CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 1,342	$ 1,333
Accounts receivable, net		1,100	1,132
Other current assets		627	448
Total current assets		3,069	2,913
Property and equipment, net		786	765
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		4,716	4,716
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		158	158
Other definite-lived intangible assets, net		7,814	7,977
Other long-term assets		817	841
Total assets	[1]	17,360	17,370
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		526	782
Current portion of long-term debt		71	71
Other current liabilities		243	281
Total current liabilities		840	1,134
Long-term debt		13,231	12,367
Other long-term liabilities		1,111	1,097
Total liabilities	[1]	15,182	14,598
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		522	1,078
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,459	1,502
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		197	192
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		17,360	17,370
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		2	5
Total current assets		2	5
Property and equipment, net		1	1
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		2,120	2,270
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Other definite-lived intangible assets, net		0	0
Other long-term assets		79	82
Total assets		2,202	2,358
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		28	142
Current portion of long-term debt		0	0
Other current liabilities		1	0
Total current liabilities		29	142
Long-term debt		700	700
Other long-term liabilities		13	13
Total liabilities		742	855
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,460	1,503
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		2,202	2,358
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		840	357
Accounts receivable, net		1	0
Other current assets		46	41
Total current assets		887	398
Property and equipment, net		35	31
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		3,595	3,558
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Other definite-lived intangible assets, net		0	0
Other long-term assets		1,604	1,611
Total assets		6,121	5,598
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		98	109
Current portion of long-term debt		27	27
Other current liabilities		1	1
Total current liabilities		126	137
Long-term debt		4,991	4,348
Other long-term liabilities		48	53
Total liabilities		5,165	4,538
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		956	1,060
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		6,121	5,598
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		3	3
Accounts receivable, net		538	561
Other current assets		258	264
Total current assets		799	828
Property and equipment, net		678	659
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		2,091	2,091
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		144	144
Other definite-lived intangible assets, net		1,384	1,426
Other long-term assets		277	279
Total assets		5,373	5,427
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		256	286
Current portion of long-term debt		5	4
Other current liabilities		117	133
Total current liabilities		378	423
Long-term debt		37	32
Other long-term liabilities		1,364	1,418
Total liabilities		1,779	1,873
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		3,594	3,554
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		5,373	5,427
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		499	973
Accounts receivable, net		561	571
Other current assets		373	188
Total current assets		1,433	1,732
Property and equipment, net		98	96
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		2,625	2,625
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		14	14
Other definite-lived intangible assets, net		6,476	6,598
Other long-term assets		529	618
Total assets		11,175	11,683
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		197	296
Current portion of long-term debt		40	41
Other current liabilities		124	147
Total current liabilities		361	484
Long-term debt		8,529	8,317
Other long-term liabilities		550	547
Total liabilities		9,440	9,348
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		522	1,078
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,020	1,069
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		193	188
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		11,175	11,683
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		(52)	(50)
Total current assets		(52)	(50)
Property and equipment, net		(26)	(22)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		(5,715)	(5,828)
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Other definite-lived intangible assets, net		(46)	(47)
Other long-term assets		(1,672)	(1,749)
Total assets		(7,511)	(7,696)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(53)	(51)
Current portion of long-term debt		(1)	(1)
Other current liabilities		0	0
Total current liabilities		(54)	(52)
Long-term debt		(1,026)	(1,030)
Other long-term liabilities		(864)	(934)
Total liabilities		(1,944)	(2,016)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		(5,571)	(5,684)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		4	4
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		$ (7,511)	$ (7,696)

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $212 million and $228 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 include total liabilities of VIEs of $27 million for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 8. Variable Interest Entities.