CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		$ 1,288	$ 1,511
Media programming and production expenses		758	1,023
Selling, general and administrative expenses		267	274
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary	$ (3,357)	(3,357)	0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		154	179
Total operating (gains) expenses		(2,178)	1,476
Operating income (loss)		3,466	35
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Interest expense		(115)	(151)
Other income (expense)		(48)	133
Total other expense, net		(163)	(18)
Income tax benefit (provision)		(687)	9
NET INCOME		2,616	26
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		(4)	(4)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		(25)	(34)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		2,587	(12)
Comprehensive income		2,619	34
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
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary		(3,357)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		0	0
Total operating (gains) expenses		(3,354)	3
Operating income (loss)		3,354	(3)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		(38)	(45)
Interest expense		(4)	(3)
Other income (expense)		4	20
Total other expense, net		(38)	(28)
Income tax benefit (provision)		(729)	19
NET INCOME		2,587	(12)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		2,587	(12)
Comprehensive income		2,587	(12)
Reportable Legal Entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		29	27
Media programming and production expenses		0	1
Selling, general and administrative expenses		48	58
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary		0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		2	2
Total operating (gains) expenses		50	61
Operating income (loss)		(21)	(34)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		100	88
Interest expense		(44)	(42)
Other income (expense)		1	5
Total other expense, net		57	51
Income tax benefit (provision)		20	7
NET INCOME		56	24
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		56	24
Comprehensive income		56	24
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		791	705
Media programming and production expenses		362	348
Selling, general and administrative expenses		199	166
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary		0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		84	74
Total operating (gains) expenses		645	588
Operating income (loss)		146	117
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Interest expense		(1)	(1)
Other income (expense)		3	(12)
Total other expense, net		2	(13)
Income tax benefit (provision)		(47)	(15)
NET INCOME		101	89
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		101	89
Comprehensive income		101	89
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		531	818
Media programming and production expenses		412	684
Selling, general and administrative expenses		63	74
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary		0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		70	105
Total operating (gains) expenses		545	863
Operating income (loss)		(14)	(45)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Interest expense		(75)	(111)
Other income (expense)		(50)	123
Total other expense, net		(125)	12
Income tax benefit (provision)		69	(2)
NET INCOME		(70)	(35)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		(4)	(4)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		(25)	(34)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		(99)	(73)
Comprehensive income		(67)	(27)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		(63)	(39)
Media programming and production expenses		(16)	(10)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(46)	(27)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary		0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		(2)	(2)
Total operating (gains) expenses		(64)	(39)
Operating income (loss)		1	0
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		(62)	(43)
Interest expense		9	6
Other income (expense)		(6)	(3)
Total other expense, net		(59)	(40)
Income tax benefit (provision)		0	0
NET INCOME		(58)	(40)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		(58)	(40)
Comprehensive income		$ (58)	$ (40)