CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 796,047	$ 259,984
Restricted cash		2,000	200
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,621 and $2,124, respectively		537,286	513,954
Current portion of program contract costs		28,267	83,601
Income taxes receivable		11,670	5,500
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		36,343	36,067
Deferred barter costs		10,829	5,782
Total current assets		1,422,442	905,088
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion		5,080	8,919
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net		705,483	717,576
RESTRICTED CASH		1,496	0
GOODWILL		2,002,809	1,990,746
INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS		160,357	156,306
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net		1,725,508	1,944,403
NOTES RECEIVABLE FROM AFFILIATES		19,500	19,500
OTHER ASSETS		246,861	220,630
Total assets	[1]	6,289,536	5,963,168
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		290,758	322,505
Income taxes payable		0	23,491
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing		168,279	171,131
Current portion of notes and capital leases payable to affiliates		2,424	3,604
Current portion of program contracts payable		65,102	109,702
Deferred barter revenues		10,925	6,040
Total current liabilities		537,488	636,473
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		3,884,159	4,014,932
Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion		13,213	14,181
Program contracts payable, less current portion		42,072	53,836
Deferred tax liabilities		601,078	609,317
Other long-term liabilities		86,554	76,493
Total liabilities	[1]	5,164,564	5,405,232
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 4)
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital		1,346,657	843,691
Accumulated deficit		(188,701)	(255,804)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(807)	(807)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		1,158,176	587,983
Noncontrolling interests		(33,204)	(30,047)
Total equity		1,124,972	557,936
Total liabilities and equity		6,289,536	5,963,168
Assets of variable interest entities		134,700	142,300
Liabilities of variable interest entities		29,400	40,900
Class A Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Stock		770	646
Class B Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Stock		$ 257	$ 257

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $134.7 million and $142.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $29.4 million and $40.9 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.