CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
REVENUES:
Media revenues	$ 4,046	$ 2,919	$ 2,567
Non-media revenues	194	136	69
Total revenues	4,240	3,055	2,636
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media programming and production expenses	2,073	1,191	1,064
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	732	630	534
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	90	101	116
Non-media expenses	156	122	75
Depreciation of property and equipment	97	105	97
Corporate general and administrative expenses	387	111	113
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	327	175	179
Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment	(92)	(40)	(279)
Total operating expenses	3,770	2,395	1,899
Operating income	470	660	737
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(422)	(292)	(212)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	(10)	0	(1)
Loss from equity method investments	(35)	(61)	(14)
Other income, net	6	3	9
Total other expense, net	(461)	(350)	(218)
Income before income taxes	9	310	519
INCOME TAX BENEFIT	96	36	75
NET INCOME	105	346	594
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(48)	0	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(10)	(5)	(18)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 47	$ 341	$ 576
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 3.38	$ 5.77
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 3.35	$ 5.72
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	92,015	100,913	99,844
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	93,185	101,718	100,789