SEGMENT DATA (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment data
Assets	[1]	$ 17,779		$ 17,779		$ 6,572
Revenue		1,125	$ 766	2,618	$ 2,162
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		120	70	252	206
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		22	24	68	76
Corporate general and administrative expenses		237	34	317	89
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		(35)	(11)	(57)	(37)
Operating income (loss)		(6)	158	193	397
Interest expense		129	76	237	238
Income (loss) from equity method investments		(12)	(14)	(38)	(44)
Local News
Segment data
Revenue		651	679	1,930	1,917
Sports
Segment data
Revenue		352	0	352	0
Other
Segment data
Revenue		122	87	336	245
Operating segments | Local News
Segment data
Assets		4,868		4,868
Revenue		651	679	1,930	1,917
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		60	62	182	184
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		22	24	68	76
Corporate general and administrative expenses		23	32	82	80
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		(28)	(11)	(51)	(97)
Operating income (loss)		146	170	376	487
Interest expense		1	2	4	4
Income (loss) from equity method investments		0	0	0	0
Operating segments | Sports
Segment data
Assets		11,815		11,815
Revenue		352	0	352	0
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		54	0	54	0
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
Corporate general and administrative expenses		92	0	92	0
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)		(47)	0	(47)	0
Interest expense		73	0	73	0
Income (loss) from equity method investments		1	0	1	0
Operating segments | Other
Segment data
Assets		706		706
Revenue		122	87	336	245
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		6	8	16	22
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
Corporate general and administrative expenses		0	0	1	1
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		0	0	1	60
Operating income (loss)		9	(9)	(1)	(82)
Interest expense		0	0	1	1
Income (loss) from equity method investments		(13)	(14)	(39)	(45)
Corporate
Segment data
Assets		390		390
Revenue		0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		0	0	0	0
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
Corporate general and administrative expenses		122	2	142	8
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		(7)	0	(7)	0
Operating income (loss)		(114)	(3)	(135)	(8)
Interest expense		55	74	159	233
Income (loss) from equity method investments		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	1
Spectrum Auction
Segment data
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment					(83)
Consolidated Real Estate Development Project
Segment data
Asset impairment charges					$ 60

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $299 million and $128 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs.  Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total liabilities of VIEs of $26 million and $22 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us.  See Note 9. Variable Interest Entities.