CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 259,984	$ 149,972
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,124 and $4,495, respectively		513,954	424,608
Current portion of program contract costs		83,601	91,466
Income taxes receivable		5,500	823
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		36,267	26,903
Deferred barter costs		5,782	7,991
Total current assets		905,088	701,763
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion		8,919	18,996
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net		717,576	717,137
RESTRICTED CASH		0	3,725
GOODWILL		1,990,746	1,931,093
INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS		156,306	132,465
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net		1,944,403	1,751,570
NOTES RECEIVABLE FROM AFFILIATES		19,500	0
OTHER ASSETS		220,630	175,566
Total assets	[1]	5,963,168	5,432,315
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		322,505	251,313
Income taxes payable		23,491	0
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing		171,131	164,184
Current portion of notes payable and capital leases payable to affiliates		3,604	3,166
Current portion of program contracts payable		109,702	108,260
Deferred barter revenues		6,040	8,080
Total current liabilities		636,473	535,003
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		4,014,932	3,669,160
Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion		14,181	17,850
Program contracts payable, less current portion		53,836	56,921
Deferred tax liabilities		609,317	585,072
Other long-term liabilities		76,493	68,631
Total liabilities	[1]	5,405,232	4,932,637
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital		843,691	962,726
Accumulated deficit		(255,804)	(437,029)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(807)	(834)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		587,983	525,810
Noncontrolling interests		(30,047)	(26,132)
Total equity		557,936	499,678
Total liabilities and equity		5,963,168	5,432,315
Total assets of variable interest entities (in dollars)		142,300	152,400
Total liabilities of variable interest entities (in dollars)		40,900	35,600
Class A Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Stock		646	688
Class B Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Stock		$ 257	$ 259

[1] (a) Our consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $142.3 million and $152.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $40.9 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.