All shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 18, 2022, were notified of the date and time of this annual meeting. Because COVID-19 has not been eradicated and new variants have emerged, the board strongly encouraged all shareholders to attend this annual meeting remotely rather than in person. Instructions for accessing the teleconference and webcast were provided in the proxy statement. For those shareholders wanting to attend this annual meeting in person, the board advised that there may be location capacity limits and therefore admission to the annual meeting could not be promised. Consistent with past practices, the board encouraged all shareholders to vote their shares prior to the annual meeting. There are two primary reasons for that. The shareholders attending remotely are not able to vote or revoke a proxy through the teleconference or webcast, nor participate actively in the meeting.
Shareholders attending in person could arrive at the meeting but not be admitted due to capacity limits or other reasons. Unless such shareholders are able to submit a completed proxy card prior to commencement of the meeting, their votes would not be cast. For the shareholders attending in person and admitted to this annual meeting, when you registered this morning, each of you received a written copy of the rules of conduct for the annual meeting. Any shareholder introducing a proposal or making a presentation today would have also received a written copy of the rules of conduct for this annual meeting. However, no proposals were submitted and no shareholder presentations will be made at this annual meeting. Shareholders attending the meeting via the live teleconference or webcast are not permitted to participate actively and therefore have not received a copy of the rules of conduct.
This annual meeting shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of conduct. James Kiszka, the representative of the Inspector of Elections, has elected to attend the meeting in person to make his presentation. We appreciate your continued support, and we hope that you and yours will stay safe and healthy. We are closely monitoring developments with the COVID-19 pandemic, and we urge you all, including our shareholders, to follow recommendations provided by your state of residence, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Attending today's annual shareholders meeting, either in person or remotely, are David Smith, Director and Executive Chairman, attending in person. Fred Smith, Director and Vice President, attending in person. Duncan Smith, Director, Vice President, and Secretary, attending in person. Robert Smith, Director, attending remotely. Lawrence McCanna, Director, attending remotely. Daniel Keith, Director, attending in person.
Martin Leader, Director, attending remotely. Howard Friedman, Director, attending in person. Benson Legg, Director, attending in person. Laurie R. Beyer, Director, attending in person. Also from the management team, we have Lucy Rutishauser, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, attending in person. David R. Bochenek, Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, attending remotely. David Gibber, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, attending in person. Steven Zenker, Vice President, Investor Relations, attending remotely. Billie-Jo McIntire, Director, Investor Relations, attending in person. James Kiszka, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, Inspector of Elections, attending in person. At this point in the meeting, I'd like to provide a brief state of the union of our company, highlighting our achievements of the past year, the impact of COVID-19 on the company, and what the future may hold. First, Billie-Jo McIntire will deliver the safe harbor statement.
As a reminder, certain matters discussed on this call may include forward-looking statements, including future operating results, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. I remind you that actual results in the future could differ materially as a result of various factors, which can be found in our SEC reports, including the risk factors in our annual report on Form 10-K. The company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Thank you, Billie -Jo. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for being with us today. I'm excited we can be together in person and welcome back familiar faces. We've been busy over the past year as we recover from the pandemic and position ourselves for a stronger company, even in the face of a potential recession. We continue to make advancements in new areas to drive our core businesses and to help drive growth in the future. Recently, we proactively took steps to strengthen the company's financial structure, better positioning our capital structure while reducing refinancing risk.
We also closed our Diamond subsidiary refinancing, which meaningfully enhances its liquidity by $1 billion over the next several years through a new cash raise and the deferral of a portion of the management fee paid by Diamond to Sinclair, enabling the launch and the ramp-up of its local sports direct-to-consumer efforts. It allows Diamond to continue to be self-funding, an important aspect of how we see the business operating. While a reconstituted Diamond board resulted in the deconsolidation of Diamond in March, as required by accounting rules, our commitment to the business and belief in its future remains. All of these financing activities were done with a proactive eye towards best managing capital needs while providing liquidity for our businesses in the years ahead.
We are working on a number of initiatives that we believe could be important drivers of our business in the future, including NextGen broadcast technology, our Compulse360 platform, Tennis Channel, and our diversified investment portfolio, which has generated approximately 24% IRR since 2014. We believe all these assets provide Sinclair a diversified business structure that lowers risk and provides a solid foundation to enable success in the years ahead. On the NextGen front, industry groups expect the NextGen signal to reach over 75% of households by the end of this year, setting the stage for the monetization of the technology in the years ahead.
