Sinclair Broadcast (SBGI) 10-Q 8 Nov 16 2016 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Nov. 04, 2016
Entity Listings
Entity Registrant Name	SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	912,752
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Class A Common Stock
Entity Listings
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (shares)		64,706,034
Class B Common Stock
Entity Listings
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (shares)		25,928,357

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 104,545	$ 149,972
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,838 and $4,495, respectively		519,662	424,608
Current portion of program contract costs		110,228	91,466
Income taxes receivable		9,234	823
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		37,909	26,903
Deferred barter costs		8,512	7,991
Total current assets		790,090	701,763
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion		12,245	18,996
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net		713,088	717,137
RESTRICTED CASH		0	3,725
GOODWILL		1,989,578	1,931,093
INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS		153,125	132,465
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net		1,983,326	1,751,570
OTHER ASSETS		224,736	175,566
Total assets	[1]	5,866,188	5,432,315
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		291,213	251,313
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing		165,238	164,184
Current portion of notes and capital leases payable to affiliates		3,599	3,166
Current portion of program contracts payable		131,553	108,260
Deferred barter revenues		8,142	8,080
Total current liabilities		599,745	535,003
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		4,022,437	3,669,160
Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion		15,036	17,850
Program contracts payable, less current portion		57,724	56,921
Deferred tax liabilities		612,961	585,072
Other long-term liabilities		71,619	68,631
Total liabilities	[1]	5,379,522	4,932,637
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 4)
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Additional paid-in capital		876,895	962,726
Accumulated deficit		(360,459)	(437,029)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(834)	(834)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		516,516	525,810
Noncontrolling interests		(29,850)	(26,132)
Total equity		486,666	499,678
Total liabilities and equity		5,866,188	5,432,315
Assets of variable interest entities		151,100	152,400
Liabilities of variable interest entities		41,100	35,600
Class A Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Stock		655	688
Class B Common Stock
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Stock		$ 259	$ 259
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $151.1 million and $152.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $41.1 million and $35.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 2,838	$ 4,495
Class A Common Stock
Common Stock, par value (USD per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized (shares)	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (shares)	65,546,601	68,792,483
Common Stock, shares outstanding (shares)	65,546,601	68,792,483
Class B Common Stock
Common Stock, par value (USD per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized (shares)	140,000,000	140,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (shares)	25,928,357	25,928,357
Common Stock, shares outstanding (shares)	25,928,357	25,928,357

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
REVENUES:
Media revenues	$ 635,269	$ 498,167	$ 1,772,860	$ 1,466,088
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements	32,061	28,618	92,574	79,950
Other non-media revenues	26,505	21,619	73,824	61,308
Total revenues	693,835	548,404	1,939,258	1,607,346
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media production expenses	242,880	187,173	702,377	540,554
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	126,672	105,622	370,169	311,088
Expenses realized from barter arrangements	27,181	23,105	79,365	66,898
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	32,441	29,841	96,722	90,014
Other non-media expenses	20,488	16,555	57,946	46,988
Depreciation of property and equipment	25,886	25,476	74,330	75,938
Corporate general and administrative expenses	19,052	16,464	54,672	46,685
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	47,807	40,014	137,197	119,439
Research and development expenses	745	4,803	3,055	11,555
Gain on asset dispositions	(3,311)	(255)	(5,982)	(306)
Total operating expenses	539,841	448,798	1,569,851	1,308,853
Operating income	153,994	99,606	369,407	298,493
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(53,488)	(48,566)	(156,819)	(142,878)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	(23,699)	0	(23,699)	0
Income from equity investments	1,423	252	2,789	5,405
Other income (expense)	789	(48)	2,355	1,220
Total other expense, net	(74,975)	(48,362)	(175,374)	(136,253)
Income before income taxes	79,019	51,244	194,033	162,240
INCOME TAX PROVISION	(26,986)	(7,210)	(65,771)	(46,971)
NET INCOME	52,033	44,034	128,262	115,269
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,188)	(779)	(3,858)	(1,945)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 50,845	$ 43,255	$ 124,404	$ 113,324
Dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.165	$ 0.525	$ 0.345
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	0.54	0.46	1.32	1.19
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.54	$ 0.45	$ 1.30	$ 1.18
Weighted average common shares outstanding (shares)	93,948	95,002	94,595	95,146
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (shares)	94,766	95,692	95,465	95,837

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 52,033	$ 44,034	$ 128,262	$ 115,269
Amortization of net periodic pension benefit costs, net of taxes	0	10	0	178
Comprehensive income	52,033	44,044	128,262	115,447
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,188)	(779)	(3,858)	(1,945)
Comprehensive income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ 50,845	$ 43,265	$ 124,404	$ 113,502

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUIT

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interests	Class A Common Stock	Class A Common StockCommon Stock	Class B Common Stock	Class B Common StockCommon Stock
BALANCE (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014							69,578,899		25,928,357
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 405,343	$ 979,202	$ (545,820)	$ (6,455)	$ (22,539)		$ 696		$ 259
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(47,104)		(47,104)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock (shares)							(1,107,887)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(28,823)	(28,812)					$ (11)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (shares)							291,911
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	10,619	10,616					$ 3
Tax benefit on share based awards	703	703
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(6,655)				(6,655)
Other comprehensive income	178			178
Issuance of subsidiary stock awards	1,731				1,731
Net income	115,269		113,324		1,945
BALANCE (shares) at Sep. 30, 2015							68,762,923		25,928,357
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2015	451,261	961,709	(479,600)	(6,277)	(25,518)		$ 688		$ 259
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard (see Note 1)	2,264	431	1,833
BALANCE (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015						68,792,483	68,792,483	25,928,357	25,928,357
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2015	499,678	962,726	(437,029)	(834)	(26,132)		$ 688		$ 259
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(49,667)		(49,667)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock (shares)						(3,600,000)	(3,610,201)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(101,164)	(101,127)				$ (101,200)	$ (37)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (shares)							364,319
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	14,869	14,865	0				$ 4
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(8,363)				(8,363)
Issuance of subsidiary stock awards	787				787
Net income	128,262		124,404		3,858
BALANCE (shares) at Sep. 30, 2016						65,546,601	65,546,601	25,928,357	25,928,357
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 486,666	$ 876,895	$ (360,459)	$ (834)	$ (29,850)		$ 655		$ 259

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 128,262	$ 115,269
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment	74,330	75,938
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	137,197	119,439
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	96,722	90,014
Loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash portion	3,875	0
Stock-based compensation expense	13,470	14,778
Deferred tax benefit	6,631	(19,623)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	(77,118)	563
Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,344)	(11,643)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	36,286	8,128
Net change in net income taxes payable/receivable	(8,411)	5,623
Payments on program contracts payable	(84,625)	(82,594)
Other, net	7,985	(2,171)
Net cash flows from operating activities	330,260	313,721
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(68,601)	(72,476)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(425,856)	(15,514)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(29,143)	(31,340)
Proceeds from sale of assets	16,396	23,650
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(34,224)	(43,068)
Loans to affiliates	(19,500)	0
Other, net	3,401	11,215
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(557,527)	(127,533)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	1,011,312	379,481
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(653,987)	(375,104)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(49,667)	(47,104)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(101,164)	(28,823)
Payments for deferred financing cost	(15,598)	(3,847)
Other, net	(9,056)	(9,084)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	181,840	(84,481)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(45,427)	101,707
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	149,972	17,682
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 104,545	$ 119,389

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMAR

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: Nature of Operations Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is a diversified television broadcasting company with national reach with a strong focus on providing high-quality content on our local television stations and digital platforms. The content, distributed through our broadcast platform, consists of programming provided by third-party networks and syndicators, local news, and other original programming produced by us. We also distribute our original programming, and owned and operated network affiliates, on other third-party platforms. Additionally, we own digital media products that are complementary to our extensive portfolio of television station related digital properties. Outside of our media related businesses, we operate technical services companies focused on supply and maintenance of broadcast transmission systems as well as research and development for the advancement of broadcast technology, and we manage other non-media related investments. As of September 30, 2016 , our broadcast distribution platform is a single reportable segment for accounting purposes. It consists primarily of our broadcast television stations, which we own, provide programming and operating services pursuant to agreements commonly referred to as local marketing agreements (LMAs), or provide sales services and other non-programming operating services pursuant to other outsourcing agreements (such as joint sales agreements (JSAs) and shared services agreements (SSAs)) to 173 stations in 81 markets. These stations broadcast 482 channels, as of September 30, 2016 . For the purpose of this report, these 173 stations and 482 channels are referred to as “our” stations and channels. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) for which we are the primary beneficiary. Noncontrolling interest represents a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities. All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Interim Financial Statements The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, such financial statements have been presented on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of equity (deficit) and consolidated statements of cash flows for these periods as adjusted for the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below. As permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures normally included with audited consolidated financial statements and, accordingly, should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC. The consolidated statements of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily representative of operations for an entire year. Variable Interest Entities In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE. We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary. Third-party station licensees. Certain of our stations provide services to other station owners within the same respective market through agreements, such as LMAs, where we provide programming, sales, operational and administrative services, and JSAs and SSAs, where we provide non-programming, sales, operational and administrative services. In certain cases, we have also entered into purchase agreements or options to purchase the license related assets of the licensee. We typically own the majority of the non-license assets of the stations, and in some cases where the licensee acquired the license assets concurrent with our acquisition of the non-license assets of the station, we have provided guarantees to the bank for the licensee’s acquisition financing. The terms of the agreements vary, but generally have initial terms of over five years with several optional renewal terms. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively, we have concluded that 37 of these licensees are VIEs. Based on the terms of the agreements and the significance of our investment in the stations, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because, subject to the ultimate control of the licensees, we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE through the services we provide and because we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs. Several of these VIEs are owned by a related party, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham). See Note 7. Related Person Transactions for more information about the arrangements with Cunningham. The net revenues of the stations which we consolidate were $79.1 million and $227.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , and $71 million and $207.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 , respectively. The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation. See Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership, Joint Sales Agreements, Retransmission Consent Negotiations, and National Ownership Cap within Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies for discussion of recent changes in FCC rules related to JSAs. As of the dates indicated, the carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above which have been included in our consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented (in thousands): September 30, December 31, ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 490 $ 490 Accounts receivable 24,945 21,719 Current portion of program contract costs 14,895 13,287 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 318 331 Total current assets 40,648 35,827 PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion 3,078 4,541 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net 3,301 7,609 GOODWILL 791 787 INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS 15,684 17,599 DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net 80,693 79,086 OTHER ASSETS 6,924 6,924 Total assets $ 151,119 $ 152,373 LIABILITIES CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,112 $ 1,240 Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing 3,710 3,687 Current portion of program contracts payable 16,573 12,627 Total current liabilities 21,395 17,554 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion 21,944 24,594 Program contracts payable, less current portion 14,036 13,679 Other long-term liabilities 9,364 8,067 Total liabilities $ 66,739 $ 63,894 The amounts above represent the consolidated assets and liabilities of the VIEs described above, for which we are the primary beneficiary, and have been aggregated as they all relate to our broadcast business. Excluded from the amounts above are payments made to Cunningham under the LMAs and certain JSAs which are treated as a prepayment of the purchase price of the stations and capital leases between us and Cunningham which are eliminated in consolidation. The total payments made under these LMAs and certain JSAs as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , which are excluded from liabilities above, were $40.0 million and $37.6 million , respectively. The total capital lease liabilities, net of capital lease assets, excluded from the above were $4.5 million for both September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . Also excluded from the amounts above are liabilities associated with certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs totaling $77.8 million and $72.5 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively, as these amounts are eliminated in consolidation. The assets of each of these consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE. All the liabilities are non-recourse to us except for certain debt of VIEs which we guarantee. The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar. Other investments. We have investments in real estate ventures and investment companies which are considered VIEs. However, we do not participate in the management of these entities including the day-to-day operating decisions or other decisions which would allow us to control the entity, and therefore, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. We account for these entities using the equity or cost method of accounting. The carrying amounts of our investments in these VIEs for which we are not the primary beneficiary as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are $119.9 million and $18.1 million , respectively, and are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The increase in 2016 was due to the adoption of the revised accounting guidance during the first quarter of 2016 related to consolidation as discussed under Recent Accounting Pronouncements below, which resulted in additional investments being considered VIEs. Our maximum exposure is equal to the carrying value of our investments. The income and loss related to these investments are recorded in income from equity and cost method investments in the consolidated statement of operations. We recorded income of $1.4 million and $2.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , and income of $0.7 million and $6.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 respectively. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and in the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance on revenue recognition for revenue from contracts with customers. This guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for the annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2017, however, early adoption is permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2014, the FASB issued guidance on disclosure of uncertainties about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The new standard is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. We will be adopting this guidance beginning December 31, 2016, which will involve adding policies and procedures around our assessments to continue as a going concern. In February 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends the current consolidation guidance on the determination of whether an entity is a variable interest entity. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. We adopted this revised guidance on a modified retrospective basis during the three months ended March 31, 2016. As disclosed under Other investments under Variable Interest Entities above, the adoption of the revised guidance resulted in additional investments in real estate ventures and investment companies being considered VIEs, however, we concluded that we were not the primary beneficiary of these investments. The revised guidance did not have any other impact on our consolidation conclusions. In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to accounting for leases, which requires the assets and liabilities that arise from leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. Currently only capital leases are recorded on the balance sheet. This update will require the lessee to recognize a lease liability equal to the present value of the lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term for all leases longer than 12 months. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and liabilities and recognize the lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. This new guidance will be effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income tax effects, forfeitures, the impact of employee income tax withholdings and classification of certain related items in the statement of cash flows. We early adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2016, which did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The adoption of the various changes in the guidance were applied as required by the guidance either on the prospective, modified retrospective, or full retrospective basis. As shown in the consolidated statement of stockholders' equity, upon adoption, we recorded a $0.4 million increase to additional paid in capital and a $1.8 million decrease in accumulated deficit, net of taxes, to record the cumulative effect of changing the classification of certain liability awards to equity classification. Additionally, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we reclassified $2.2 million from net cash flows from operating activities to net cash flows from financing activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows related to cash payments made to taxing authorities on certain employees' behalf for shares withheld. In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. The new standard, which includes eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice as to how cash receipts and cash payments are represented in the statement of cash flow. The new standard is effective for fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017, including the interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. Revenue Recognition Total revenues include: (i) cash and barter advertising revenues, net of agency commissions; (ii) retransmission consent fees; (iii) network compensation; (iv) other media revenues and (v) revenues from our other businesses. Advertising revenues, net of agency commissions, are recognized in the period during which advertisements are placed. Some of our retransmission consent agreements contain both advertising and retransmission consent elements. We have determined that these retransmission consent agreements are revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. Advertising and retransmission consent deliverables sold under our agreements are separated into different units of accounting at fair value. Revenue applicable to the advertising element of the arrangement is recognized similar to the advertising revenue policy noted above. Revenue applicable to the retransmission consent element of the arrangement is recognized over the life of the agreement. Network compensation revenue is recognized over the term of the contract. All other significant revenues are recognized as services are provided. Income Taxes Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes. The tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is based on the estimated effective tax rate applicable for the full year after taking into account discrete tax items and the effects of the noncontrolling interests. We provide a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if we determine that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating our ability to realize net deferred tax assets, we consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, including our past operating results, tax planning strategies and forecasts of future taxable income. In considering these sources of taxable income, we must make certain judgments that are based on the plans and estimates used to manage our underlying businesses on a long-term basis. A valuation allowance has been provided for deferred tax assets related to a substantial portion of our available state net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards, based on past operating results, expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary book/tax basis differences, alternative tax strategies and projected future taxable income. Our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 approximated the statutory rate. Our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to 1) a reduction in liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $5.7 million , in the third quarter of 2015, as a result of statute of limitations expiration and 2) a $3.3 million adjustment to the income tax provision upon finalization of the 2014 federal income tax return, primarily related to greater than originally projected available income tax deductions and credits. Share Repurchase Program On March 20, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized a $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. On September 6, 2016 the Board of Directors authorized an additional $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program. For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , we purchased approximately 3.2 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $90.0 million . For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we purchased approximately 3.6 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $101.2 million . As of September 30, 2016 , the total remaining authorization was $154.3 million . In October and November 2016, we repurchased an additional 1.1 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $31.1 million . Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years' consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year's presentation.

