QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total revenues, net	$ 611,790	$ 548,404	$ 554,167	$ 504,775	$ 613,818	$ 494,956	$ 455,136	$ 412,648	$ 2,219,136	$ 1,976,558	$ 1,363,131
Operating income	124,243	99,606	114,340	84,547	208,949	101,663	103,039	81,000	422,736	494,651	324,020
Income from continuing operations	60,830	44,034	46,399	24,836	97,089	48,768	41,601	27,657	176,099	215,115	64,259
Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ 58,200	$ 43,255	$ 45,787	$ 24,282	$ 95,445	$ 48,341	$ 41,335	$ 27,158	$ 171,524	$ 212,279	$ 73,468
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.46	$ 0.48	$ 0.26	$ 0.99	$ 0.50	$ 0.43	$ 0.27	$ 1.81	$ 2.19	$ 0.66
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.25	$ 0.98	$ 0.49	$ 0.42	$ 0.27	$ 1.79	$ 2.17	$ 0.66