CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
REVENUES:
Media revenues	$ 2,499,549	$ 2,011,946	$ 1,784,641
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements	135,566	111,337	122,262
Other non-media revenues	101,834	95,853	69,655
Total revenues	2,736,949	2,219,136	1,976,558
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media production expenses	953,089	733,199	578,687
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	501,589	431,728	372,220
Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements	116,954	93,204	107,716
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	127,880	124,619	106,629
Other non-media expenses	80,648	71,803	55,615
Depreciation of property and equipment	98,529	103,433	103,291
Corporate general and administrative expenses	73,556	64,246	62,495
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	183,795	161,454	125,496
Research and development expenses	4,085	12,436	6,918
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions	(6,029)	278	(37,160)
Total operating expenses	2,134,096	1,796,400	1,481,907
Operating income	602,853	422,736	494,651
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(211,143)	(191,447)	(174,862)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	(23,699)	0	(14,553)
Income from equity and cost method investments	1,735	964	2,313
Other income, net	3,144	1,540	4,998
Total other expense	(229,963)	(188,943)	(182,104)
Income before income taxes	372,890	233,793	312,547
INCOME TAX PROVISION	(122,128)	(57,694)	(97,432)
NET INCOME	250,762	176,099	215,115
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(5,461)	(4,575)	(2,836)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 245,301	$ 171,524	$ 212,279
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.71	$ 0.66	$ 0.63
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	2.62	1.81	2.19
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.60	$ 1.79	$ 2.17
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	93,567	95,003	97,114
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	94,433	95,728	97,819