ACQUISITIONS

ACQUISITIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS	ACQUISITIONS: Tennis Channel. In March 2016, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Tennis Channel (Tennis), a cable network which includes coverage of the top 100 tennis tournaments and original professional sport and tennis lifestyle shows, for $350.0 million plus a working capital adjustment of $9.2 million . This was funded through cash on hand and a draw on the Bank Credit Agreement. The acquisition provides an expansion of our network business and increases value based on the synergies we can achieve. Tennis is reported within Other within Note 6. Segment Data . The following table summarizes the allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities (in thousands): Cash $ 5,111 Accounts receivable 17,629 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 6,518 Property and equipment 5,964 Definite-lived intangible assets 272,686 Indefinite-lived intangible assets 23,400 Other assets 619 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (7,414 ) Capital leases (115 ) Deferred tax liability (20,056 ) Other long term liabilities (1,669 ) Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired 302,673 Goodwill 56,492 Total $ 359,165 The preliminary allocation presented above is based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. In estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair value estimates are based on, but not limited to, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates, and estimated discount rates. The purchase price has been allocated to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities based on estimated fair values. The allocation is preliminary pending a final determination of the fair values of the assets and liabilities. During the three months ended September 30, 2016 , we made certain measurement period adjustments to the initial purchase accounting: an increase to definite-lived intangible assets of $45.6 million , a decrease to indefinite-lived intangible assets of $1.5 million , a decrease to deferred taxes assets of $16.1 million resulting in a net deferred tax liability, a decrease to goodwill of $25.3 million , and an increase to amortization of $1.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2016 . Indefinite-lived intangible assets are comprised of trade names. Customer relationships, which represent existing advertiser relationships and contractual relationships with MVPDs, will be amortized over the estimated remaining useful lives of 10 to 15 years. Acquired property and equipment will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over the respective estimated remaining useful lives. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and noncontractual relationships, as well as expected future synergies. Goodwill will no t be deductible for tax purposes. Other intangible assets will be amortized over the respective weighted average useful lives ranging from 1 to 3 years. The following table summarizes the amounts allocated to definite-lived intangible assets representing the estimated fair values (in thousands): Customer relationships $ 269,300 Other intangible assets 3,386 Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired $ 272,686 In connection with the acquisitions, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we incurred a total of $0.2 million of costs primarily related to legal and other professional services which we expensed as incurred and classified as corporate general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , net revenues and operating income of Tennis were $27.4 million and $1.3 million , respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , net revenues and an operating loss of Tennis were $62.5 million and $9.6 million , respectively. Pro Forma Information The following table sets forth unaudited results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 assuming that Tennis, along with transactions necessary to finance the acquisition, occurred at the beginning of the year preceding the year of acquisition. The pro forma results exclude the acquisition of television station acquisitions discussed below, as they were deemed not material both individually and in the aggregate (in thousands, except per share data): Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Total revenues $ 693,835 $ 571,437 $ 1,953,750 $ 1,678,800 Net Income $ 79,019 $ 40,911 $ 127,222 $ 107,312 Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 50,845 $ 40,132 $ 123,364 $ 105,367 Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 0.54 $ 0.42 $ 1.30 $ 1.11 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 0.54 $ 0.42 $ 1.29 $ 1.10 This pro forma financial information is based on historical results of operations, adjusted for the allocation of the purchase price and other acquisition accounting adjustments, and is not indicative of what our results would have been had we operated Tennis since the beginning of the annual period presented because the pro forma results do not reflect expected synergies. The pro forma adjustments reflect depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets related to the fair value adjustments of the assets acquired, additional interest expense related to the financing of the transactions, and exclusion of nonrecurring financing and transaction related costs. Depreciation and amortization expense are higher than amounts recorded in the historical financial statements of the acquirees due to the fair value adjustments recorded for long-lived tangible and intangible assets in purchase accounting. Television Station Acquisitions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we acquired certain television station related assets for an aggregate purchase price of $72.0 million less working capital of $0.2 million . In conjunction with the acquisition of certain television stations, we simultaneously sold broadcast assets of certain stations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we recognized a gain on sale of those broadcast assets of $1.8 million and $2.6 million , respectively.

