CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 150,639	$ 163,304
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(28,776)	(30,157)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations	(495,440)	(590,917)
Payments for acquisitions in other operating divisions	(4,650)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(11,928)	(7,343)
Proceeds from sale of broadcast assets	27,992
Decrease in restricted cash	(41,032)	15,849
Other, net	(2,908)	3,305
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(556,742)	(609,263)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,198,815	615,707
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(998,085)	(95,845)
Proceeds from the sale of common stock	472,400
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(41,938)	(31,245)
Other, net	(18,960)	(11,000)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	612,232	477,617
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	206,129	31,658
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	22,865	12,967
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	228,994	44,625
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(3,042)	(460)
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Other, net	1,648	740
Net cash flows used in investing activities	1,648	740
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(234)	(308)
Proceeds from the sale of common stock	472,400
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(41,938)	(31,646)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(429,664)	32,087
Other, net	830	(413)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	1,394	(280)
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(66,985)	(75,408)
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(2,253)	(2,458)
Decrease in restricted cash	(38,930)	15,849
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(41,183)	13,391
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,146,789	596,275
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(985,755)	(79,077)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	154,648	(435,595)
Other, net	(20,205)	(8,364)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	295,477	73,239
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	187,309	11,222
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	7,230	188
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	194,539	11,410
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	208,126	228,829
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(21,109)	(25,624)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations	(495,440)	(590,917)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	1,114
Proceeds from sale of broadcast assets	27,992
Other, net	4,454	63
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(482,989)	(616,478)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(802)	(458)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	235
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	292,696	389,771
Other, net	(554)	(1,489)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	291,575	387,824
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	16,712	175
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	199	313
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	16,911	488
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(816)	9,428
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(5,414)	(2,075)
Payments for acquisitions in other operating divisions	(4,650)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(13,042)	(7,343)
Decrease in restricted cash	(2,102)
Other, net	1,898	2,502
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(23,310)	(6,916)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	52,026	19,432
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(11,294)	(16,002)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(4,549)	15,053
Other, net	(9,949)	(734)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	26,234	17,749
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	2,108	20,261
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	15,436	12,466
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	17,544	32,727
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	13,356	915
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Other, net	(10,908)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(10,908)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(235)	401
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(13,131)	(1,316)
Other, net	10,918
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	$ (2,448)	$ (915)