Testing to validate its many benefits, including superior video and audio capabilities, ultra-low latency, precision GPS, and targeted advertising among others, has been ongoing in the industry, with Sinclair recently announcing the first pilot of commercial datacasting in its partnership with USSI Global. The program will provide targeted advertising and other content to electric vehicle charging stations and will allow for data collection and impression-based analytics. We believe this pilot just scratches the surface of datacasting capabilities for NextGen, as the technology can simultaneously communicate with millions of endpoints without the signal strength and latency concerns of 5G or Wi-Fi signals. In fact, a third-party firm estimates the industry could achieve $10 billion or more of annual revenue from data delivery services by 2030.
To further bring NextGen and its many benefits to the consumers and accelerate the use of the technology, we developed a broadcast app available to all via an open source license. We believe Compulse—our Compulse360 business is positioned to grow considerably over the next several years, aided by a strong technology platform and an omni-channel marketing solution for agencies and companies that takes the middleman out of pricing and allows for an easy interface solution to access the Sinclair and other advertising inventories across the country. Tennis Channel continues to expand both geographically and content-wise, while also extending its franchise through its new free T2 network that has been added to Samsung's streaming platform. Viewing via digital means has been growing rapidly for Tennis Channel, which is now in eight countries with more planned in the years ahead.
Our core television business remains strong, with 2022 shaping up to be a record midterm political advertising year. TV continues to be the medium of choice for political advertising, as it is widely believed to be the most effective at reaching voters. The strength in political is expected to ensure the success of ad revenues for the year, even if a slowdown due to inflation and recession fears does materialize. Sinclair continues to focus on ways to improve our society and the planet. We recently raised over $200,000 for the Red Cross Fund for Ukraine and launched a battery recycling program internally, while also running a public service campaign to encourage our viewers to recycle by partnering with Batteries Plus to provide a free solution for consumers' recycling needs.
This month, we launched Sinclair Cares Summer Hunger Relief, a public service program in conjunction with Feeding America to raise awareness and funds to ensure children and their families have the food they need during the summer, when 22 million children who count on school meal programs may not be receiving those meals. Finally, important to all that we do is our focus on maximizing value for you, our shareholders, through share buybacks, dividend increases, and employing a strong and diverse board and executive team that encourages innovation and capitalizes on attractive opportunities to further the company's mission of becoming a top U.S. media company. We continue to believe our share price is significantly undervalued and so have been proactive over the past six months repurchasing our shares.
In fact, since the beginning of 2019, we have repurchased almost 30 million shares, or 33% of the total shares outstanding. In March of this year, the board, confident in our future free cash flow generation, increased the quarterly dividend by 25%. As we move forward, we continue to focus on the attributes that have driven this company forward from day one, a keen interest in driving innovation and change to capture evolving business opportunities, an unrelenting emphasis on keeping the balance sheet of our company strong, and ensuring we continue to provide significant value to our shareholders today and in the years ahead. Mr. Duncan Smith, Corporate Secretary of the company, will now report on the mailing of notice and other formalities.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to submit the following: a copy of the printed notice of this meeting dated April 22, 2022, stating the time, place, and purpose of meeting. The complete list certified by the company's transfer agent of holders of shares of common stock of the company as of the close of business on March 18, 2022, which is also the record date fixed by the board of directors for the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at this meeting. The affidavit of the company's transfer agent showing that a copy of the notice of this annual meeting was mailed in accordance with the bylaws of the company to all shareholders of record.
I now order that the material submitted by the secretary be made part of the minutes of this meeting. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC has been appointed as inspector of elections to tabulate the shares of common stock represented in person or by proxy at this meeting, as well as to tabulate the votes cast for each proposal to come before this meeting. I would like to introduce James Kiszka, the representative of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. As indicated earlier, Mr. Kiszka is attending in person in this meeting. Mr. Kiszka, are you prepared to report the number of shares of common stock that are present either in person or by proxy?
Mr. Chairman, as of the record date of March 18, 2022, there were 48,262,192 shares of Class A common stock, 23,775,036 shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote on each of the proposals. Each of such Class A shares is entitled to one vote on each of the proposals, and each of the Class B shares is entitled to 10 votes on each of the proposals. There are 63,931,977 Class A and Class B shares present in person or represented by valid proxy at this meeting.
As noted in the proxy statement, shareholders attending this meeting via the live teleconference or webcast are not deemed present at the meeting unless they are represented by a valid proxy. Based on the report of Mr. Kiszka, I hereby declare that a quorum is present at this meeting. The four proposals submitted for shareholder action at this meeting are fully explained in the proxy statement dated April 22, 2022. As noted in the proxy statement, shareholders attending this meeting via the live teleconference or webcast are not able to vote via the live teleconference or webcast, nor are they able to revoke their proxy. However, any previously submitted proxies are deemed voted and will be included in the tabulation of the balloting. The next order of business is the election of nine directors to serve for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
The nine directors who receive the most votes will be elected. This is called the plurality. If you have withheld your vote on the proxy card, your vote will not count for or against the nominee. Broker non-votes are not counted as cast votes for nominees and will not affect the outcome of the proposal. I will call upon Secretary Duncan Smith, who will present the names of those persons nominated by management.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Those nominated for election as directors of the company to serve for a term of one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified are the following: David D. Smith, Frederick G. Smith, J. Duncan Smith, Robert E. Smith, Laurie R. Beyer, Howard E. Friedman, Daniel C. Keith, Benson E. Legg, Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.