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BA

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING	NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING: 5.125% Senior Notes, due 2027 On August 30, 2016, we issued $400.0 million of senior unsecured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 5.125% per annum and mature on February 15, 2027 (the 5.125% Notes), pursuant to an indenture dated August 30, 2016 (the 5.125% Indenture). The 5.125% Notes were priced at 100% of their par value and interest is payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15, commencing on February15, 2017. Prior to August 15, 2021, we may redeem the 5.125% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 5.125% Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, plus a “make-whole” premium as set forth in the 5.125% Indenture. In addition, on or prior to August 15, 2019, we may redeem up to 35% of the 5.125% Notes, using proceeds of certain equity offerings. If we sell certain of our assets or experience specific kinds of changes of control, the holders of the 5.125% Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the notes. There are no registration rights associated with the 5.125% Notes. The net proceeds of the 5.125% Notes were used to redeem $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of STG's 6.375% senior unsecured notes due 2021 (the 6.375% Notes) and for general corporate purposes. The redemption price, including the outstanding principal amount of the 6.375% Notes, accrued and unpaid interest, and a make-whole premium, totaled $377.2 million . We recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $23.7 million related to this redemption. We incurred $6.6 million of deferred financing costs in connection with the issuance of the 5.125% Notes as of September 30, 2016 . 5.875% Senior Notes, due 2026 On March 23, 2016, we issued $350.0 million of senior unsecured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum and mature on March 15, 2026 (the 5.875% Notes), pursuant to an indenture dated March 23, 2016 (the 5.875% Indenture). The 5.875% Notes were priced at 100% of their par value and interest is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 2016. Prior to March 15, 2021, we may redeem the 5.875% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 5.875% Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, plus a “make-whole” premium as set forth in the 5.875% Indenture. In addition, on or prior to March 15, 2019, we may redeem up to 35% of the 5.875% Notes, using proceeds of certain equity offerings. If we sell certain of our assets or experience specific kinds of changes of control, the holders of the 5.875% Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the notes. There are no registration rights associated with the 5.875% Notes. The proceeds from the offering of the 5.875% Notes, were used to repay amounts under our revolving credit facility and for other general corporate purposes. We incurred $5.9 million of deferred financing costs in connection with the issuance of the 5.875% Notes. As discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions , we completed the acquisition of Tennis in March 2016. The acquisition was funded, in part, by a draw on our revolving line of credit which was repaid using the proceeds from the 5.875% Notes discussed above. Bank Credit Agreement On July 19, 2016, we entered into an amendment and extension of our bank credit agreement. Pursuant to the amendment, the maturity date applicable to $485.2 million in revolving commitments and $139.5 million of term loan A loans were extended to July 31, 2021. The remaining $153.5 million of outstanding term loan A loans will mature April 9, 2018. In connection with the transaction, we also amended certain pricing terms related to the loans. We incurred approximately $2.6 million of financing costs in connection with the amendment, of which $0.3 million was expensed and the remaining $2.3 million was capitalized as deferred financing cost as of September 30, 2016 . As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , there was no outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2016 , we had $483.3 million borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: Litigation We are a party to lawsuits and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Actions currently pending are in various stages and no material judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions. After reviewing developments to date with legal counsel, our management is of the opinion that none of our pending and threatened matters are material. The FCC has undertaken an investigation in response to a complaint it received alleging possible violations of the FCC’s sponsorship identification rules by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. We cannot predict the outcome of any potential FCC action related to this matter but it is possible that such action could include fines and/or compliance programs. Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership, Joint Sales Agreements, Retransmission Consent Negotiations, and National Ownership Cap In March, 2014, the FCC issued a public notice indicating that it will closely scrutinize any broadcast assignment or transfer application proposing sharing arrangements (such as JSAs, LMAs and other shared services agreements) and contingent interests (such as options). We cannot now predict what actions the FCC may require in connection with the processing of applications for FCC consent to future transactions. In addition, in August, 2016, the FCC completed both its 2010 and 2014 quadrennial reviews of its media ownership rules and issued an order which left most of the existing multiple ownership rules intact, but amended the rules to provide that, for JSAs where two television stations are located in the same market, and a party with an attributable interest in one station sells more than 15% of the ad time per week of the other station, the party selling such ad time shall be treated as if it had an attributable ownership interest in the second station. The order provides that JSAs that existed prior to March 31, 2014, may remain in place until October 1, 2025, at which point they must be terminated, amended or otherwise come into compliance with the rules. In addition, these "grandfathered" JSAs may be transferred or assigned without losing grandfathering status. These new rules could limit our future ability to create duopolies or other two station operations in certain markets. The revenues of these JSA arrangements we earned were $16.0 million and $11.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 and $42.5 million and $34.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. In February 2015, the FCC issued an order implementing certain statutorily required changes to its rules governing the duty to negotiate retransmission consent agreements in good faith. With these changes, a television broadcast station is prohibited from negotiating retransmission consent jointly with another television station in the same market unless the “stations are directly or indirectly under common de jure control permitted under the regulations of the Commission.” During a 2015 retransmission consent negotiation, an MVPD filed a complaint with the FCC accusing us of violating this rule. Although we reached agreement with the MVPD and they withdrew their complaint, the FCC undertook its own internal investigation regarding the allegations made by the MVPD and whether we negotiated in good faith as defined by the rules. In order to resolve the issues raised by the investigation described above and all other pending matters before the FCC's Media Bureau (Bureau), the Company, on July 29, 2016, without any admission of liability, entered into a consent decree with the FCC pursuant to which the Bureau agreed (i) to terminate their investigation regarding the retransmission consent negotiations described above as well as any other investigations pending before the Bureau, (ii) to dismiss with prejudice or deny any outstanding adversarial pleadings against the Company pending before the Bureau, (iii) to cancel outstanding forfeiture orders issued by the Bureau relating to the Company, and (iv) to grant all of the Company’s pending license renewals, subject to a payment by the Company to the United States Treasury in the amount of $9.5 million which was paid in September 2016. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the consent decree, the Company agreed to be subject to ongoing compliance monitoring by the FCC for a period of 36 months . Further, in September 2015, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a Congressional directive in STELAR to examine the “totality of the circumstances test” for good-faith negotiations of retransmission consent. The proposed rulemaking seeks comment on new factors and evidence to consider in its evaluation of claims of bad faith negotiation, including service interruptions prior to a “marquee sports or entertainment event,” restrictions on online access to broadcast programming during negotiation impasses, broadcasters’ ability to offer bundles of broadcast signals with other broadcast stations or cable networks, and broadcasters’ ability to invoke the FCC’s exclusivity rules during service interruptions. On July 14, 2016, the FCC’s Chairman announced that the FCC would not, at this time, proceed to adopt additional rules governing good faith negotiations of retransmission consent. No formal action has yet been taken on this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and we cannot predict if the full Commission will agree to terminate the Rulemaking without action. On September 6, 2016, the FCC released an order eliminating the UHF discount. The UHF discount allowed television station owners to discount the coverage of UHF stations when calculating compliance with the FCC’s national ownership cap, which prohibits a single entity from owning television stations that reach, in total, more than 39% of all the television households in the nation. All but 28 of the stations we own and operate, or to which we provide programming services are UHF. As a result of the elimination of the UHF discount, counting all our present stations and pending transactions, we reach over 37% of U.S. households. The changes to the national ownership cap could limit our future ability to make television station acquisitions.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
EARNINGS PER SHARE	EARNINGS PER SHARE: The following table reconciles income (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in our computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods presented (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2016 2015 2016 2015 Income (Numerator) Net Income $ 52,033 $ 44,034 $ 128,262 $ 115,269 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (1,188 ) (779 ) (3,858 ) (1,945 ) Numerator for diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders $ 50,845 $ 43,255 $ 124,404 $ 113,324 Shares (Denominator) Weighted-average common shares outstanding 93,948 95,002 94,595 95,146 Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options 818 690 870 691 Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 94,766 95,692 95,465 95,837 There were 525,000 shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , and 200,000 shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 which had an anti-dilutive effect on the equivalent shares outstanding and therefore excluded from the diluted effect above.

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS	RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS: Transactions with our controlling shareholders David, Frederick, J. Duncan and Robert Smith (collectively, the controlling shareholders) are brothers and hold substantially all of the Class B Common Stock and some of our Class A Common Stock. We engaged in the following transactions with them and/or entities in which they have substantial interests. Leases. Certain assets used by us and our operating subsidiaries are leased from Cunningham Communications Inc., Keyser Investment Group, Gerstell Development Limited Partnership and Beaver Dam, LLC (entities owned by the controlling shareholders). Lease payments made to these entities were $1.3 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , and $3.8 million and $3.9 million for nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. In September 2015, we were granted authority by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate an experimental facility in Washington D.C. and Baltimore markets to implement a Single Frequency Network (SFN) using the base elements of the new ATSC 3.0 transmission standard. In conjunction with this experimental facility, Cunningham Communications, Inc. provides tower space without charge. Charter Aircraft. We lease aircraft owned by certain controlling shareholders, including a new lease agreement as of February 2016 for the term of thirty months and will be renewed thereafter for successive terms of twelve months. For all leases, we incurred expenses of $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , and $1.0 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation Cunningham owns a portfolio of television stations including: WNUV-TV Baltimore, Maryland; WRGT-TV Dayton, Ohio; WVH-TV Charleston, West Virginia; WMYA-TV Anderson, South Carolina; WTTE-TV Columbus, Ohio; WDBB-TV Birmingham, Alabama; WBSF-TV Flint, Michigan; and WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV Traverse City/Cadillac, Michigan (collectively, the Cunningham Stations). Certain of our stations provide services to these Cunningham Stations pursuant to LMAs or JSAs and SSAs. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies , for further discussion of the scope of services provided under these types of arrangements. The estate of Carolyn C. Smith, the mother of our controlling shareholders, currently owns all of the voting stock of the Cunningham Stations. The sale of the voting stock by the estate to an unrelated party is pending approval of the FCC. All of the non-voting stock is owned by trusts for the benefit of the children of our controlling shareholders. We consolidate certain subsidiaries of Cunningham, with which we have variable interests through various arrangements related to the Cunningham Stations discussed further below. The services provided to WNUV-TV, WMYA-TV, WTTE-TV, WRGT-TV and WVAH-TV are governed by a master agreement which has a current term that expires on July 1, 2023 and there are two additional 5 - year renewal terms remaining with final expiration on July 1, 2033. We also executed purchase agreements to acquire the license related assets of these stations from Cunningham, which grant us the right to acquire, and grant Cunningham the right to require us to acquire, subject to applicable FCC rules and regulations, 100% of the capital stock or the assets of these individual subsidiaries of Cunningham. Our applications to acquire these license related assets are pending FCC approval. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement we are obligated to pay Cunningham an annual fee for the television stations equal to the greater of (i) 3% of each station’s annual net broadcast revenue and (ii) $4.7 million . The aggregate purchase price of these television stations increases by 6% annually. A portion of the fee is required to be applied to the purchase price to the extent of the 6% increase. The remaining aggregate purchase price of these stations as of September 30, 2016 was approximately $ 53.6 million . Additionally, we provide services to WDBB-TV pursuant to an LMA, which expires April 22, 2025. We paid Cunningham under these agreements, $2.1 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively and $6.6 million and $7.8 million for nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The agreements with WBSF-TV and WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV expire in November 2021 and August 2023, respectively, and each has renewal provisions for successive eight year periods. We earned $1.4 million and $1.5 million from the services we performed for these stations for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $3.9 million and $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As we consolidate the licensees as VIEs, the amounts we earn or pay under the arrangements are eliminated in consolidation and the gross revenues of the stations are reported within our consolidated statement of operations. Our consolidated revenues related to the Cunningham Stations include $29.4 million and $25.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $83.8 million and $74.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. During January 2016, Cunningham entered into a promissory note to borrow $19.5 million from us. The note bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.0% per annum (the 5.0% Notes), which is payable quarterly, commencing March 31, 2016. The note matures in January 2021, with additional one year renewal periods upon our approval. In April 2016, we entered into an agreement with Cunningham to provide master control equipment and provide master control services to a station in Johnstown, PA with which they have an LMA that expires in April 2019 , Cunningham will pay us an initial fee of $0.7 million and $0.2 million annually for master control services plus the cost to maintain and repair the equipment. Also, in August 2016, we entered into an agreement, expiring October 2021, with Cunningham to provide a news share service with their station in Johnstown, PA beginning in October 2016 for an annual fee of $1.0 million per year. Atlantic Automotive Corporation We sell advertising time to Atlantic Automotive Corporation (Atlantic Automotive), a holding company that owns automobile dealerships and an automobile leasing company. David D. Smith, our President and Chief Executive Officer, has a controlling interest in, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Atlantic Automotive. We received payments for advertising totaling $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , and $0.6 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. Additionally, Atlantic Automotive leases office space owned by one of our consolidated real estate ventures in Towson, Maryland. Atlantic Automotive paid $0.3 million in rent during both the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , and $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. Leased property by real estate ventures Certain of our real estate ventures have entered into leases with entities owned by David Smith to lease restaurant space. There are leases for three restaurants in a building owned by one of our consolidated real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD. Total rent received under these leases was $0.2 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , and $0.5 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 . There is also one lease for a restaurant in a building owned by one of our real estate ventures, accounted for under the equity method, in Towson, MD. This investment received $0.1 million in rent pursuant to the lease for both the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , and $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. Payments for services provided by these three restaurants to us was less than $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively.

SEGMENT DATA

SEGMENT DATA	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
SEGMENT DATA	SEGMENT DATA: We measure segment performance based on operating income (loss). Our broadcast segment includes stations in 81 markets located throughout the continental United States. Other primarily consists of original networks and content, digital and internet solutions, technical services and other non-media investments. All of our businesses are located within the United States. Corporate costs primarily include our costs to operate as a public company and to operate our corporate headquarters location. Other and Corporate are not reportable segments but are included for reconciliation purposes. We had approximately $226.5 million and $226.0 million of intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other, and corporate as of September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. We had $6.1 million in intercompany interest expense related to intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other, and corporate for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 . We had $18.3 million and $16.9 million in intercompany interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. All other intercompany transactions are immaterial. Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in thousands): For the three months ended September 30, 2016 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 635,559 $ 58,276 $ — $ 693,835 Depreciation of property and equipment 24,195 1,425 266 25,886 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 38,717 9,090 — 47,807 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 32,441 — — 32,441 General and administrative overhead expenses 17,530 247 1,275 19,052 Research and development — 745 — 745 Operating income (loss) 158,666 (3,077 ) (1,595 ) 153,994 Interest expense 1,404 1,664 50,420 53,488 Income from equity and cost method investments — 611 812 1,423 Assets 4,901,549 825,996 138,643 5,866,188 For the three months ended September 30, 2015 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 525,529 $ 22,875 $ — $ 548,404 Depreciation of property and equipment 24,489 708 279 25,476 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 37,601 2,413 — 40,014 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 29,841 — — 29,841 General and administrative overhead expenses 14,378 1,087 999 16,464 Research and development — 4,803 — 4,803 Operating income (loss) 109,231 (7,653 ) (1,972 ) 99,606 Interest expense — 1,305 47,261 48,566 Income from equity and cost method investments — 252 — 252 For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue 1,790,561 148,697 — 1,939,258 Depreciation of property and equipment 69,469 4,063 798 74,330 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 117,038 20,159 — 137,197 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 96,722 — — 96,722 General and administrative overhead expenses 50,320 1,075 3,277 54,672 Research and development — 3,055 — 3,055 Operating income (loss) 402,236 (28,699 ) (4,130 ) 369,407 Interest expense 4,297 4,695 147,827 156,819 Income from equity and cost method investments — 414 2,375 2,789 For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 1,542,943 $ 64,403 $ — $ 1,607,346 Depreciation of property and equipment 73,028 2,073 837 75,938 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 112,724 6,715 — 119,439 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 90,014 — — 90,014 General and administrative overhead expenses 40,637 2,611 3,437 46,685 Research and development — 11,555 — 11,555 Operating income (loss) 323,336 (20,498 ) (4,345 ) 298,493 Interest expense — 3,541 139,337 142,878 Income from equity and cost method investments — 5,405 — 5,405

