VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2023		Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023		Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Assets	[1]	$ 6,201,000,000			$ 6,201,000,000			$ 6,704,000,000	[2]
Note receivable		0			0			193,000,000
Notes Receivable of Diamond Sports Finance SPV, LLC | Related Party
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Note receivable		0			$ 0			193,000,000
Consolidated VIEs
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entities outsourcing agreement initial term					5 years
Assets		78,000,000			$ 78,000,000			115,000,000
Consolidated VIEs | Eliminations
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options		130,000,000			130,000,000			130,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Assets		201,000,000			201,000,000			187,000,000
Gain from related equity investments and other investments		3,000,000		$ 5,000,000	38,000,000		$ 25,000,000
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Assets		4,994,000,000	[2]		4,994,000,000	[2]		6,704,000,000
Note receivable		0			0			193,000,000
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC | Notes Receivable of Diamond Sports Finance SPV, LLC | Related Party
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Note receivable								193,000,000
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC | Eliminations
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Assets		(4,914,000,000)			$ (4,914,000,000)			(5,999,000,000)
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC | Consolidated VIEs
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entities outsourcing agreement initial term					5 years
Assets		78,000,000			$ 78,000,000			115,000,000
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC | Consolidated VIEs | Eliminations
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options		130,000,000			130,000,000			130,000,000
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Assets								$ 187,000,000
Gain from related equity investments and other investments		$ 2,000,000		$ 5,000,000	$ 37,000,000		$ 25,000,000

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 include total assets of variable interest entities ("VIE") of $78 million and $115 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 include total liabilities of VIEs of $16 million and $18 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 8. Variable Interest Entities.

[2] SBG's consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 include total assets of variable interest entities ("VIE") of $78 million and $115 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. SBG's consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 include total liabilities of VIEs of $16 million and $18 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to SBG. See Note 7. Variable Interest Entities.