CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 1,060,330	$ 681,326
Restricted cash, current		0	313,110
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,379 and $2,590, respectively		598,597	566,464
Current portion of program contract costs		64,247	71,387
Income taxes receivable		0	28,150
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		60,732	54,310
Total current assets		1,783,906	1,714,747
Program contract costs, less current portion		11,217	3,202
Property and equipment, net		683,134	738,298
Restricted cash, less current portion		0	1,504
Goodwill		2,123,902	2,124,033
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		158,222	159,371
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		1,626,880	1,801,670
Other assets		184,831	241,645
Total assets	[1]	6,572,092	6,784,470
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		413,227	370,403
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		0	84,341
Income taxes payable		23,314	2,503
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing		42,564	161,049
Current portion of program contracts payable		93,480	108,053
Total current liabilities		572,585	726,349
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		3,849,891	3,887,601
Program contracts payable, less current portion		50,060	41,909
Deferred tax liabilities		413,253	515,236
Other long-term liabilities		85,983	79,009
Total liabilities	[1]	4,971,772	5,250,104
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 11)
Shareholders' Equity:
Additional paid-in capital		1,121,054	1,320,298
Retained earnings		517,620	248,845
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(784)	(1,423)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		1,638,836	1,568,738
Noncontrolling interests		(38,516)	(34,372)
Total equity		1,600,320	1,534,366
Total liabilities and equity		6,572,092	6,784,470
Total assets of variable interest entities		127,600	130,600
Total liabilities of variable interest entities		22,300	27,000
Class A Common Stock
Shareholders' Equity:
Common Stock		689	761
Class B Common Stock
Shareholders' Equity:
Common Stock		$ 257	$ 257

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $127.6 million and $130.6 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs.  Our consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $22.3 million and $27.0 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us.  See Note 12. Variable Interest Entities.