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS: Accounting guidance provides for valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). A fair value hierarchy using three broad levels prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The following is a brief description of those three levels: • Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. • Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. • Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions. The carrying value and fair value of our notes and debentures for the periods presented (in thousands): As of September 30, 2016 As of December 31, 2015 Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value Level 2: 6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 (a) $ — $ — $ 350,000 $ 367,325 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 500,000 526,910 500,000 512,500 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 (b) 350,000 364,000 — — 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 550,000 563,750 550,000 539,000 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 600,000 623,250 600,000 605,658 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 (c) 400,000 392,356 — — Term Loan A 282,573 283,280 313,620 308,916 Term Loan B 1,366,117 1,378,636 1,376,007 1,365,461 Debt of variable interest entities 24,069 24,069 26,682 26,682 Debt of other operating divisions 123,599 123,599 120,969 120,969 (a) In August 2016, we redeemed our 6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021. See Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing , for additional information. (b) In March 2016, we issued $350 million in senior unsecured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum and maturing in 2026. See Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing, for additional information. (c) In August 2016, we issued $400 million in senior unsecured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 5.125% per annum and maturing in 2027. See Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing, for additional information.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCI

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Sinclair Television Group, Inc. (STG), a wholly-owned subsidiary and the television operating subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (SBG), is the primary obligor under the Bank Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Notes, the 5.625% Notes, 6.125% Notes, 5.875% Notes, 5.125% Notes, and until they were redeemed, the 6.375% Notes. Our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as of September 30, 2016 , were obligations or securities of SBG and not obligations or securities of STG. SBG is a guarantor under the Bank Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Notes, 5.625% Notes, 6.125% Notes, 5.875% Notes, 6.125% Notes, and until they were redeemed, the 6.375% Notes. As of September 30, 2016 , our consolidated total debt, net of deferred financing costs and debt discounts, of $4,206.3 million included $4,078.7 million related to STG and its subsidiaries of which SBG guaranteed $4,030.9 million . ` SBG, KDSM, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBG, and STG’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (guarantor subsidiaries), have fully and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to certain customary automatic release provisions, all of STG’s obligations. Those guarantees are joint and several. There are certain contractual restrictions on the ability of SBG, STG or KDSM, LLC to obtain funds from their subsidiaries in the form of dividends or loans. The following condensed consolidating financial statements present the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows of SBG, STG, KDSM, LLC and the guarantor subsidiaries, the direct and indirect non-guarantor subsidiaries of SBG and the eliminations necessary to arrive at our information on a consolidated basis. These statements are presented in accordance with the disclosure requirements under SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 3-10. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash $ — $ 81,671 $ 4,550 $ 18,324 $ — $ 104,545 Accounts receivable — — 483,686 37,237 (1,261 ) 519,662 Other current assets 3,371 6,457 132,250 27,434 (3,629 ) 165,883 Total current assets 3,371 88,128 620,486 82,995 (4,890 ) 790,090 Property and equipment, net 2,086 17,710 566,633 130,309 (3,650 ) 713,088 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 483,523 3,696,504 4,180 — (4,184,207 ) — Goodwill — — 1,985,299 4,279 — 1,989,578 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 137,416 15,709 — 153,125 Definite-lived intangible assets — — 1,816,553 227,351 (60,578 ) 1,983,326 Other long-term assets 52,116 782,850 105,247 160,180 (863,412 ) 236,981 Total assets $ 541,096 $ 4,585,192 $ 5,235,814 $ 620,823 $ (5,116,737 ) $ 5,866,188 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 102 $ 55,484 $ 211,362 $ 28,427 $ (4,162 ) $ 291,213 Current portion of long-term debt — 55,500 1,803 107,935 — 165,238 Current portion of affiliate long-term debt 1,804 — 1,569 2,258 (2,032 ) 3,599 Other current liabilities — — 123,020 16,675 — 139,695 Total current liabilities 1,906 110,984 337,754 155,295 (6,194 ) 599,745 Long-term debt — 3,951,479 31,521 39,437 — 4,022,437 Affiliate long-term debt 479 — 12,977 384,174 (382,594 ) 15,036 Other liabilities 22,196 31,612 1,173,805 177,155 (662,464 ) 742,304 Total liabilities 24,581 4,094,075 1,556,057 756,061 (1,051,252 ) 5,379,522 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 516,515 491,117 3,679,757 (101,024 ) (4,069,849 ) 516,516 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (34,214 ) 4,364 (29,850 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 541,096 $ 4,585,192 $ 5,235,814 $ 620,823 $ (5,116,737 ) $ 5,866,188 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015 (in thousands) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash $ — $ 115,771 $ 235 $ 33,966 $ — $ 149,972 Accounts receivable — 1,775 390,142 33,949 (1,258 ) 424,608 Other current assets 3,648 5,172 99,118 23,278 (4,033 ) 127,183 Total current assets 3,648 122,718 489,495 91,193 (5,291 ) 701,763 Property and equipment, net 2,884 20,336 559,042 143,667 (8,792 ) 717,137 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 497,262 3,430,434 4,179 — (3,931,875 ) — Goodwill — — 1,926,814 4,279 — 1,931,093 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 114,841 17,624 — 132,465 Definite-lived intangible assets — — 1,602,454 206,975 (57,859 ) 1,751,570 Other long-term assets 52,128 673,915 110,507 140,910 (779,173 ) 198,287 Total assets $ 555,922 $ 4,247,403 $ 4,807,332 $ 604,648 $ (4,782,990 ) $ 5,432,315 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 104 $ 49,428 $ 179,156 $ 27,462 $ (4,837 ) $ 251,313 Current portion of long-term debt — 57,640 1,611 106,358 (1,425 ) 164,184 Current portion of affiliate long-term debt 1,651 — 1,311 456 (252 ) 3,166 Other current liabilities — — 103,627 12,713 — 116,340 Total current liabilities 1,755 107,068 285,705 146,989 (6,514 ) 535,003 Long-term debt — 3,594,218 32,743 42,199 — 3,669,160 Affiliate long-term debt 1,857 — 14,240 366,042 (364,289 ) 17,850 Other liabilities 26,500 28,866 1,060,211 171,102 (576,055 ) 710,624 Total liabilities 30,112 3,730,152 1,392,899 726,332 (946,858 ) 4,932,637 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 525,810 517,251 3,414,433 (91,703 ) (3,839,981 ) 525,810 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (29,981 ) 3,849 (26,132 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 555,922 $ 4,247,403 $ 4,807,332 $ 604,648 $ (4,782,990 ) $ 5,432,315 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 655,778 $ 63,877 $ (25,820 ) $ 693,835 Media program and production expenses — — 234,474 33,556 (25,150 ) 242,880 Selling, general and administrative 1,275 16,969 124,352 3,153 (25 ) 145,724 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 266 3,257 115,527 32,571 (384 ) 151,237 Total operating expenses 1,541 20,226 474,353 69,280 (25,559 ) 539,841 Operating (loss) income (1,541 ) (20,226 ) 181,425 (5,403 ) (261 ) 153,994 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 51,113 114,060 51 — (165,224 ) — Interest expense (56 ) (50,364 ) (1,117 ) (8,256 ) 6,305 (53,488 ) Loss from extinguishment of debt — (23,699 ) — — — (23,699 ) Other income (expense) 1,157 469 (27 ) 613 — 2,212 Total other income (expense) 52,214 40,466 (1,093 ) (7,643 ) (158,919 ) (74,975 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 172 34,334 (64,535 ) 3,043 — (26,986 ) Net income (loss) 50,845 54,574 115,797 (10,003 ) (159,180 ) 52,033 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (1,180 ) (8 ) (1,188 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 50,845 $ 54,574 $ 115,797 $ (11,183 ) $ (159,188 ) $ 50,845 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 50,845 $ 54,574 $ 115,797 $ (10,003 ) $ (159,180 ) $ 52,033 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 515,097 $ 53,845 $ (20,538 ) $ 548,404 Media program and production expenses — — 185,371 20,272 (18,470 ) 187,173 Selling, general and administrative 930 14,386 102,984 3,819 (33 ) 122,086 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 266 1,040 105,427 34,336 (1,530 ) 139,539 Total operating expenses 1,196 15,426 393,782 58,427 (20,033 ) 448,798 Operating (loss) income (1,196 ) (15,426 ) 121,315 (4,582 ) (505 ) 99,606 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 43,480 88,687 100 — (132,267 ) — Interest expense (93 ) (45,784 ) (1,140 ) (7,721 ) 6,172 (48,566 ) Other income (expense) 957 (407 ) 3 (349 ) — 204 Total other income (expense) 44,344 42,496 (1,037 ) (8,070 ) (126,095 ) (48,362 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 107 20,235 (30,126 ) 2,574 — (7,210 ) Net income (loss) 43,255 47,305 90,152 (10,078 ) (126,600 ) 44,034 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (799 ) 20 (779 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 43,255 $ 47,305 $ 90,152 $ (10,877 ) $ (126,580 ) $ 43,255 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 44,044 $ 47,315 $ 90,152 $ (10,078 ) $ (127,389 ) $ 44,044 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 1,828,407 $ 178,164 $ (67,313 ) $ 1,939,258 Media program and production expenses — — 679,337 88,378 (65,338 ) 702,377 Selling, general and administrative 3,277 53,189 360,793 7,641 (59 ) 424,841 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 798 5,666 340,974 96,560 (1,365 ) 442,633 Total operating expenses 4,075 58,855 1,381,104 192,579 (66,762 ) 1,569,851 Operating (loss) income (4,075 ) (58,855 ) 447,303 (14,415 ) (551 ) 369,407 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 124,536 289,593 170 — (414,299 ) — Interest expense (192 ) (147,635 ) (3,417 ) (24,258 ) 18,683 (156,819 ) Loss from the extinguishment of debt — (23,699 ) — — — (23,699 ) Other income 3,386 736 583 439 — 5,144 Total other income (expense) 127,730 118,995 (2,664 ) (23,819 ) (395,616 ) (175,374 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 749 75,470 (150,436 ) 8,446 — (65,771 ) Net income (loss) 124,404 135,610 294,203 (29,788 ) (396,167 ) 128,262 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (3,341 ) (517 ) (3,858 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 124,404 $ 135,610 $ 294,203 $ (33,129 ) $ (396,684 ) $ 124,404 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 124,404 $ 135,610 $ 294,203 $ (29,788 ) $ (396,167 ) $ 128,262 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 1,514,173 $ 153,757 $ (60,584 ) $ 1,607,346 Media program and production expenses — — 535,098 61,949 (56,493 ) 540,554 Selling, general and administrative 3,432 40,598 302,962 10,919 (138 ) 357,773 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 799 2,624 316,934 92,667 (2,498 ) 410,526 Total operating expenses 4,231 43,222 1,154,994 165,535 (59,129 ) 1,308,853 Operating (loss) income (4,231 ) (43,222 ) 359,179 (11,778 ) (1,455 ) 298,493 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 114,176 238,635 — — (352,811 ) — Interest expense (301 ) (134,626 ) (3,481 ) (21,898 ) 17,428 (142,878 ) Other income (expense) 3,250 (116 ) 269 3,222 — 6,625 Total other income (expense) 117,125 103,893 (3,212 ) (18,676 ) (335,383 ) (136,253 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 430 60,435 (113,403 ) 5,567 — (46,971 ) Net income (loss) 113,324 121,106 242,564 (24,887 ) (336,838 ) 115,269 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (1,999 ) 54 (1,945 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 113,324 $ 121,106 $ 242,564 $ (26,886 ) $ (336,784 ) $ 113,324 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 115,447 $ 121,132 $ 242,713 $ (24,885 ) $ (338,960 ) $ 115,447 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (4,060 ) $ (152,724 ) $ 451,804 $ 17,138 $ 18,102 $ 330,260 CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment (7 ) (3,626 ) (61,758 ) (3,842 ) 632 (68,601 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired — — (415,481 ) (10,375 ) — (425,856 ) Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts — — — (29,143 ) — (29,143 ) Proceeds from sale of assets — — 7,263 9,133 — 16,396 Investments in equity and cost method investees (2,945 ) (10,840 ) (34 ) (20,405 ) — (34,224 ) Loans to affiliates — (19,500 ) — — — (19,500 ) Other, net 1,714 (1,828 ) (86 ) 3,601 — 3,401 Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities (1,238 ) (35,794 ) (470,096 ) (51,031 ) 632 (557,527 ) CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing — 995,000 — 16,312 — 1,011,312 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — (636,547 ) (1,171 ) (16,269 ) — (653,987 ) Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (49,667 ) — — — — (49,667 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (101,164 ) — — — — (101,164 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables 158,574 (189,022 ) 22,603 26,764 (18,919 ) — Other, net (2,445 ) (15,013 ) 1,175 (8,556 ) 185 (24,654 ) Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities 5,298 154,418 22,607 18,251 (18,734 ) 181,840 NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — (34,100 ) 4,315 (15,642 ) — (45,427 ) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period — 115,771 235 33,966 — 149,972 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ — $ 81,671 $ 4,550 $ 18,324 $ — $ 104,545 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (6,476 ) $ (66,929 ) $ 390,101 $ (21,156 ) $ 18,181 $ 313,721 CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment — (7,687 ) (64,693 ) (1,603 ) 1,507 (72,476 ) Payments for acquisition of television stations — — (15,514 ) — — (15,514 ) Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts — — — (31,340 ) — (31,340 ) Proceeds from sale of assets — — 23,650 — — 23,650 Investments in equity and cost method investees — (7,486 ) (27 ) (35,555 ) — (43,068 ) Other, net 3,776 539 530 6,370 — 11,215 Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities 3,776 (14,634 ) (56,054 ) (62,128 ) 1,507 (127,533 ) CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — 349,559 — 29,922 — 379,481 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases (473 ) (370,011 ) (937 ) (3,683 ) — (375,104 ) Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (47,104 ) — — — — (47,104 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (28,823 ) — — — — (28,823 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables 82,410 200,108 (335,447 ) 72,757 (19,828 ) — Other, net (3,310 ) (3,491 ) 847 (7,117 ) 140 (12,931 ) Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities 2,700 176,165 (335,537 ) 91,879 (19,688 ) (84,481 ) NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — 94,602 (1,490 ) 8,595 — 101,707 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period — 3,394 1,749 12,539 — 17,682 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ — $ 97,996 $ 259 $ 21,134 $ — $ 119,389

