QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of the quarterly financial information (unaudited)

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED): 

(In thousands, except per share data)

	For the Quarter Ended
	3/31/2018		6/30/2018		9/30/2018		12/31/2018
Total revenues, net	$	665,352	$	730,143	$	766,261	$	893,325
Operating income	$	107,314	$	131,583	$	157,810	$	262,954
Net income	$	43,994	$	29,310	$	65,000	$	207,694
Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	43,123	$	28,042	$	63,875	$	206,201
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.42	$	0.27	$	0.63	$	2.12
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.42	$	0.27	$	0.62	$	2.10

	For the Quarter Ended
	3/31/2017		6/30/2017		9/30/2017		12/31/2017 (a)
Total revenues, net (b)	$	626,936	$	652,235	$	644,532	$	712,512
Operating income	$	157,629	$	118,849	$	103,447	$	357,581
Net income	$	70,703	$	46,035	$	32,566	$	444,800
Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$	57,202	$	44,645	$	30,637	$	443,529
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.62	$	0.43	$	0.30	$	4.36
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.61	$	0.43	$	0.30	$	4.32