You heard the motion. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, I declare the nominations closed. Is there a second?
Second.
We will now move forward with the vote. The next proposal originally submitted to the shareholders for action is the ratification of the Audit Committee's appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, as the independent auditors of the company. The affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast is required to ratify this proposal. If you abstain from voting, your abstention will not count as a vote for or against the proposal. The Audit Committee previously recommended to the board of directors that the board ratify the Audit Committee's appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, as the company's independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2022, and the directors have unanimously done so. Now, I call upon Laurie R. Beyer, a member of the Audit Committee, to further address the shareholders at this time.
The Audit Committee of Sinclair has been assigned the responsibility of appointing the independent auditors for the company. The Audit Committee has discussed the proposal with management, and we believe that PricewaterhouseCoopers would be the best firm, given their qualifications and experience to handle the audit of the company and subsidiaries. Based on discussions with management, the Audit Committee has agreed that it is in the best interest of the company to engage PricewaterhouseCoopers, who we have our folks here today, as independent auditors, and we have notified the board of this decision. Based upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the board has unanimously ratified the appointment and has recommended PricewaterhouseCoopers as the independent auditors of the company and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The Audit Committee will continue to work closely to make sure that, the work is quality and will evaluate their work accordingly. I move for the ratification by the shareholders of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as the independent auditors of the company and subsidiaries.
You've heard the motion for ratification of the Audit Committee's recommendation. Are there any questions or further discussion needed? Hearing none, is there a second?
I second.
We will now move forward with the vote. The company is seeking shareholder approval for Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. 2022 Stock Incentive Plan, which the board of directors adopted subject to shareholder approval on February 22, 2022, upon the recommendation of the company's Compensation Committee. This plan will only become effective if approved by the shareholders at this annual meeting. If approved, the effective date of the plan will be June 9, 2022.
If the shareholders approve this plan, the company believes it will be able to better provide stock-based incentives that align the interests of employees, consultants, and outside directors with those of the shareholders by motivating its employees to achieve long-term results and rewarding them for their achievements. In addition, the company believes that equity-based compensation is a critical part of the overall compensation program, and shareholder approval of that plan would allow us to continue to attract and retain talented employees, consultants, and directors with equity incentives. If this plan is not approved, the company's existing long-term incentive plan, named the Predecessor Plan in the proxy statement materials, will continue to be administered in its current form until its termination or until such time as there is no more shares available for its issuance under it, whichever occurs first.
Following the expiration or termination of the Predecessor Plan, the company will no longer be able to maintain its current equity grant practices and therefore will be at a significant competitive advantage in attracting, motivating, and retaining talented individuals who contribute to our success. In addition, the company would be compelled to replace the long-term incentive awards with cash awards, which may not align with the interest of the company's executives and employees with those of the stockholders as effectively as equity incentive awards do. The proposed plan incorporates the following corporate governance best practices that will align the plan with the interest of our shareholders. One, award grants under the plan are, under certain circumstances, subject to clawback and recoupment rights.
Two, stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be granted with a per-share exercise price less than 100% of the fair market value on the date of grant. Three, no participant is entitled under the plan to any tax gross up payments for any excise tax that may be incurred in connection with awards under the plan. As more specifically described in the proxy statement, the Compensation Committee will select who receives awards and the size and type of those awards under the proposed plan. Consequently, awards made to particular recipients in the future are not determinable at this time. Information regarding awards granted to the company's named executive officers and directors under the Predecessor Plan during the year ending December 31, 2021 is found in the proxy statement under the captions Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Director Compensation for 2021.
Lastly, if approved, the proposed plan will result in a modest shareholder dilution. For the reasons just stated, and as further elaborated in the proxy statement, the board unanimously recommends a vote for this Proposal 3. The affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast is required to ratify this Proposal 3. If you abstain from voting, your abstention will not count as a vote for or against the proposal. You have heard the Proposal 3. Are there any questions or further discussion needed? Hearing none, is there a second?
I second.
