CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	$ 1,511	$ 1,609
Media programming and production expenses	1,023	828
Selling, general and administrative expenses	274	259
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	179	195
Total operating expenses	1,476	1,282
Operating income	35	327
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Interest expense	(151)	(180)
Other income (expense)	133	(8)
Total other expense, net	(18)	(188)
Income tax benefit (provision)	9	12
NET INCOME	26	151
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(4)	(20)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(34)	(8)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(12)	123
Comprehensive income	34	151
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	0	0
Media programming and production expenses	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3	3
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	0	0
Total operating expenses	3	3
Operating income	(3)	(3)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(45)	129
Interest expense	(3)	(3)
Other income (expense)	20	(2)
Total other expense, net	(28)	124
Income tax benefit (provision)	19	2
NET INCOME	(12)	123
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(12)	123
Comprehensive income	(12)	123
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	27	24
Media programming and production expenses	1	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	58	44
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	2	1
Total operating expenses	61	45
Operating income	(34)	(21)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	88	173
Interest expense	(42)	(55)
Other income (expense)	5	(2)
Total other expense, net	51	116
Income tax benefit (provision)	7	29
NET INCOME	24	124
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	24	124
Comprehensive income	24	124
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	705	739
Media programming and production expenses	348	328
Selling, general and administrative expenses	166	168
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	74	51
Total operating expenses	588	547
Operating income	117	192
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Interest expense	(1)	(1)
Other income (expense)	(12)	(9)
Total other expense, net	(13)	(10)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(15)	(6)
NET INCOME	89	176
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	89	176
Comprehensive income	89	176
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	818	893
Media programming and production expenses	684	516
Selling, general and administrative expenses	74	67
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	105	147
Total operating expenses	863	730
Operating income	(45)	163
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Interest expense	(111)	(127)
Other income (expense)	123	8
Total other expense, net	12	(119)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(2)	(13)
NET INCOME	(35)	31
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(4)	(20)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(34)	(8)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(73)	3
Comprehensive income	(27)	31
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	(39)	(47)
Media programming and production expenses	(10)	(16)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(27)	(23)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	(2)	(4)
Total operating expenses	(39)	(43)
Operating income	0	(4)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(43)	(302)
Interest expense	6	6
Other income (expense)	(3)	(3)
Total other expense, net	(40)	(299)
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0
NET INCOME	(40)	(303)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(40)	(303)
Comprehensive income	$ (40)	$ (303)