EARNINGS PER SHARE - Schedule of Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Income (Numerator)
Net income	$ 193	$ 2,616
Net loss (income) attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	4	(4)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(12)	(25)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	185	2,587
Numerator for diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders	$ 185	$ 2,587
Shares (Denominator)
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	69,744	72,164
Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options (in shares)	120	12
Diluted weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	69,864	72,176
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation
Weighted-average stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options excluded (in shares)	3,645	2,545