CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
REVENUES:
Media revenues	$ 2,011,946	$ 1,784,641	$ 1,219,091
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements	111,337	122,262	88,680
Other non-media revenues	95,853	69,655	55,360
Total revenues	2,219,136	1,976,558	1,363,131
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media production expenses	733,199	578,687	386,646
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	431,728	372,220	251,294
Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements	93,204	107,716	77,349
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	124,619	106,629	80,925
Other non-media expenses	71,803	55,615	45,005
Depreciation of property and equipment	103,433	103,291	70,554
Corporate general and administrative expenses	64,246	62,495	53,126
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	161,454	125,496	70,820
Research and development	12,436	6,918	0
Loss (gain) on asset dispositions	278	(37,160)	3,392
Total operating expenses	1,796,400	1,481,907	1,039,111
Operating income	422,736	494,651	324,020
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(191,447)	(174,862)	(162,937)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0	(14,553)	(58,421)
Income from equity and cost method investments	964	2,313	621
Other income, net	1,540	4,998	2,225
Total other expense	(188,943)	(182,104)	(218,512)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	233,793	312,547	105,508
INCOME TAX PROVISION	(57,694)	(97,432)	(41,249)
Income from continuing operations	176,099	215,115	64,259
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	11,558
NET INCOME	176,099	215,115	75,817
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(4,575)	(2,836)	(2,349)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 171,524	$ 212,279	$ 73,468
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.66	$ 0.63	$ 0.6
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.81	2.19	0.66
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.81	2.19	0.79
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.79	2.17	0.66
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.79	$ 2.17	$ 0.78
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	95,003	97,114	93,207
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	95,728	97,819	93,845
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 171,524	$ 212,279	$ 61,910
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	11,558
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 171,524	$ 212,279	$ 73,468