CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
REVENUES:
Media revenues	[1]	$ 2,918,727	$ 2,566,936		$ 2,520,676
Non-media revenues		136,354	69,279		101,834
Total revenues		3,055,081	2,636,215		2,622,510
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media production expenses		1,191,016	1,064,144		955,604
Media selling, general and administrative expenses		629,919	533,537		501,589
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		100,899	115,523		127,880
Non-media expenses		122,491	75,199		84,733
Depreciation of property and equipment		105,240	97,103	[2]	98,529	[2]
Corporate general and administrative expenses		111,070	113,253		73,556
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets		174,848	178,822	[2]	183,795	[2]
Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		(40,063)	(278,872)		(6,029)
Total operating expenses		2,395,420	1,898,709		2,019,657
Operating income		659,661	737,506		602,853
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs		(291,976)	(212,315)		(211,143)
Loss from extinguishment of debt		0	(1,404)	[2]	(23,699)	[2]
(Loss) income from equity method investments		(60,831)	(14,307)		906
Other income, net		3,369	9,264		3,973
Total other expense		(349,438)	(218,762)		(229,963)
Income before income taxes		310,223	518,744		372,890
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (PROVISION)		35,775	75,360		(122,128)
NET INCOME		345,998	594,104	[2]	250,762	[2]
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		(4,757)	(18,091)		(5,461)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		$ 341,241	$ 576,013		$ 245,301
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ 3.38	$ 5.77		$ 2.62
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ 3.35	$ 5.72		$ 2.60
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)		100,913	99,844		93,567
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)		101,718	100,789		94,433

[1] See Revenue Recognition within Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for a discussion of the adoption of the new accounting principles for revenue recognition.

[2] See Recent Accounting Pronouncements within Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for a discussion of the adoption of new accounting principles related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments.