CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 1,612	$ 1,283	$ 3,123	$ 2,892
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media programming and production expenses	1,345	383	2,368	1,211
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	234	186	447	396
Amortization of program contract costs	22	21	45	44
Non-media expenses	14	21	31	51
Depreciation of property and equipment	28	26	56	50
Corporate general and administrative expenses	36	32	97	81
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	119	150	244	300
Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment	(8)	(28)	(22)	(60)
Total operating expenses	1,790	791	3,266	2,073
Operating (loss) income	(178)	492	(143)	819
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(160)	(165)	(311)	(345)
Gain on extinguishment of debt	0	3	0	5
Income (loss) from equity method investments	2	(7)	11	(13)
Other (expense) income, net	(61)	4	63	0
Total other expense, net	(219)	(165)	(237)	(353)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(397)	327	(380)	466
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (PROVISION)	69	(54)	78	(42)
NET (LOSS) INCOME	(328)	273	(302)	424
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(5)	(12)	(9)	(32)
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests	1	(9)	(33)	(17)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ (332)	$ 252	$ (344)	$ 375
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic (loss) earnings per share (in USD per share)	$ (4.41)	$ 3.13	$ (4.59)	$ 4.39
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (in USD per share)	$ (4.41)	$ 3.12	$ (4.59)	$ 4.36
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	75,331	80,425	74,862	85,517
Diluted weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	75,331	80,737	74,862	85,981
Media revenues
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 1,600	$ 1,260	$ 3,097	$ 2,834
Non-media revenues
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 12	$ 23	$ 26	$ 58