CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 103,727	$ 149,972
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,357 and $4,495, respectively		489,884	424,608
Current portion of program contract costs		36,359	91,466
Income taxes receivable		0	823
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		38,949	26,903
Deferred barter costs		9,100	7,991
Total current assets		678,019	701,763
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion		10,484	18,996
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net		727,806	717,137
RESTRICTED CASH		0	3,725
GOODWILL		2,017,382	1,931,093
INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS		157,725	132,465
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net		1,975,786	1,751,570
OTHER ASSETS		212,475	175,566
Total assets	[1]	5,779,677	5,432,315
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		271,926	251,313
Income taxes payable		8,566	0
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing		175,044	164,184
Current portion of notes and capital leases payable to affiliates		3,501	3,166
Current portion of program contracts payable		63,492	108,260
Deferred barter revenues		9,211	8,080
Total current liabilities		531,740	535,003
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		3,984,262	3,669,160
Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion		15,953	17,850
Program contracts payable, less current portion		45,110	56,921
Deferred tax liabilities		587,289	585,072
Other long-term liabilities		72,429	68,631
Total liabilities	[1]	5,236,783	4,932,637
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital		964,818	962,726
Accumulated deficit		(394,418)	(437,029)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(834)	(834)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		570,512	525,810
Noncontrolling interests		(27,618)	(26,132)
Total equity		542,894	499,678
Total liabilities and equity		5,779,677	5,432,315
Class A Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Stock		687	688
Class B Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Stock		$ 259	$ 259

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $147.5 million and $152.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $30.4 million and $35.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.