CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	$ 693,835	$ 548,404	$ 1,939,258	$ 1,607,346
Media program and production expenses	242,880	187,173	702,377	540,554
Selling, general and administrative	145,724	122,086	424,841	357,773
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	151,237	139,539	442,633	410,526
Total operating expenses	539,841	448,798	1,569,851	1,308,853
Operating income	153,994	99,606	369,407	298,493
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(53,488)	(48,566)	(156,819)	(142,878)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	(23,699)	0	(23,699)	0
Other income (expense)	2,212	204	5,144	6,625
Total other expense, net	(74,975)	(48,362)	(175,374)	(136,253)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(26,986)	(7,210)	(65,771)	(46,971)
NET INCOME	52,033	44,034	128,262	115,269
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,188)	(779)	(3,858)	(1,945)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	50,845	43,255	124,404	113,324
Comprehensive income	52,033	44,044	128,262	115,447
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	0	0	0	0
Media program and production expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	1,275	930	3,277	3,432
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	266	266	798	799
Total operating expenses	1,541	1,196	4,075	4,231
Operating income	(1,541)	(1,196)	(4,075)	(4,231)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	51,113	43,480	124,536	114,176
Interest expense	(56)	(93)	(192)	(301)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0		0
Other income (expense)	1,157	957	3,386	3,250
Total other expense, net	52,214	44,344	127,730	117,125
Income tax benefit (provision)	172	107	749	430
NET INCOME	50,845	43,255	124,404	113,324
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	50,845	43,255	124,404	113,324
Comprehensive income	50,845	44,044	124,404	115,447
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	0	0	0	0
Media program and production expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	16,969	14,386	53,189	40,598
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	3,257	1,040	5,666	2,624
Total operating expenses	20,226	15,426	58,855	43,222
Operating income	(20,226)	(15,426)	(58,855)	(43,222)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	114,060	88,687	289,593	238,635
Interest expense	(50,364)	(45,784)	(147,635)	(134,626)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	(23,699)		(23,699)
Other income (expense)	469	(407)	736	(116)
Total other expense, net	40,466	42,496	118,995	103,893
Income tax benefit (provision)	34,334	20,235	75,470	60,435
NET INCOME	54,574	47,305	135,610	121,106
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	54,574	47,305	135,610	121,106
Comprehensive income	54,574	47,315	135,610	121,132
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	655,778	515,097	1,828,407	1,514,173
Media program and production expenses	234,474	185,371	679,337	535,098
Selling, general and administrative	124,352	102,984	360,793	302,962
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	115,527	105,427	340,974	316,934
Total operating expenses	474,353	393,782	1,381,104	1,154,994
Operating income	181,425	121,315	447,303	359,179
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	51	100	170	0
Interest expense	(1,117)	(1,140)	(3,417)	(3,481)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0		0
Other income (expense)	(27)	3	583	269
Total other expense, net	(1,093)	(1,037)	(2,664)	(3,212)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(64,535)	(30,126)	(150,436)	(113,403)
NET INCOME	115,797	90,152	294,203	242,564
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	115,797	90,152	294,203	242,564
Comprehensive income	115,797	90,152	294,203	242,713
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	63,877	53,845	178,164	153,757
Media program and production expenses	33,556	20,272	88,378	61,949
Selling, general and administrative	3,153	3,819	7,641	10,919
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	32,571	34,336	96,560	92,667
Total operating expenses	69,280	58,427	192,579	165,535
Operating income	(5,403)	(4,582)	(14,415)	(11,778)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(8,256)	(7,721)	(24,258)	(21,898)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0		0
Other income (expense)	613	(349)	439	3,222
Total other expense, net	(7,643)	(8,070)	(23,819)	(18,676)
Income tax benefit (provision)	3,043	2,574	8,446	5,567
NET INCOME	(10,003)	(10,078)	(29,788)	(24,887)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,180)	(799)	(3,341)	(1,999)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(11,183)	(10,877)	(33,129)	(26,886)
Comprehensive income	(10,003)	(10,078)	(29,788)	(24,885)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	(25,820)	(20,538)	(67,313)	(60,584)
Media program and production expenses	(25,150)	(18,470)	(65,338)	(56,493)
Selling, general and administrative	(25)	(33)	(59)	(138)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	(384)	(1,530)	(1,365)	(2,498)
Total operating expenses	(25,559)	(20,033)	(66,762)	(59,129)
Operating income	(261)	(505)	(551)	(1,455)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(165,224)	(132,267)	(414,299)	(352,811)
Interest expense	6,305	6,172	18,683	17,428
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0		0
Other income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Total other expense, net	(158,919)	(126,095)	(395,616)	(335,383)
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME	(159,180)	(126,600)	(396,167)	(336,838)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(8)	20	(517)	54
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(159,188)	(126,580)	(396,684)	(336,784)
Comprehensive income	$ (159,180)	$ (127,389)	$ (396,167)	$ (338,960)