CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		$ 837	$ 1,612	$ 2,125	$ 3,123
Media programming and production expenses		403	1,345	1,161	2,368
Selling, general and administrative expenses		233	270	500	544
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary	$ (3,357)	0	0	(3,357)	0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		94	175	248	354
Total operating expenses (gains)		730	1,790	(1,448)	3,266
Operating (loss) income		107	(178)	3,573	(143)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0	0	0
Interest expense		(54)	(160)	(169)	(311)
Other income (expense)		(99)	(59)	(147)	74
Total other expense, net		(153)	(219)	(316)	(237)
Income tax benefit		40	69	(647)	78
NET (LOSS) INCOME		(6)	(328)	2,610	(302)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		(5)	(5)	(9)	(9)
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	1	(25)	(33)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		(11)	(332)	2,576	(344)
Comprehensive (loss) income		(6)	(331)	2,613	(297)
Reportable Legal Entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		0	0	0	0
Media programming and production expenses		0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses		3	4	6	7
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary				(3,357)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		1	0	1	0
Total operating expenses (gains)		4	4	(3,350)	7
Operating (loss) income		(4)	(4)	3,350	(7)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		(12)	(243)	(50)	(288)
Interest expense		0	(4)	(4)	(7)
Other income (expense)		6	(83)	10	(63)
Total other expense, net		(6)	(330)	(44)	(358)
Income tax benefit		(1)	2	(730)	21
NET (LOSS) INCOME		(11)	(332)	2,576	(344)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0	0	0
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests			0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		(11)	(332)	2,576	(344)
Comprehensive (loss) income		(11)	(332)	2,576	(344)
Reportable Legal Entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		11	28	40	55
Media programming and production expenses		2	1	2	2
Selling, general and administrative expenses		38	32	86	90
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary				0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		1	2	3	4
Total operating expenses (gains)		41	35	91	96
Operating (loss) income		(30)	(7)	(51)	(41)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		119	116	219	204
Interest expense		(53)	(50)	(97)	(92)
Other income (expense)		(2)	9	(1)	14
Total other expense, net		64	75	121	126
Income tax benefit		10	22	30	29
NET (LOSS) INCOME		44	90	100	114
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0	0	0
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests			0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		44	90	100	114
Comprehensive (loss) income		44	90	100	114
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		820	744	1,611	1,449
Media programming and production expenses		383	359	745	707
Selling, general and administrative expenses		206	173	405	339
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary				0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		84	85	168	159
Total operating expenses (gains)		673	617	1,318	1,205
Operating (loss) income		147	127	293	244
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0	0	0
Interest expense		0	0	(1)	(1)
Other income (expense)		0	(10)	3	(22)
Total other expense, net		0	(10)	2	(23)
Income tax benefit		(27)	0	(74)	(15)
NET (LOSS) INCOME		120	117	221	206
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0	0	0
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests			0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		120	117	221	206
Comprehensive (loss) income		120	117	221	206
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		46	886	577	1,704
Media programming and production expenses		36	999	448	1,683
Selling, general and administrative expenses		6	91	69	165
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary				0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		12	90	82	195
Total operating expenses (gains)		54	1,180	599	2,043
Operating (loss) income		(8)	(294)	(22)	(339)
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0	0	0
Interest expense		(4)	(113)	(79)	(224)
Other income (expense)		(103)	29	(153)	152
Total other expense, net		(107)	(84)	(232)	(72)
Income tax benefit		58	45	127	43
NET (LOSS) INCOME		(57)	(333)	(127)	(368)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		(5)	(5)	(9)	(9)
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests			1	(25)	(33)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		(62)	(337)	(161)	(410)
Comprehensive (loss) income		(57)	(336)	(124)	(363)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues		(40)	(46)	(103)	(85)
Media programming and production expenses		(18)	(14)	(34)	(24)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(20)	(30)	(66)	(57)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary				0
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses		(4)	(2)	(6)	(4)
Total operating expenses (gains)		(42)	(46)	(106)	(85)
Operating (loss) income		2	0	3	0
Equity in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		(107)	127	(169)	84
Interest expense		3	7	12	13
Other income (expense)		0	(4)	(6)	(7)
Total other expense, net		(104)	130	(163)	90
Income tax benefit		0	0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME		(102)	130	(160)	90
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0	0	0
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests			0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP		(102)	130	(160)	90
Comprehensive (loss) income		$ (102)	$ 130	$ (160)	$ 90