CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 345,998	$ 594,104	[1]	$ 250,762	[1]
Adjustments to post-retirement obligations, net of taxes	639	(616)		27
Comprehensive income	346,637	593,488		250,789
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,757)	(18,091)		(5,461)
Comprehensive income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ 341,880	$ 575,397		$ 245,328

[1] 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.