CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 623	$ 884
Accounts receivable, net		603	612
Other current assets		221	187
Total current assets		1,447	1,683
Property and equipment, net		725	728
Investment in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		2,082	2,088
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		150	150
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		904	946
Other long-term assets		1,128	1,109
Total assets	[1]	6,436	6,704
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		402	397
Current portion of long-term debt		37	38
Other current liabilities		166	173
Total current liabilities		605	608
Long-term debt		4,221	4,227
Other long-term liabilities		779	994
Total liabilities	[1]	5,605	5,829
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	194
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		890	748
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		(59)	(67)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		6,436	6,704
Reportable Legal Entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		48	47
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		26	32
Total current assets		74	79
Property and equipment, net		0	0
Investment in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		1,091	962
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		0	0
Other long-term assets		536	542
Total assets		1,701	1,583
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		0	0
Current portion of long-term debt		0	0
Other current liabilities		3	4
Total current liabilities		3	4
Long-term debt		0	0
Other long-term liabilities		808	831
Total liabilities		811	835
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		890	748
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		1,701	1,583
Reportable Legal Entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		461	750
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		57	42
Total current assets		518	792
Property and equipment, net		30	31
Investment in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		3,492	3,463
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		0	0
Other long-term assets		944	938
Total assets		4,984	5,224
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		70	80
Current portion of long-term debt		28	28
Other current liabilities		11	8
Total current liabilities		109	116
Long-term debt		4,176	4,181
Other long-term liabilities		54	52
Total liabilities		4,339	4,349
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		645	875
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		4,984	5,224
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		1	1
Accounts receivable, net		581	555
Other current assets		165	159
Total current assets		747	715
Property and equipment, net		666	668
Investment in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		2,081	2,081
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		136	136
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		894	935
Other long-term assets		550	512
Total assets		5,074	5,047
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		315	300
Current portion of long-term debt		6	6
Other current liabilities		123	139
Total current liabilities		444	445
Long-term debt		23	24
Other long-term liabilities		1,116	1,120
Total liabilities		1,583	1,589
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		3,491	3,458
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		5,074	5,047
Reportable Legal Entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		113	86
Accounts receivable, net		22	57
Other current assets		25	19
Total current assets		160	162
Property and equipment, net		50	51
Investment in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		1	7
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		14	14
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		38	42
Other long-term assets		736	573
Total assets		999	849
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		18	18
Current portion of long-term debt		4	5
Other current liabilities		79	87
Total current liabilities		101	110
Long-term debt		389	387
Other long-term liabilities		305	314
Total liabilities		795	811
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			194
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		267	(86)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		(63)	(70)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		999	849
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		(52)	(65)
Total current assets		(52)	(65)
Property and equipment, net		(21)	(22)
Investment in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		(4,583)	(4,425)
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		(28)	(31)
Other long-term assets		(1,638)	(1,456)
Total assets		(6,322)	(5,999)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(1)	(1)
Current portion of long-term debt		(1)	(1)
Other current liabilities		(50)	(65)
Total current liabilities		(52)	(67)
Long-term debt		(367)	(365)
Other long-term liabilities		(1,504)	(1,323)
Total liabilities		(1,923)	(1,755)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		(4,403)	(4,247)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		4	3
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		$ (6,322)	$ (5,999)

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 include total assets of variable interest entities ("VIE") of $83 million and $115 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 include total liabilities of VIEs of $17 million and $18 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 8. Variable Interest Entities.