Sinclair Plans National Rollout for Allbritton Cable Channel

David Smith, Sinclair president and CEO, said the main takeaway from Sinclair's $985 million agreement to acquire Allbritton is the "strategic significance" of the transaction -- very definitely including Allbritton's NewsChannel 8.

The cable channel has 2 million subscribers in the DC area, and Smith -- addressing investors July 30 -- painted a picture of a vastly expanded national franchise. "Because Allbritton has limited reach, the channel has yet to be fully developed outside the D.C. area," Smith said. "We believe we have a distinct opportunity to accomplish that." Smith described NewsChannel 8 as a "launching point" for a national news channel, airing both within the Sinclair group and on pay-TV systems for a "unique hybrid model."