CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
REVENUES:
Media revenues	$ 2,543,876	$ 2,499,549	$ 2,011,946
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements	120,963	135,566	111,337
Other non-media revenues	69,279	101,834	95,853
Total revenues	2,734,118	2,736,949	2,219,136
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media production expenses	1,063,074	953,089	733,199
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	533,537	501,589	431,728
Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements	98,973	116,954	93,204
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	115,523	127,880	124,619
Other non-media expenses	65,199	80,648	71,803
Depreciation of property and equipment	97,103	98,529	103,433
Corporate general and administrative expenses	113,253	73,556	64,246
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	178,822	183,795	161,454
Research and development expenses	10,000	4,085	12,436
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions	(278,872)	(6,029)	278
Total operating expenses	1,996,612	2,134,096	1,796,400
Operating income	737,506	602,853	422,736
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(212,315)	(211,143)	(191,447)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	(1,404)	(23,699)	0
(Loss) income from equity and cost method investments	(13,919)	1,735	964
Other income, net	8,876	3,144	1,540
Total other expense	(218,762)	(229,963)	(188,943)
Income before income taxes	518,744	372,890	233,793
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (PROVISION)	75,360	(122,128)	(57,694)
NET INCOME	594,104	250,762	176,099
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(18,091)	(5,461)	(4,575)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 576,013	$ 245,301	$ 171,524
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.71	$ 0.66
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	5.77	2.62	1.81
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 5.72	$ 2.60	$ 1.79
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	99,844	93,567	95,003
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	100,789	94,433	95,728