We will now move forward with the vote. The proposed amendment will provide the protection from certain liabilities and expenses that may deter prospective directors from accepting or continuing membership on the company's board of directors and prospective officers from working for the company. Section 2-405.2 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended, allows for exculpation of directors and officers from certain liabilities. Section 2-405.2 permits the company to include in its amended and restated articles of incorporation a provision that would eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director or officer to the company or its shareholders for monetary damages resulting from certain acts or failures to act by the director or officer.
Without such protection, qualified directors and officers might be deterred from serving as directors or officers of the company due to the exposure to personal liability and the risk that substantial expense may be incurred in defending lawsuits regardless of merit. The company's amended and restated articles of incorporation do not currently include such a provision authorized under this Section 2.405.2. In order to ensure the company remains able to attract and retain the most qualified directors and officers, the board believes it to be in the best interest of the company and its shareholders to adopt such provision.
The board has approved and has recommended to the shareholders for approval an amendment to the company's amended and restated articles of incorporation to include a provision providing for the elimination of personal liability of a director or an officer to the company and its shareholders for monetary damages to the full extent permitted by law, subject to shareholder approval at this annual meeting. The amendment adds Article 13th to the company's amended and restated articles of incorporation. Proposed new Article 13th is as provided in the proxy statement. For the reasons stated in the proxy statement, the board unanimously recommends a vote for this Proposal 4. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast is required to ratify this Proposal 4. If you abstain from voting, your abstention will be counted as a vote against the proposal. You have heard Proposal 4.
Are there any questions or further discussion needed? Hearing none, is there a second?
I second.
We'll now move forward with the vote. Will the representative of the inspectors of election please report the results of the balloting?
Chairman, each nominee for director nominated by the board of directors has received a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors and are duly elected. As to the ratification and approval of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, as the company's auditors for 2022, Proposal 2 in the proxy statement. The majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy entitled to vote, have voted to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as the company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. Three, report as to the vote on the approval of the company's 2022 stock incentive plan proposal, Proposal 3 in the proxy statement.
Majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote have been voted for approval of the proposed amendment, amended and restated employee stock purchase plan. Proposal four, report as to the vote on the approval of the proposed amendment to the company's amended and restated articles of incorporation. Two-thirds of all votes entitled to vote have been voted for Proposal four, approving the proposed amendment to the company's 1996 long-term.
Thank you. I now declare that the nominees for the directors have been duly elected. The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP to audit the financial statements of the company and its subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 2022, has been ratified. The company's 2022 stock incentive plan was approved as presented, and the proposed amendment to the company's amended and restated articles of incorporation was approved as presented. I direct that the results certified by the inspectors of elections be attached to the minutes of this meeting and be made a part thereof. We now come to that part of the agenda for general questions and discussion. Does anyone present have questions? If so, please submit them now or raise your hand to be recognized.
If we are prohibited from responding now or in recognizing you at this meeting, please reach out to our investor relations department with your inquiry.
Good morning, everyone. My name is Alan. Been doing this the longest time, 20 years. A lot of good things have happened to me in the past 20 years. Three of them come to mind. Got three sons who have all moved out of the house. They realized that when the old man told them it's a genetic fact that every other generation gets the good looks and the intelligence, now that they had their own children, they realized the old man wasn't lying. They don't laugh at me like they used to laugh, but they did laugh originally. The third, during these 20 years, Sinclair's stock was in the mid-60s at one time. According to the proxy statement, that's where it belongs now.
My question is, how long is it gonna take those other folks to realize it belongs in the mid-sixties? I think it belongs there by myself, but.
Well, we couldn't agree more, and we in fact think it belongs even, you know, more valuable than that. That's why we've purchased almost one-third of our share of those outstanding since 2019.
We should do the same.
We will continue to be aggressive. We're producing lots of free cash flow and by retiring shares at what is an incredible discount, ultimately, that will flow through on the share price, as markets recognize that this is an incredibly valued business.
If memory serves me, it reached the mid-60s right when we acquired the Tennis Channel, and that was about the top of the share price, it's descending on sale. Has that been a positive acquisition, the Tennis Channel?
I think you're referring to the RSNs. It reached the sixties after we acquired the RSNs. The RSNs have had some difficulties in terms of cord-cutting. COVID has not been nice to that business. We've just refinanced and it's about to launch direct-to-consumer. We think it has a bright future.
Thank you.
Any other questions?
No questions from the audience.
No. All right. If there are no other business, the chair will entertain a motion to adjourn.
I second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Before the adjournment, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the shareholders who attended in person or remotely, as well as those that have submitted their proxies and were unable to present in person or remotely. We appreciate your support. Please be safe and stay healthy. The meeting is adjourned.
Thank you.
Oh.
Chris.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. This does conclude today's conference call. You may disconnect your lines at this time, and have a wonderful day. Thank you for your participation.