CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 1,125	$ 766	$ 2,618	$ 2,162
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media programming and production expenses	560	304	1,215	894
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	185	155	510	452
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	22	24	68	76
Non-media expenses	42	32	120	85
Depreciation of property and equipment	24	25	69	75
Corporate general and administrative expenses	237	34	317	89
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	96	45	183	131
Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment	(35)	(11)	(57)	(37)
Total operating expenses	1,131	608	2,425	1,765
Operating (loss) income	(6)	158	193	397
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(129)	(76)	(237)	(238)
Loss from equity method investments	(12)	(14)	(38)	(44)
Other income (expense), net	3	(6)	12	2
Total other expense, net	(138)	(96)	(263)	(280)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(144)	62	(70)	117
INCOME TAX BENEFIT	95	3	88	21
NET (LOSS) INCOME	(49)	65	18	138
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(11)	0	(11)	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	(1)	(3)	(3)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ (60)	$ 64	$ 4	$ 135
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	$ (0.65)	$ 0.63	$ 0.05	$ 1.32
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ (0.64)	$ 0.62	$ 0.05	$ 1.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding (shares)	92,086	102,083	92,050	102,069
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (shares)	93,435	102,789	93,271	102,898
Media revenues
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 1,070	$ 730	$ 2,465	$ 2,070
Non-media revenues
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 55	$ 36	$ 153	$ 92