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM17

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is a diversified television broadcasting company with national reach with a strong focus on providing high-quality content on our local television stations and digital platforms. The content, distributed through our broadcast platform, consists of programming provided by third-party networks and syndicators, local news, and other original programming produced by us. We also distribute our original programming, and owned and operated network affiliates, on other third-party platforms. Additionally, we own digital media products that are complementary to our extensive portfolio of television station related digital properties. Outside of our media related businesses, we operate technical services companies focused on supply and maintenance of broadcast transmission systems as well as research and development for the advancement of broadcast technology, and we manage other non-media related investments. As of September 30, 2016 , our broadcast distribution platform is a single reportable segment for accounting purposes. It consists primarily of our broadcast television stations, which we own, provide programming and operating services pursuant to agreements commonly referred to as local marketing agreements (LMAs), or provide sales services and other non-programming operating services pursuant to other outsourcing agreements (such as joint sales agreements (JSAs) and shared services agreements (SSAs)) to 173 stations in 81 markets. These stations broadcast 482 channels, as of September 30, 2016 . For the purpose of this report, these 173 stations and 482 channels are referred to as “our” stations and channels.
Principles of Consolidation and Interim Financial Statements	The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) for which we are the primary beneficiary. Noncontrolling interest represents a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities. All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Interim Financial Statements The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, such financial statements have been presented on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of equity (deficit) and consolidated statements of cash flows for these periods as adjusted for the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below. As permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures normally included with audited consolidated financial statements and, accordingly, should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC. The consolidated statements of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily representative of operations for an entire year.
Variable Interest Entities	In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE. We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary. Third-party station licensees. Certain of our stations provide services to other station owners within the same respective market through agreements, such as LMAs, where we provide programming, sales, operational and administrative services, and JSAs and SSAs, where we provide non-programming, sales, operational and administrative services. In certain cases, we have also entered into purchase agreements or options to purchase the license related assets of the licensee. We typically own the majority of the non-license assets of the stations, and in some cases where the licensee acquired the license assets concurrent with our acquisition of the non-license assets of the station, we have provided guarantees to the bank for the licensee’s acquisition financing. The terms of the agreements vary, but generally have initial terms of over five years with several optional renewal terms. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively, we have concluded that 37 of these licensees are VIEs. Based on the terms of the agreements and the significance of our investment in the stations, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because, subject to the ultimate control of the licensees, we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE through the services we provide and because we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs. Several of these VIEs are owned by a related party, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham). See Note 7. Related Person Transactions for more information about the arrangements with Cunningham. The net revenues of the stations which we consolidate were $79.1 million and $227.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , and $71 million and $207.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 , respectively. The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation. See Changes in the Rules of Television Ownership, Joint Sales Agreements, Retransmission Consent Negotiations, and National Ownership Cap within Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies for discussion of recent changes in FCC rules related to JSAs. As of the dates indicated, the carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above which have been included in our consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented (in thousands): September 30, December 31, ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 490 $ 490 Accounts receivable 24,945 21,719 Current portion of program contract costs 14,895 13,287 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 318 331 Total current assets 40,648 35,827 PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion 3,078 4,541 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net 3,301 7,609 GOODWILL 791 787 INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS 15,684 17,599 DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net 80,693 79,086 OTHER ASSETS 6,924 6,924 Total assets $ 151,119 $ 152,373 LIABILITIES CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,112 $ 1,240 Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing 3,710 3,687 Current portion of program contracts payable 16,573 12,627 Total current liabilities 21,395 17,554 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion 21,944 24,594 Program contracts payable, less current portion 14,036 13,679 Other long-term liabilities 9,364 8,067 Total liabilities $ 66,739 $ 63,894 The amounts above represent the consolidated assets and liabilities of the VIEs described above, for which we are the primary beneficiary, and have been aggregated as they all relate to our broadcast business. Excluded from the amounts above are payments made to Cunningham under the LMAs and certain JSAs which are treated as a prepayment of the purchase price of the stations and capital leases between us and Cunningham which are eliminated in consolidation. The total payments made under these LMAs and certain JSAs as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , which are excluded from liabilities above, were $40.0 million and $37.6 million , respectively. The total capital lease liabilities, net of capital lease assets, excluded from the above were $4.5 million for both September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . Also excluded from the amounts above are liabilities associated with certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs totaling $77.8 million and $72.5 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively, as these amounts are eliminated in consolidation. The assets of each of these consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE. All the liabilities are non-recourse to us except for certain debt of VIEs which we guarantee. The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar. Other investments. We have investments in real estate ventures and investment companies which are considered VIEs. However, we do not participate in the management of these entities including the day-to-day operating decisions or other decisions which would allow us to control the entity, and therefore, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. We account for these entities using the equity or cost method of accounting. The carrying amounts of our investments in these VIEs for which we are not the primary beneficiary as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are $119.9 million and $18.1 million , respectively, and are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The increase in 2016 was due to the adoption of the revised accounting guidance during the first quarter of 2016 related to consolidation as discussed under Recent Accounting Pronouncements below, which resulted in additional investments being considered VIEs. Our maximum exposure is equal to the carrying value of our investments. The income and loss related to these investments are recorded in income from equity and cost method investments in the consolidated statement of operations.
Use of Estimates	The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and in the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance on revenue recognition for revenue from contracts with customers. This guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for the annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2017, however, early adoption is permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2014, the FASB issued guidance on disclosure of uncertainties about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The new standard is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. We will be adopting this guidance beginning December 31, 2016, which will involve adding policies and procedures around our assessments to continue as a going concern. In February 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends the current consolidation guidance on the determination of whether an entity is a variable interest entity. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. We adopted this revised guidance on a modified retrospective basis during the three months ended March 31, 2016. As disclosed under Other investments under Variable Interest Entities above, the adoption of the revised guidance resulted in additional investments in real estate ventures and investment companies being considered VIEs, however, we concluded that we were not the primary beneficiary of these investments. The revised guidance did not have any other impact on our consolidation conclusions. In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to accounting for leases, which requires the assets and liabilities that arise from leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. Currently only capital leases are recorded on the balance sheet. This update will require the lessee to recognize a lease liability equal to the present value of the lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term for all leases longer than 12 months. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and liabilities and recognize the lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. This new guidance will be effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income tax effects, forfeitures, the impact of employee income tax withholdings and classification of certain related items in the statement of cash flows. We early adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2016, which did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The adoption of the various changes in the guidance were applied as required by the guidance either on the prospective, modified retrospective, or full retrospective basis. As shown in the consolidated statement of stockholders' equity, upon adoption, we recorded a $0.4 million increase to additional paid in capital and a $1.8 million decrease in accumulated deficit, net of taxes, to record the cumulative effect of changing the classification of certain liability awards to equity classification. Additionally, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we reclassified $2.2 million from net cash flows from operating activities to net cash flows from financing activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows related to cash payments made to taxing authorities on certain employees' behalf for shares withheld. In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. The new standard, which includes eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice as to how cash receipts and cash payments are represented in the statement of cash flow. The new standard is effective for fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017, including the interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition	Total revenues include: (i) cash and barter advertising revenues, net of agency commissions; (ii) retransmission consent fees; (iii) network compensation; (iv) other media revenues and (v) revenues from our other businesses. Advertising revenues, net of agency commissions, are recognized in the period during which advertisements are placed. Some of our retransmission consent agreements contain both advertising and retransmission consent elements. We have determined that these retransmission consent agreements are revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. Advertising and retransmission consent deliverables sold under our agreements are separated into different units of accounting at fair value. Revenue applicable to the advertising element of the arrangement is recognized similar to the advertising revenue policy noted above. Revenue applicable to the retransmission consent element of the arrangement is recognized over the life of the agreement. Network compensation revenue is recognized over the term of the contract. All other significant revenues are recognized as services are provided.
Income Taxes	Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes. The tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is based on the estimated effective tax rate applicable for the full year after taking into account discrete tax items and the effects of the noncontrolling interests. We provide a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if we determine that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating our ability to realize net deferred tax assets, we consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, including our past operating results, tax planning strategies and forecasts of future taxable income. In considering these sources of taxable income, we must make certain judgments that are based on the plans and estimates used to manage our underlying businesses on a long-term basis. A valuation allowance has been provided for deferred tax assets related to a substantial portion of our available state net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards, based on past operating results, expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary book/tax basis differences, alternative tax strategies and projected future taxable income.
Reclassifications	Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years' consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year's presentation.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM18

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Schedule of Carrying Amounts and Classification of Assets and Liabilities of VIEs	As of the dates indicated, the carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above which have been included in our consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented (in thousands): September 30, December 31, ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 490 $ 490 Accounts receivable 24,945 21,719 Current portion of program contract costs 14,895 13,287 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 318 331 Total current assets 40,648 35,827 PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion 3,078 4,541 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net 3,301 7,609 GOODWILL 791 787 INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS 15,684 17,599 DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net 80,693 79,086 OTHER ASSETS 6,924 6,924 Total assets $ 151,119 $ 152,373 LIABILITIES CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,112 $ 1,240 Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing 3,710 3,687 Current portion of program contracts payable 16,573 12,627 Total current liabilities 21,395 17,554 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion 21,944 24,594 Program contracts payable, less current portion 14,036 13,679 Other long-term liabilities 9,364 8,067 Total liabilities $ 66,739 $ 63,894

ACQUISITIONS (Tables)

