Add Sinclair, the nation's largest TV broadcaster, to the companies promising a $1,000 bonus to employees with the successful passage of the tax reform bill.



The Hunt Valley, Md.-headquartered Sinclair Broadcast Group, which has 173 TV stations and reaches more than 38% of the U.S., said Friday that it will pay a special $1,000 bonus to its nearly 9,000 full-time and part-time employees, excluding senior level executives.

Sinclair, which is seeking to grow to 200-plus stations with a $4 billion merger with Tribune Media Co., joins several companies including AT&T, Comcast and Fifth Third Bancorp already pledging to give workers one-time bonuses of $1,000 once President Trump signed the bill — something he did Friday before leaving Washington for the holiday.

Other companies including Boeing, Comcast and Wells Fargo planned other investments. Boeing said it would invest $300 million in its business including $100 million in employee training and education and $100 million as part of its "workforce of the future" initiative.

Broadband and pay-TV provider Comcast, which also owns NBCUniversal, said it expects to invest more than $50 billion over the next five years in its broadband infrastructure and its television, film and theme park businesses.

Wells Fargo said it would boost its employees' minimum wage to $15 per hour, up 11% from its current hourly rate of $13.50, once the law was passed.

In addition to its promised bonuses, Cincinnati regional bank Fifth Third Bancorp said it would also raise the minimum wage for its employees to $15.

“We are grateful to our President and legislature for passing the landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and are excited about the benefits it will provide for our country’s economy, our Company, and our employees,” said Sinclair CEO and President Chris Ripley said in a statement. “We recognize that our employees are our most valuable resource, truly appreciate their combined achievements for our Company and look forward to a very bright future.”

The bonuses will cost $9 million to the company, which generated $2.7 billion in revenue in 2016, with net income of $245.3 million.

More:Corporate America's tax-cut generosity: Is it real?

More:AT&T, Comcast, Wells Fargo promise bonuses or pay hikes once tax cut bill passes

More:FCC proposes $13.4M fine for TV-station owner Sinclair



Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.