CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 622	$ 1,333
Accounts receivable, net		985	1,132
Other current assets		985	448
Total current assets		2,592	2,913
Property and equipment, net		809	765
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		4,716	4,716
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		163	158
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		7,664	7,977
Other long-term assets		825	841
Total assets	[1]	16,769	17,370
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		573	782
Current portion of long-term debt		71	71
Other current liabilities		259	281
Total current liabilities		903	1,134
Long-term debt		12,328	12,367
Other long-term liabilities		1,217	1,097
Total liabilities	[1]	14,448	14,598
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		510	1,078
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,609	1,502
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		202	192
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		16,769	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		12	5
Total current assets		12	5
Property and equipment, net		1	1
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		2,258	2,270
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		0	0
Other long-term assets		84	82
Total assets		2,355	2,358
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		31	142
Current portion of long-term debt		0	0
Other current liabilities		1	0
Total current liabilities		32	142
Long-term debt		700	700
Other long-term liabilities		13	13
Total liabilities		745	855
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,610	1,503
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		2,355	2,358
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		168	357
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		86	41
Total current assets		254	398
Property and equipment, net		33	31
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		3,497	3,558
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		0	0
Other long-term assets		1,632	1,611
Total assets		5,416	5,598
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		99	109
Current portion of long-term debt		27	27
Other current liabilities		0	1
Total current liabilities		126	137
Long-term debt		4,336	4,348
Other long-term liabilities		59	53
Total liabilities		4,521	4,538
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		895	1,060
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		5,416	5,598
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		3	3
Accounts receivable, net		494	561
Other current assets		201	264
Total current assets		698	828
Property and equipment, net		702	659
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		2,091	2,091
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		149	144
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		1,342	1,426
Other long-term assets		280	279
Total assets		5,262	5,427
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		277	286
Current portion of long-term debt		5	4
Other current liabilities		99	133
Total current liabilities		381	423
Long-term debt		36	32
Other long-term liabilities		1,351	1,418
Total liabilities		1,768	1,873
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		3,494	3,554
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		5,262	5,427
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		451	973
Accounts receivable, net		491	571
Other current assets		781	188
Total current assets		1,723	1,732
Property and equipment, net		100	96
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		2,625	2,625
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		14	14
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		6,366	6,598
Other long-term assets		476	618
Total assets		11,304	11,683
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		261	296
Current portion of long-term debt		41	41
Other current liabilities		159	147
Total current liabilities		461	484
Long-term debt		8,291	8,317
Other long-term liabilities		624	547
Total liabilities		9,376	9,348
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		510	1,078
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,220	1,069
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		198	188
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		11,304	11,683
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		(95)	(50)
Total current assets		(95)	(50)
Property and equipment, net		(27)	(22)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		(5,755)	(5,828)
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		(44)	(47)
Other long-term assets		(1,647)	(1,749)
Total assets		(7,568)	(7,696)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(95)	(51)
Current portion of long-term debt		(2)	(1)
Other current liabilities		0	0
Total current liabilities		(97)	(52)
Long-term debt		(1,035)	(1,030)
Other long-term liabilities		(830)	(934)
Total liabilities		(1,962)	(2,016)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		(5,610)	(5,684)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		4	4
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		$ (7,568)	$ (7,696)

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $268 million and $228 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 include total liabilities of VIEs of $32 million and $27 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 8. Variable Interest Entities.