ACQUISITIONS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of allocated fair value of acquired assets and liabilities assumed	The following table summarizes the allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities (in thousands): Cash $ 5,111 Accounts receivable 17,629 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 6,518 Property and equipment 5,964 Definite-lived intangible assets 272,686 Indefinite-lived intangible assets 23,400 Other assets 619 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (7,414 ) Capital leases (115 ) Deferred tax liability (20,056 ) Other long term liabilities (1,669 ) Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired 302,673 Goodwill 56,492 Total $ 359,165
Schedule of allocated to definite-lived intangible assets	The following table summarizes the amounts allocated to definite-lived intangible assets representing the estimated fair values (in thousands): Customer relationships $ 269,300 Other intangible assets 3,386 Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired $ 272,686
Schedule of unaudited pro forma results of operations	The pro forma results exclude the acquisition of television station acquisitions discussed below, as they were deemed not material both individually and in the aggregate (in thousands, except per share data): Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Total revenues $ 693,835 $ 571,437 $ 1,953,750 $ 1,678,800 Net Income $ 79,019 $ 40,911 $ 127,222 $ 107,312 Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 50,845 $ 40,132 $ 123,364 $ 105,367 Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 0.54 $ 0.42 $ 1.30 $ 1.11 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 0.54 $ 0.42 $ 1.29 $ 1.10

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of reconciliation of income (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in computation of diluted earnings per share	The following table reconciles income (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in our computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods presented (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2016 2015 2016 2015 Income (Numerator) Net Income $ 52,033 $ 44,034 $ 128,262 $ 115,269 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (1,188 ) (779 ) (3,858 ) (1,945 ) Numerator for diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders $ 50,845 $ 43,255 $ 124,404 $ 113,324 Shares (Denominator) Weighted-average common shares outstanding 93,948 95,002 94,595 95,146 Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options 818 690 870 691 Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 94,766 95,692 95,465 95,837

SEGMENT DATA (Tables)

SEGMENT DATA (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of segment financial information	Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in thousands): For the three months ended September 30, 2016 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 635,559 $ 58,276 $ — $ 693,835 Depreciation of property and equipment 24,195 1,425 266 25,886 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 38,717 9,090 — 47,807 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 32,441 — — 32,441 General and administrative overhead expenses 17,530 247 1,275 19,052 Research and development — 745 — 745 Operating income (loss) 158,666 (3,077 ) (1,595 ) 153,994 Interest expense 1,404 1,664 50,420 53,488 Income from equity and cost method investments — 611 812 1,423 Assets 4,901,549 825,996 138,643 5,866,188 For the three months ended September 30, 2015 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 525,529 $ 22,875 $ — $ 548,404 Depreciation of property and equipment 24,489 708 279 25,476 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 37,601 2,413 — 40,014 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 29,841 — — 29,841 General and administrative overhead expenses 14,378 1,087 999 16,464 Research and development — 4,803 — 4,803 Operating income (loss) 109,231 (7,653 ) (1,972 ) 99,606 Interest expense — 1,305 47,261 48,566 Income from equity and cost method investments — 252 — 252 For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue 1,790,561 148,697 — 1,939,258 Depreciation of property and equipment 69,469 4,063 798 74,330 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 117,038 20,159 — 137,197 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 96,722 — — 96,722 General and administrative overhead expenses 50,320 1,075 3,277 54,672 Research and development — 3,055 — 3,055 Operating income (loss) 402,236 (28,699 ) (4,130 ) 369,407 Interest expense 4,297 4,695 147,827 156,819 Income from equity and cost method investments — 414 2,375 2,789 For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 1,542,943 $ 64,403 $ — $ 1,607,346 Depreciation of property and equipment 73,028 2,073 837 75,938 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 112,724 6,715 — 119,439 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 90,014 — — 90,014 General and administrative overhead expenses 40,637 2,611 3,437 46,685 Research and development — 11,555 — 11,555 Operating income (loss) 323,336 (20,498 ) (4,345 ) 298,493 Interest expense — 3,541 139,337 142,878 Income from equity and cost method investments — 5,405 — 5,405

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of carrying value and fair value of notes and debentures	The carrying value and fair value of our notes and debentures for the periods presented (in thousands): As of September 30, 2016 As of December 31, 2015 Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value Level 2: 6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 (a) $ — $ — $ 350,000 $ 367,325 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 500,000 526,910 500,000 512,500 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 (b) 350,000 364,000 — — 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 550,000 563,750 550,000 539,000 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 600,000 623,250 600,000 605,658 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 (c) 400,000 392,356 — — Term Loan A 282,573 283,280 313,620 308,916 Term Loan B 1,366,117 1,378,636 1,376,007 1,365,461 Debt of variable interest entities 24,069 24,069 26,682 26,682 Debt of other operating divisions 123,599 123,599 120,969 120,969 (a) In August 2016, we redeemed our 6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021. See Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing , for additional information. (b) In March 2016, we issued $350 million in senior unsecured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum and maturing in 2026. See Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing, for additional information. (c) In August 2016, we issued $400 million in senior unsecured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 5.125% per annum and maturing in 2027. See Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing, for additional information.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN23

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of condensed consolidating balance sheet	These statements are presented in accordance with the disclosure requirements under SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 3-10. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash $ — $ 81,671 $ 4,550 $ 18,324 $ — $ 104,545 Accounts receivable — — 483,686 37,237 (1,261 ) 519,662 Other current assets 3,371 6,457 132,250 27,434 (3,629 ) 165,883 Total current assets 3,371 88,128 620,486 82,995 (4,890 ) 790,090 Property and equipment, net 2,086 17,710 566,633 130,309 (3,650 ) 713,088 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 483,523 3,696,504 4,180 — (4,184,207 ) — Goodwill — — 1,985,299 4,279 — 1,989,578 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 137,416 15,709 — 153,125 Definite-lived intangible assets — — 1,816,553 227,351 (60,578 ) 1,983,326 Other long-term assets 52,116 782,850 105,247 160,180 (863,412 ) 236,981 Total assets $ 541,096 $ 4,585,192 $ 5,235,814 $ 620,823 $ (5,116,737 ) $ 5,866,188 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 102 $ 55,484 $ 211,362 $ 28,427 $ (4,162 ) $ 291,213 Current portion of long-term debt — 55,500 1,803 107,935 — 165,238 Current portion of affiliate long-term debt 1,804 — 1,569 2,258 (2,032 ) 3,599 Other current liabilities — — 123,020 16,675 — 139,695 Total current liabilities 1,906 110,984 337,754 155,295 (6,194 ) 599,745 Long-term debt — 3,951,479 31,521 39,437 — 4,022,437 Affiliate long-term debt 479 — 12,977 384,174 (382,594 ) 15,036 Other liabilities 22,196 31,612 1,173,805 177,155 (662,464 ) 742,304 Total liabilities 24,581 4,094,075 1,556,057 756,061 (1,051,252 ) 5,379,522 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 516,515 491,117 3,679,757 (101,024 ) (4,069,849 ) 516,516 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (34,214 ) 4,364 (29,850 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 541,096 $ 4,585,192 $ 5,235,814 $ 620,823 $ (5,116,737 ) $ 5,866,188 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015 (in thousands) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash $ — $ 115,771 $ 235 $ 33,966 $ — $ 149,972 Accounts receivable — 1,775 390,142 33,949 (1,258 ) 424,608 Other current assets 3,648 5,172 99,118 23,278 (4,033 ) 127,183 Total current assets 3,648 122,718 489,495 91,193 (5,291 ) 701,763 Property and equipment, net 2,884 20,336 559,042 143,667 (8,792 ) 717,137 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 497,262 3,430,434 4,179 — (3,931,875 ) — Goodwill — — 1,926,814 4,279 — 1,931,093 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 114,841 17,624 — 132,465 Definite-lived intangible assets — — 1,602,454 206,975 (57,859 ) 1,751,570 Other long-term assets 52,128 673,915 110,507 140,910 (779,173 ) 198,287 Total assets $ 555,922 $ 4,247,403 $ 4,807,332 $ 604,648 $ (4,782,990 ) $ 5,432,315 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 104 $ 49,428 $ 179,156 $ 27,462 $ (4,837 ) $ 251,313 Current portion of long-term debt — 57,640 1,611 106,358 (1,425 ) 164,184 Current portion of affiliate long-term debt 1,651 — 1,311 456 (252 ) 3,166 Other current liabilities — — 103,627 12,713 — 116,340 Total current liabilities 1,755 107,068 285,705 146,989 (6,514 ) 535,003 Long-term debt — 3,594,218 32,743 42,199 — 3,669,160 Affiliate long-term debt 1,857 — 14,240 366,042 (364,289 ) 17,850 Other liabilities 26,500 28,866 1,060,211 171,102 (576,055 ) 710,624 Total liabilities 30,112 3,730,152 1,392,899 726,332 (946,858 ) 4,932,637 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 525,810 517,251 3,414,433 (91,703 ) (3,839,981 ) 525,810 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (29,981 ) 3,849 (26,132 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 555,922 $ 4,247,403 $ 4,807,332 $ 604,648 $ (4,782,990 ) $ 5,432,315
Schedule of condensed consolidating statement of operations and comprehensive income	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 655,778 $ 63,877 $ (25,820 ) $ 693,835 Media program and production expenses — — 234,474 33,556 (25,150 ) 242,880 Selling, general and administrative 1,275 16,969 124,352 3,153 (25 ) 145,724 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 266 3,257 115,527 32,571 (384 ) 151,237 Total operating expenses 1,541 20,226 474,353 69,280 (25,559 ) 539,841 Operating (loss) income (1,541 ) (20,226 ) 181,425 (5,403 ) (261 ) 153,994 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 51,113 114,060 51 — (165,224 ) — Interest expense (56 ) (50,364 ) (1,117 ) (8,256 ) 6,305 (53,488 ) Loss from extinguishment of debt — (23,699 ) — — — (23,699 ) Other income (expense) 1,157 469 (27 ) 613 — 2,212 Total other income (expense) 52,214 40,466 (1,093 ) (7,643 ) (158,919 ) (74,975 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 172 34,334 (64,535 ) 3,043 — (26,986 ) Net income (loss) 50,845 54,574 115,797 (10,003 ) (159,180 ) 52,033 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (1,180 ) (8 ) (1,188 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 50,845 $ 54,574 $ 115,797 $ (11,183 ) $ (159,188 ) $ 50,845 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 50,845 $ 54,574 $ 115,797 $ (10,003 ) $ (159,180 ) $ 52,033 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 515,097 $ 53,845 $ (20,538 ) $ 548,404 Media program and production expenses — — 185,371 20,272 (18,470 ) 187,173 Selling, general and administrative 930 14,386 102,984 3,819 (33 ) 122,086 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 266 1,040 105,427 34,336 (1,530 ) 139,539 Total operating expenses 1,196 15,426 393,782 58,427 (20,033 ) 448,798 Operating (loss) income (1,196 ) (15,426 ) 121,315 (4,582 ) (505 ) 99,606 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 43,480 88,687 100 — (132,267 ) — Interest expense (93 ) (45,784 ) (1,140 ) (7,721 ) 6,172 (48,566 ) Other income (expense) 957 (407 ) 3 (349 ) — 204 Total other income (expense) 44,344 42,496 (1,037 ) (8,070 ) (126,095 ) (48,362 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 107 20,235 (30,126 ) 2,574 — (7,210 ) Net income (loss) 43,255 47,305 90,152 (10,078 ) (126,600 ) 44,034 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (799 ) 20 (779 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 43,255 $ 47,305 $ 90,152 $ (10,877 ) $ (126,580 ) $ 43,255 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 44,044 $ 47,315 $ 90,152 $ (10,078 ) $ (127,389 ) $ 44,044 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 1,828,407 $ 178,164 $ (67,313 ) $ 1,939,258 Media program and production expenses — — 679,337 88,378 (65,338 ) 702,377 Selling, general and administrative 3,277 53,189 360,793 7,641 (59 ) 424,841 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 798 5,666 340,974 96,560 (1,365 ) 442,633 Total operating expenses 4,075 58,855 1,381,104 192,579 (66,762 ) 1,569,851 Operating (loss) income (4,075 ) (58,855 ) 447,303 (14,415 ) (551 ) 369,407 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 124,536 289,593 170 — (414,299 ) — Interest expense (192 ) (147,635 ) (3,417 ) (24,258 ) 18,683 (156,819 ) Loss from the extinguishment of debt — (23,699 ) — — — (23,699 ) Other income 3,386 736 583 439 — 5,144 Total other income (expense) 127,730 118,995 (2,664 ) (23,819 ) (395,616 ) (175,374 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 749 75,470 (150,436 ) 8,446 — (65,771 ) Net income (loss) 124,404 135,610 294,203 (29,788 ) (396,167 ) 128,262 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (3,341 ) (517 ) (3,858 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 124,404 $ 135,610 $ 294,203 $ (33,129 ) $ (396,684 ) $ 124,404 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 124,404 $ 135,610 $ 294,203 $ (29,788 ) $ (396,167 ) $ 128,262 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 1,514,173 $ 153,757 $ (60,584 ) $ 1,607,346 Media program and production expenses — — 535,098 61,949 (56,493 ) 540,554 Selling, general and administrative 3,432 40,598 302,962 10,919 (138 ) 357,773 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 799 2,624 316,934 92,667 (2,498 ) 410,526 Total operating expenses 4,231 43,222 1,154,994 165,535 (59,129 ) 1,308,853 Operating (loss) income (4,231 ) (43,222 ) 359,179 (11,778 ) (1,455 ) 298,493 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 114,176 238,635 — — (352,811 ) — Interest expense (301 ) (134,626 ) (3,481 ) (21,898 ) 17,428 (142,878 ) Other income (expense) 3,250 (116 ) 269 3,222 — 6,625 Total other income (expense) 117,125 103,893 (3,212 ) (18,676 ) (335,383 ) (136,253 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 430 60,435 (113,403 ) 5,567 — (46,971 ) Net income (loss) 113,324 121,106 242,564 (24,887 ) (336,838 ) 115,269 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (1,999 ) 54 (1,945 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 113,324 $ 121,106 $ 242,564 $ (26,886 ) $ (336,784 ) $ 113,324 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 115,447 $ 121,132 $ 242,713 $ (24,885 ) $ (338,960 ) $ 115,447
Schedule of condensed consolidating statement of cash flows	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (4,060 ) $ (152,724 ) $ 451,804 $ 17,138 $ 18,102 $ 330,260 CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment (7 ) (3,626 ) (61,758 ) (3,842 ) 632 (68,601 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired — — (415,481 ) (10,375 ) — (425,856 ) Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts — — — (29,143 ) — (29,143 ) Proceeds from sale of assets — — 7,263 9,133 — 16,396 Investments in equity and cost method investees (2,945 ) (10,840 ) (34 ) (20,405 ) — (34,224 ) Loans to affiliates — (19,500 ) — — — (19,500 ) Other, net 1,714 (1,828 ) (86 ) 3,601 — 3,401 Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities (1,238 ) (35,794 ) (470,096 ) (51,031 ) 632 (557,527 ) CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing — 995,000 — 16,312 — 1,011,312 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — (636,547 ) (1,171 ) (16,269 ) — (653,987 ) Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (49,667 ) — — — — (49,667 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (101,164 ) — — — — (101,164 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables 158,574 (189,022 ) 22,603 26,764 (18,919 ) — Other, net (2,445 ) (15,013 ) 1,175 (8,556 ) 185 (24,654 ) Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities 5,298 154,418 22,607 18,251 (18,734 ) 181,840 NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — (34,100 ) 4,315 (15,642 ) — (45,427 ) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period — 115,771 235 33,966 — 149,972 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ — $ 81,671 $ 4,550 $ 18,324 $ — $ 104,545 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (6,476 ) $ (66,929 ) $ 390,101 $ (21,156 ) $ 18,181 $ 313,721 CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment — (7,687 ) (64,693 ) (1,603 ) 1,507 (72,476 ) Payments for acquisition of television stations — — (15,514 ) — — (15,514 ) Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts — — — (31,340 ) — (31,340 ) Proceeds from sale of assets — — 23,650 — — 23,650 Investments in equity and cost method investees — (7,486 ) (27 ) (35,555 ) — (43,068 ) Other, net 3,776 539 530 6,370 — 11,215 Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities 3,776 (14,634 ) (56,054 ) (62,128 ) 1,507 (127,533 ) CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — 349,559 — 29,922 — 379,481 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases (473 ) (370,011 ) (937 ) (3,683 ) — (375,104 ) Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (47,104 ) — — — — (47,104 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (28,823 ) — — — — (28,823 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables 82,410 200,108 (335,447 ) 72,757 (19,828 ) — Other, net (3,310 ) (3,491 ) 847 (7,117 ) 140 (12,931 ) Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities 2,700 176,165 (335,537 ) 91,879 (19,688 ) (84,481 ) NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — 94,602 (1,490 ) 8,595 — 101,707 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period — 3,394 1,749 12,539 — 17,682 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ — $ 97,996 $ 259 $ 21,134 $ — $ 119,389

