of new titles for its four free, over-the-air multicast networks: Charge, Comet, ROAR and The Nest.
According to the company, expanded distribution in top 10 DMA markets, rebranding of TBD to Roar, and previous licensing deals have led to the the highest year-over-year coverage growth among all Nielsen-rated broadcast networks. Charge is up 21% YoY, Comet is up 17% and Roar is up 40% among total viewers in the top 10 DMAs.
"Sinclair’s multicast strategy is firing on all cylinders," said Adam Ware, Senior Vice President of Growth Networks at Sinclair in a statement announcing the deals. “We’ve made bold moves-elevating content and expanding reach, and viewers have responded making Sinclair’s portfolio of multicast networks the fastest growing group in the rapidly expanding free TV sector."
Sinclair has acquired new premium series and movies for the upcoming 2025-26 season across all four multicast networks:
Charge, which focuses on the biggest police procedural franchises in TV history, will add two series to the fall schedule with Criminal Minds and Homicide: Life on the Street, marking the series’ return to broadcast television. These join a lineup that includes CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Comet, the sci-fi and fantasy network, boosts its schedule this fall with Xena: Warrior Princess and The Outer Limits, alongside Stargate SG1, Grimm and The X-Files, plus blockbuster “Mega Movies” featuring The Matrix trilogy for Comet Fest 2026, Spaceballs, directed by Mel Brooks to celebrate the icon’s 100th birthday, The Terminator, and Star Trek franchises. In November 2026 the network will broadcast Christopher Nolan’s film, Interstellar.
Roar, which features contemporary comedy, adds two series hosted by Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night and past seasons of Weakest Link to the fall lineup, which includes previous seasons of Saturday Night Live, Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Key & Peele.
The Nest focuses on what it describes as “real people, real stories” series and specials, and it is adding Gene Simmons: Family Jewels, Wahlburgers and My Ghost Story in primetime this July, joining Cold Case Files, Ice Road Truckers and Dog the Bounty Hunter.
