CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
REVENUES:
Revenue	$ 1,535	$ 1,539	$ 4,658	$ 4,431
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media programming and production expenses	1,022	1,077	3,390	2,288
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	228	212	675	608
Amortization of program contract costs	22	19	67	63
Non-media expenses	11	18	42	69
Depreciation of property and equipment	28	25	84	75
Corporate general and administrative expenses	35	30	132	111
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	120	149	364	449
Impairment of goodwill and definite-lived intangible assets	0	4,264	0	4,264
Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment	(4)	(39)	(26)	(99)
Total operating expenses	1,462	5,755	4,728	7,828
Operating income (loss)	73	(4,216)	(70)	(3,397)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(155)	(157)	(466)	(502)
Gain on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	5
Income (loss) from equity method investments	12	(10)	23	(23)
Other (expense) income, net	(4)	169	59	169
Total other (expense) income, net	(147)	2	(384)	(351)
Loss before income taxes	(74)	(4,214)	(454)	(3,748)
INCOME TAX BENEFIT	91	847	169	805
NET INCOME (LOSS)	17	(3,367)	(285)	(2,943)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(4)	(19)	(13)	(51)
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests	6	130	(27)	113
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 19	$ (3,256)	$ (325)	$ (2,881)
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in USD per share)	$ 0.25	$ (43.53)	$ (4.33)	$ (35.17)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in USD per share)	$ 0.25	$ (43.53)	$ (4.33)	$ (35.17)
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	75,472	74,810	75,068	81,922
Diluted weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	75,516	74,810	75,068	81,922
Media revenues
REVENUES:
Revenue	$ 1,526	$ 1,519	$ 4,623	$ 4,353
Non-media revenues
REVENUES:
Revenue	$ 9	$ 20	$ 35	$ 78