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM24

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Nature of Operations (Narrative) (Details)	Sep. 30, 2016channelstationmarket
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of television stations owned | station	173
Number of markets | market	81
Number of channels | channel	482

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM25

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Variable Interest Entities (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)license	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)license
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Media revenues	$ 693,835	$ 548,404	$ 1,939,258	$ 1,607,346
Income (loss) from equity investments	1,423	252	2,789	5,405
Eliminations
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Media revenues	(25,820)	(20,538)	$ (67,313)	(60,584)
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Initial term of certain outsourcing agreements			5 years
Number of licensees as VIEs (license) | license			37		37
Media revenues	79,100	71,000	$ 227,400	207,600
Consolidated VIEs | Eliminations
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options	77,800		77,800		$ 72,500
Consolidated VIEs | Cunningham | Eliminations
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total payments made under the LMA excluded from liabilities	40,000		40,000		37,600
Total capital leased liabilities excluded from VIE consolidation	4,500		4,500		4,500
VIEs which are not primary beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying amount	119,900		119,900		$ 18,100
Income (loss) from equity investments	$ 1,400	$ 700	$ 2,800	$ 6,500

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM26

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Schedule of Variable Interest Entities Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 104,545	$ 149,972	$ 119,389	$ 17,682
Accounts receivable		519,662	424,608
Current portion of program contract costs		110,228	91,466
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		37,909	26,903
Total current assets		790,090	701,763
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion		12,245	18,996
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net		713,088	717,137
GOODWILL		1,989,578	1,931,093
INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS		153,125	132,465
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net		1,983,326	1,751,570
OTHER ASSETS		224,736	175,566
Total assets	[1]	5,866,188	5,432,315
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		291,213	251,313
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing		165,238	164,184
Current portion of program contracts payable		131,553	108,260
Total current liabilities		599,745	535,003
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		4,022,437	3,669,160
Program contracts payable, less current portion		57,724	56,921
Other long-term liabilities		71,619	68,631
Total liabilities	[1]	5,379,522	4,932,637
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		490	490
Accounts receivable		24,945	21,719
Current portion of program contract costs		14,895	13,287
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		318	331
Total current assets		40,648	35,827
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion		3,078	4,541
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net		3,301	7,609
GOODWILL		791	787
INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS		15,684	17,599
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net		80,693	79,086
OTHER ASSETS		6,924	6,924
Total assets		151,119	152,373
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		1,112	1,240
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing		3,710	3,687
Current portion of program contracts payable		16,573	12,627
Total current liabilities		21,395	17,554
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		21,944	24,594
Program contracts payable, less current portion		14,036	13,679
Other long-term liabilities		9,364	8,067
Total liabilities		$ 66,739	$ 63,894
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $151.1 million and $152.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $41.1 million and $35.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM27

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of classification change				$ (2,264)
Reclassification from net cash flows from operating activities		$ (330,260)	$ (313,721)
Reclassification to net cash flows from financing activities		$ 181,840	$ (84,481)
Additional Paid-In Capital
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of classification change				(431)
Accumulated Deficit
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of classification change				(1,833)
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption [Line Items]
Reclassification from net cash flows from operating activities	$ 2,200
Reclassification to net cash flows from financing activities	$ 2,200
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Additional Paid-In Capital
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of classification change				(400)
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Accumulated Deficit
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of classification change				$ (1,800)

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM28

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Income Taxes (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Reduction on liability for unrecognized tax benefits	$ 5.7
2014 Federal Income Tax Return
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Adjustment to income tax provision	$ 3.3

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM29

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Share Repurchase Program (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Nov. 08, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 06, 2016	Mar. 20, 2014
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Repurchase authorization					$ 150,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Shares repurchased			$ 101,164,000	$ 28,823,000
Remaining authorization amount		$ 154,300,000	$ 154,300,000
Class A Common Stock
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Shares repurchased (shares)		3,200,000	3,600,000
Shares repurchased		$ 90,000,000	$ 101,200,000
Subsequent Event | Class A Common Stock
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Shares repurchased (shares)	1,100,000
Shares repurchased	$ 31,100,000

ACQUISITIONS (Narrative) (Detai

ACQUISITIONS (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related costs				$ 200,000
Net revenues		$ 27,400,000		62,500,000
Operating income (loss)		1,300,000		(9,600,000)
Gains of sale of broadcast assets		3,311,000	$ 255,000	5,982,000	$ 306,000
Tennis Channel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination purchase price	$ 350,000,000
Working capital adjustment	$ 9,200,000
Decrease to deferred tax assets		16,100,000
Decrease to goodwill		25,300,000
Increase to amortization		1,100,000
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes		0		$ 0
Tennis Channel | Definite-lived intangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) to intangible assets		45,600,000
Tennis Channel | Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) to intangible assets		(1,500,000)
Tennis Channel | Customer relationships | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amortization period				10 years
Tennis Channel | Customer relationships | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amortization period				15 years
Tennis Channel | Other intangible assets | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amortization period				1 year
Tennis Channel | Other intangible assets | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amortization period				3 years
Television Station Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination purchase price				$ 72,000,000
Working capital adjustment				200,000
Gains of sale of broadcast assets		$ 1,800,000		$ 2,600,000

ACQUISITIONS - Fair Value of Ac

ACQUISITIONS - Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Goodwill	$ 1,989,578	$ 1,931,093
Tennis Channel
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Cash	5,111
Accounts receivable	17,629
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,518
Property and equipment	5,964
Definite-lived intangible assets	272,686
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	23,400
Other assets	619
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(7,414)
Capital leases	(115)
Deferred tax liability	(20,056)
Other long term liabilities	(1,669)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired	302,673
Goodwill	56,492
Total	$ 359,165

ACQUISITIONS - Fair Value Alloc

ACQUISITIONS - Fair Value Allocation of Assets and Goodwill (Details) - Tennis Channel $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 272,686
Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired	269,300
Other intangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of identifiable definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 3,386

ACQUISITIONS - Pro Forma Result

ACQUISITIONS - Pro Forma Results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Pro Forma Information
Total revenues	$ 693,835	$ 571,437	$ 1,953,750	$ 1,678,800
Net Income	79,019	40,911	127,222	107,312
Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ 50,845	$ 40,132	$ 123,364	$ 105,367
Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair (USD per share)	$ 0.54	$ 0.42	$ 1.30	$ 1.11
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair (USD per share)	$ 0.54	$ 0.42	$ 1.29	$ 1.10

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERICAL BA

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERICAL BANK FINANCING - 5.125% Senior Notes, due 2027 (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 15, 2021	Aug. 15, 2019	Mar. 15, 2019	Aug. 30, 2016	Mar. 23, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment related to redemption						$ 23,699,000	$ 0	$ 23,699,000	$ 0
Senior Notes | 5.125% Senior Notes, due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issued				$ 400,000,000						$ 400,000,000
Interest rate				5.125%		5.125%		5.125%		5.125%
Percentage of the par value				100.00%
Deferred financing costs				$ 6,600,000
Senior Notes | 5.875% Senior Notes, due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issued					$ 350,000,000						$ 350,000,000
Interest rate					5.875%	5.875%		5.875%			5.875%
Percentage of the par value					100.00%
Deferred financing costs					$ 5,900,000
Senior Notes | 5.875% Senior Notes, due 2026 | Forecast
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of the par value	100.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Senior Notes | 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate				6.375%						6.375%		6.375%
Aggregate principal amount				$ 350,000,000
Redemption price				377,200,000
Loss on extinguishment related to redemption				$ 23,700,000

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL 35

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING - 5.875% Senior Notes, due 2026 (Details) - Senior Notes - 5.875% Senior Notes, due 2026 - USD ($)	Mar. 15, 2021	Aug. 15, 2019	Mar. 15, 2019	Mar. 23, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issued				$ 350,000,000		$ 350,000,000
Interest rate				5.875%	5.875%	5.875%
Percentage of the par value				100.00%
Deferred financing costs				$ 5,900,000
Forecast
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of the par value	100.00%	35.00%	35.00%

