Chris Ripley is the president and CEO of [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], the largest owner of local television stations in the United States. Under his leadership, Sinclair has continued to expand its footprint across local news markets, acquiring stations in dozens of media markets and consolidating control over a significant share of local television broadcasting. The company's scale makes it a major force in the [[Media Consolidation]] landscape, with reach into homes across nearly every region of the country. Sinclair has drawn sustained criticism for its "must-run" editorial segments, which are produced centrally and required to air on local stations regardless of the preferences of local news directors. These segments, including commentaries by former Trump administration officials, have been characterized by critics as injecting a conservative editorial slant into what audiences perceive as local, independent journalism. The practice has made Sinclair a frequent subject of debate within discussions of the [[Conservative Media Ecosystem]] and the blurring of lines between news and opinion. Ripley has defended Sinclair's editorial practices as offering diverse perspectives underrepresented in mainstream media. He has overseen the company's efforts to diversify into digital media and streaming, though the core business remains rooted in local broadcast television and the advertising revenue it generates.