CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	$ 548,404	$ 494,956	$ 1,607,346	$ 1,362,740
Program and production	186,449	150,263	538,552	411,605
Selling, general and administrative	121,405	112,521	356,263	308,696
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	140,944	130,509	414,038	356,737
Total operating expenses	448,798	393,293	1,308,853	1,077,038
Operating income	99,606	101,663	298,493	285,702
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(48,566)	(47,950)	(142,878)	(127,609)
Other income (expense)	204	2,579	6,625	5,351
Total other expense, net	(48,362)	(45,371)	(136,253)	(122,258)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(7,210)	(7,524)	(46,971)	(45,418)
NET INCOME	44,034	48,768	115,269	118,026
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(779)	(427)	(1,945)	(1,192)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	43,255	48,341	113,324	116,834
Comprehensive income	44,044	48,490	115,447	118,432
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	0	0	0	0
Program and production	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	930	1,129	3,432	3,169
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	266	267	799	801
Total operating expenses	1,196	1,396	4,231	3,970
Operating income	(1,196)	(1,396)	(4,231)	(3,970)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	43,480	47,744	114,176	117,093
Interest expense	(93)	(138)	(301)	(446)
Other income (expense)	957	2,449	3,250	4,036
Total other expense, net	44,344	50,055	117,125	120,683
Income tax benefit (provision)	107	(318)	430	121
NET INCOME	43,255	48,341	113,324	116,834
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	43,255	48,341	113,324	116,834
Comprehensive income	44,044	48,490	115,447	118,432
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	0	0	0	0
Program and production	0	84	0	274
Selling, general and administrative	14,386	13,474	40,598	42,019
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	1,040	1,187	2,624	3,432
Total operating expenses	15,426	14,745	43,222	45,725
Operating income	(15,426)	(14,745)	(43,222)	(45,725)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	88,687	84,122	238,635	221,774
Interest expense	(45,784)	(44,986)	(134,626)	(118,816)
Other income (expense)	(407)	(100)	(116)	282
Total other expense, net	42,496	39,036	103,893	103,240
Income tax benefit (provision)	20,235	21,961	60,435	58,437
NET INCOME	47,305	46,252	121,106	115,952
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	47,305	46,252	121,106	115,952
Comprehensive income	47,315	46,293	121,132	116,073
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	515,097	466,786	1,514,173	1,287,200
Program and production	185,371	149,488	535,098	409,661
Selling, general and administrative	102,730	94,829	302,656	255,655
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	105,681	103,969	317,240	284,248
Total operating expenses	393,782	348,286	1,154,994	949,564
Operating income	121,315	118,500	359,179	337,636
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	100	0	0	0
Interest expense	(1,140)	(1,209)	(3,481)	(3,675)
Other income (expense)	3	5	269	563
Total other expense, net	(1,037)	(1,204)	(3,212)	(3,112)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(30,126)	(31,678)	(113,403)	(108,411)
NET INCOME	90,152	85,618	242,564	226,113
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	90,152	85,618	242,564	226,113
Comprehensive income	90,152	85,618	242,713	226,113
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	53,845	47,747	153,757	136,701
Program and production	19,548	19,095	59,947	58,998
Selling, general and administrative	3,392	3,589	9,715	9,500
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	35,487	25,393	95,873	69,358
Total operating expenses	58,427	48,077	165,535	137,856
Operating income	(4,582)	(330)	(11,778)	(1,155)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(7,721)	(7,119)	(21,898)	(20,646)
Other income (expense)	(349)	248	3,222	533
Total other expense, net	(8,070)	(6,871)	(18,676)	(20,113)
Income tax benefit (provision)	2,574	2,511	5,567	4,435
NET INCOME	(10,078)	(4,690)	(24,887)	(16,833)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(799)	(447)	(1,999)	(1,245)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(10,877)	(5,137)	(26,886)	(18,078)
Comprehensive income	(10,078)	(5,456)	(24,885)	(17,793)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	(20,538)	(19,577)	(60,584)	(61,161)
Program and production	(18,470)	(18,404)	(56,493)	(57,328)
Selling, general and administrative	(33)	(500)	(138)	(1,647)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	(1,530)	(307)	(2,498)	(1,102)
Total operating expenses	(20,033)	(19,211)	(59,129)	(60,077)
Operating income	(505)	(366)	(1,455)	(1,084)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(132,267)	(131,866)	(352,811)	(338,867)
Interest expense	6,172	5,502	17,428	15,974
Other income (expense)	0	(23)	0	(63)
Total other expense, net	(126,095)	(126,387)	(335,383)	(322,956)
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME	(126,600)	(126,753)	(336,838)	(324,040)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	20	20	54	53
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(126,580)	(126,733)	(336,784)	(323,987)
Comprehensive income	$ (127,389)	$ (126,455)	$ (338,960)	$ (324,393)