CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 430,454	$ 160,577	$ 237,475
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(81,458)	(43,388)	(43,986)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations, net of cash acquired	(1,485,039)	(1,006,144)	(1,135,348)
Proceeds from sale of broadcast assets	176,675	49,738
Payments for acquisitions in other operating divisions		(4,650)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(27,701)	(23,721)	(12,454)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	11,616	(11,522)	58,501
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(8,104)	(10,767)	(24,052)
Investment in marketable securities		(11,604)
Proceeds from insurance settlement	(17,042)
Other, net	(387)	10,817
Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities	(1,397,356)	(1,051,241)	(1,149,284)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,500,720	2,278,293	1,247,255
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(582,764)	(1,509,760)	(179,356)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(133,157)
Proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock		472,913
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B common stock	(61,103)	(56,767)	(123,852)
Payments for deferred financing costs	(16,590)	(27,724)	(18,707)
Noncontrolling interests (contributions) distributions	(8,184)	(10,256)	(1,142)
Other, net	5,558	1,204
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	704,480	1,147,903	921,707
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(262,422)	257,239	9,898
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	280,104	22,865	12,967
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	17,682	280,104	22,865
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(26,528)	(37,107)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Other, net	1,000	1,648
Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities	1,000	1,648
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(556)	(482)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(133,157)
Proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock		472,913
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B common stock	(61,103)	(56,767)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	218,081	(371,331)
Other, net	2,263	(8,874)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	25,528	35,459
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(147,940)	(264,925)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(8,864)	(2,700)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	11,525	(11,522)
Proceeds from insurance settlement	(17,042)
Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities	19,703	(14,222)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,466,500	2,189,753
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(574,584)	(1,473,898)
Payments for deferred financing costs	(16,590)	(27,724)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(981,669)	(178,240)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	(106,343)	509,891
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(234,580)	230,744
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	237,974	7,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	3,394	237,974
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	628,103	444,680
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(71,152)	(35,659)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations, net of cash acquired	(1,485,039)	(998,664)
Proceeds from sale of broadcast assets	176,675	71,738
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	91
Other, net	392	50
Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities	(1,379,033)	(962,535)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	507
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(1,028)	(1,069)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	725,678	548,139
Other, net	(1,072)	(820)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	724,085	546,250
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(26,845)	28,395
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	28,594	199
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	1,749	28,594
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(35,694)	(40,414)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(2,722)	(5,029)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations, net of cash acquired		(50,480)
Proceeds from sale of broadcast assets		21,000
Payments for acquisitions in other operating divisions		(4,650)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(27,701)	(23,721)
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(8,104)	(10,767)
Investment in marketable securities		(696)
Other, net	(1,779)	9,119
Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities	(40,306)	(65,224)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	33,713	88,540
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(6,596)	(34,311)
Noncontrolling interests (contributions) distributions	(8,184)	(10,256)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	51,703	59,765
Other, net	4,367
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	75,003	103,738
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(997)	(1,900)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	13,536	15,436
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	12,539	13,536
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	12,513	58,343
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	1,280
Payments for acquisitions of television stations, net of cash acquired		43,000
Proceeds from sale of broadcast assets		(43,000)
Investment in marketable securities		(10,908)
Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities	1,280	(10,908)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(13,793)	(58,333)
Other, net		10,898
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	$ (13,793)	$ (47,435)