CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 358,397	$ 150,639
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(58,151)	(28,776)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations	(1,071,428)	(495,440)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(15,647)	(11,928)
Proceeds from the sale of broadcast assets	83,200	27,992
Decrease in restricted cash	(92,583)	(41,032)
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(7,958)	(10,205)
Payments for acquisition of assets in other operating divisions	(8,273)	(4,650)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies	17,042
Other, net	6,936	(2,908)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(1,146,862)	(556,742)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,061,490	1,198,815
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(286,417)	(998,085)
Proceeds from the sale of common stock		472,400
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B common stock	(45,322)	(41,938)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(108,438)
Other, net	(13,602)	(18,960)
Net cash flows from financing activities	607,711	612,232
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(180,754)	206,129
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	280,104	22,865
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	99,350	228,994
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(27,282)	(3,042)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Other, net	1,000	1,648
Net cash flows used in investing activities	1,000	1,648
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(408)	(234)
Proceeds from the sale of common stock		472,400
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B common stock	(45,322)	(41,938)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(108,438)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	178,331	(429,664)
Other, net	2,119	830
Net cash flows from financing activities	26,282	1,394
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(77,257)	(66,985)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(8,482)	(2,253)
Decrease in restricted cash	(9,600)	(38,930)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies	17,042
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(1,040)	(41,183)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,040,796	1,146,789
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(280,121)	(985,755)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(821,116)	154,648
Other, net	(15,010)	(20,205)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(75,451)	295,477
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(153,748)	187,309
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	237,974	7,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	84,226	194,539
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	426,702	208,126
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(47,961)	(21,109)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations	(1,071,428)	(495,440)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts		1,114
Proceeds from the sale of broadcast assets	83,200	27,992
Decrease in restricted cash	(82,983)
Other, net	5,000	4,454
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(1,114,172)	(482,989)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(743)	(802)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B common stock		235
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	663,350	292,696
Other, net	(784)	(554)
Net cash flows from financing activities	661,823	291,575
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(25,647)	16,712
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	28,594	199
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	2,947	16,911
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	22,125	(816)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(1,708)	(5,414)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(15,647)	(13,042)
Decrease in restricted cash		(2,102)
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(7,958)
Payments for acquisition of assets in other operating divisions	(8,273)	(4,650)
Other, net	936	1,898
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(32,650)	(23,310)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	20,694	52,026
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(5,145)	(11,294)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(6,456)	(4,549)
Other, net	73	(9,949)
Net cash flows from financing activities	9,166	26,234
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(1,359)	2,108
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	13,536	15,436
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	12,177	17,544
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	14,109	13,356
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) 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)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(14,109)	(13,131)
Other, net		10,918
Net cash flows from financing activities	$ (14,109)	$ (2,448)