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL 36

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING - Bank Credit Agreement (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jul. 19, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt	$ 4,206,300,000
Bank Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Financing costs	2,300,000
Financing costs to be expensed	300,000
Bank Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving commitments		$ 485,200,000
Financing costs		2,600,000
Outstanding balance	0		$ 0
Current borrowing capacity	$ 483,300,000
Bank Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Term Loan A Extended to July 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt		139,500,000
Bank Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Term Loan A Maturing April 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt		$ 153,500,000

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)station	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)station	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 06, 2016station	Jul. 29, 2016USD ($)	Apr. 15, 2014station
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Number of television stations with attributable interest (station) | station							1
Percentage of ad time to be considered an owner							15.00%
Net revenue | $	$ 693,835	$ 548,404	$ 1,939,258	$ 1,607,346
Period subject to ongoing compliance monitoring by the FCC			36 months
Number of television stations owned and operated | station	173		173
FCC Consent Decree Settlement
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Subject payment amount to the United States Treasury | $						$ 9,500
Number of television stations owned and operated | station					28
Percentage of U.S. households reached (over)					37.00%
Joint Sales Agreements
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Net revenue | $	$ 16,000	$ 11,500	$ 42,500	$ 34,200

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income (Numerator)
Net Income	$ 52,033	$ 44,034	$ 128,262	$ 115,269
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,188)	(779)	(3,858)	(1,945)
Numerator for diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders	$ 50,845	$ 43,255	$ 124,404	$ 113,324
Shares (Denominator)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (shares)	93,948	95,002	94,595	95,146
Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options (shares)	818	690	870	691
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (shares)	94,766	95,692	95,465	95,837
Additional Disclosures
Potentially antidilutive dilutive securities excluded from calculation of diluted earnings per share (shares)	525	200	525	200

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - T

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Transactions with our Controlling Shareholders (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Lease Services | Entities owned by the controlling shareholders
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease payments made to entities		$ 1.3	$ 1.3	$ 3.8	$ 3.9
Charter Aircraft | Controlling shareholders
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease term	30 months
Lease renewal term	12 months
Charter Aircraft | Controlling shareholders | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aircraft expenses		$ 0.3	$ 0.4	$ 1	$ 1

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - C

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)renewal	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net revenue				$ 693,835	$ 548,404	$ 1,939,258	$ 1,607,346
Affiliated Entity | Cunningham
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement renewal period			1 year
Right to acquire capital stock				100.00%		100.00%
Remaining purchase price				$ 53,600		$ 53,600
Related party promissory note			$ 19,500
Loan receivable, interest rate			5.00%
Proceeds from sale of master control equipment		$ 700
Annual revenue from master control services		$ 200
Annual revenue for share service	$ 1,000
Affiliated Entity | Cunningham | LMA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of additional renewal terms | renewal						2
Agreement renewal period						5 years
Lease payments made to entities				$ 2,100	2,100	$ 6,600	7,800
Affiliated Entity | Cunningham | LMA | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of net broadcast revenue used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid				3.00%		3.00%
Amount used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid				$ 4,700		$ 4,700
Annual increase in aggregate purchase price				6.00%		6.00%
Cunningham license related assets | Cunningham
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Agreement renewal period						8 years
Amount received				$ 1,400	1,500	$ 3,900	4,200
Net revenue				$ 29,400	$ 25,800	$ 83,800	$ 74,800

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - A

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Atlantic Automotive Corporation (Details) - Atlantic Automotive Corporation - Affiliated Entity $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)real_estate_venture	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)real_estate_venture	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)
Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual rent	$ 0.3	$ 0.3	$ 0.8	$ 0.9
Lease Services | Real estate ventures in Towson, MD
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of consolidated real estate ventures | real_estate_venture	1		1
Maximum | Advertising time
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount received	$ 0.3	$ 0.1	$ 0.6	$ 0.3

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - L

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Leased Property by Real Estate Ventures (Details) - President and Chief Executive Officer	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)leasereal_estate_venturerestaurant	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)leasereal_estate_venturerestaurant	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)
Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments for services (less than)	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000
Real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD | Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of restaurants owned by a related party | restaurant	3		3
Number of consolidated real estate ventures | real_estate_venture	1		1
Number of Properties Subject to Ground Leases | lease	1		1
Real estate ventures in Towson, MD | Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual rent	$ 100,000	100,000	$ 200,000	300,000
Maximum | Real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD | Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount received	$ 200,000	$ 200,000	$ 500,000	$ 500,000

SEGMENT DATA (Narrative) (Detai

SEGMENT DATA (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)market	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)market	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)
Segment data
Number of markets | market	81		81
Intercompany loans | $	$ 226.5	$ 226	$ 226.5	$ 226
Intercompany interest expense | $	$ 6.1	$ 6.1	$ 18.3	$ 16.9
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets | market	81		81

SEGMENT DATA (Details)

SEGMENT DATA (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment data
Revenue		$ 693,835	$ 548,404	$ 1,939,258	$ 1,607,346
Depreciation of property and equipment		25,886	25,476	74,330	75,938
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		47,807	40,014	137,197	119,439
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		32,441	29,841	96,722	90,014
General and administrative overhead expenses		19,052	16,464	54,672	46,685
Research and development expenses		745	4,803	3,055	11,555
Operating income (loss)		153,994	99,606	369,407	298,493
Interest expense		53,488	48,566	156,819	142,878
Income (loss) from equity investments		1,423	252	2,789	5,405
Assets	[1]	5,866,188		5,866,188		$ 5,432,315
Broadcast
Segment data
Revenue		635,559	525,529	1,790,561	1,542,943
Depreciation of property and equipment		24,195	24,489	69,469	73,028
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		38,717	37,601	117,038	112,724
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		32,441	29,841	96,722	90,014
General and administrative overhead expenses		17,530	14,378	50,320	40,637
Research and development expenses		0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)		158,666	109,231	402,236	323,336
Interest expense		1,404	0	4,297	0
Income (loss) from equity investments		0	0	0	0
Assets		4,901,549		4,901,549
Other
Segment data
Revenue		58,276	22,875	148,697	64,403
Depreciation of property and equipment		1,425	708	4,063	2,073
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		9,090	2,413	20,159	6,715
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses		247	1,087	1,075	2,611
Research and development expenses		745	4,803	3,055	11,555
Operating income (loss)		(3,077)	(7,653)	(28,699)	(20,498)
Interest expense		1,664	1,305	4,695	3,541
Income (loss) from equity investments		611	252	414	5,405
Assets		825,996		825,996
Corporate
Segment data
Revenue		0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment		266	279	798	837
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		0	0	0	0
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses		1,275	999	3,277	3,437
Research and development expenses		0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)		(1,595)	(1,972)	(4,130)	(4,345)
Interest expense		50,420	47,261	147,827	139,337
Income (loss) from equity investments		812	$ 0	2,375	$ 0
Assets		$ 138,643		$ 138,643
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $151.1 million and $152.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $41.1 million and $35.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Detail

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 23, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Level 2 | Carrying Value | Debt of variable interest entities
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 24,069,000					$ 26,682,000
Level 2 | Carrying Value | Debt of other operating divisions
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	123,599,000					120,969,000
Level 2 | Fair Value | Debt of variable interest entities
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	24,069,000					26,682,000
Level 2 | Fair Value | Debt of other operating divisions
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 123,599,000					$ 120,969,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | 6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate		6.375%	6.375%			6.375%
Senior Unsecured Notes | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	6.125%					6.125%
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	5.875%			5.875%	5.875%
Debt issued				$ 350,000,000	$ 350,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	5.625%					5.625%
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	5.375%					5.375%
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	5.125%	5.125%	5.125%
Debt issued		$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 0					$ 350,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	500,000,000					500,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	350,000,000					0
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	550,000,000					550,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	600,000,000					600,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	400,000,000					0
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 6.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	0					367,325,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	526,910,000					512,500,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	364,000,000					0
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	563,750,000					539,000,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	623,250,000					605,658,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	392,356,000					0
Term Loan | Level 2 | Carrying Value | Term Loan A
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	282,573,000					313,620,000
Term Loan | Level 2 | Carrying Value | Term Loan B
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	1,366,117,000					1,376,007,000
Term Loan | Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan A
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	283,280,000					308,916,000
Term Loan | Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan B
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 1,378,636,000					$ 1,365,461,000

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN46

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 4,206.3
Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of debt guaranteed by parent	$ 4,078.7
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.375%
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.625%
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.125%
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.875%
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 5.125% Senior Notes, due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.125%
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.375%
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of debt guaranteed by parent	$ 4,030.9
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.375%
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.625%
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.125%
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.875%

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN47

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		$ 104,545	$ 149,972	$ 119,389	$ 17,682
Accounts receivable		519,662	424,608
Other current assets		165,883	127,183
Total current assets		790,090	701,763
Property and equipment, net		713,088	717,137
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		1,989,578	1,931,093
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		153,125	132,465
Definite-lived intangible assets		1,983,326	1,751,570
Other long-term assets		236,981	198,287
Total assets	[1]	5,866,188	5,432,315
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		291,213	251,313
Current portion of long-term debt		165,238	164,184
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		3,599	3,166
Other current liabilities		139,695	116,340
Total current liabilities		599,745	535,003
Long-term debt		4,022,437	3,669,160
Affiliate long-term debt		15,036	17,850
Other liabilities		742,304	710,624
Total liabilities	[1]	5,379,522	4,932,637
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		516,516	525,810
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		(29,850)	(26,132)
Total liabilities and equity		5,866,188	5,432,315
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable		0	0
Other current assets		3,371	3,648
Total current assets		3,371	3,648
Property and equipment, net		2,086	2,884
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		483,523	497,262
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Other long-term assets		52,116	52,128
Total assets		541,096	555,922
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		102	104
Current portion of long-term debt		0	0
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		1,804	1,651
Other current liabilities		0	0
Total current liabilities		1,906	1,755
Long-term debt		0	0
Affiliate long-term debt		479	1,857
Other liabilities		22,196	26,500
Total liabilities		24,581	30,112
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		516,515	525,810
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities and equity		541,096	555,922
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		81,671	115,771	97,996	3,394
Accounts receivable		0	1,775
Other current assets		6,457	5,172
Total current assets		88,128	122,718
Property and equipment, net		17,710	20,336
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		3,696,504	3,430,434
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Other long-term assets		782,850	673,915
Total assets		4,585,192	4,247,403
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		55,484	49,428
Current portion of long-term debt		55,500	57,640
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		0	0
Other current liabilities		0	0
Total current liabilities		110,984	107,068
Long-term debt		3,951,479	3,594,218
Affiliate long-term debt		0	0
Other liabilities		31,612	28,866
Total liabilities		4,094,075	3,730,152
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		491,117	517,251
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities and equity		4,585,192	4,247,403
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		4,550	235	259	1,749
Accounts receivable		483,686	390,142
Other current assets		132,250	99,118
Total current assets		620,486	489,495
Property and equipment, net		566,633	559,042
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		4,180	4,179
Goodwill		1,985,299	1,926,814
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		137,416	114,841
Definite-lived intangible assets		1,816,553	1,602,454
Other long-term assets		105,247	110,507
Total assets		5,235,814	4,807,332
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		211,362	179,156
Current portion of long-term debt		1,803	1,611
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		1,569	1,311
Other current liabilities		123,020	103,627
Total current liabilities		337,754	285,705
Long-term debt		31,521	32,743
Affiliate long-term debt		12,977	14,240
Other liabilities		1,173,805	1,060,211
Total liabilities		1,556,057	1,392,899
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		3,679,757	3,414,433
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities and equity		5,235,814	4,807,332
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		18,324	33,966	21,134	12,539
Accounts receivable		37,237	33,949
Other current assets		27,434	23,278
Total current assets		82,995	91,193
Property and equipment, net		130,309	143,667
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		4,279	4,279
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		15,709	17,624
Definite-lived intangible assets		227,351	206,975
Other long-term assets		160,180	140,910
Total assets		620,823	604,648
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		28,427	27,462
Current portion of long-term debt		107,935	106,358
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		2,258	456
Other current liabilities		16,675	12,713
Total current liabilities		155,295	146,989
Long-term debt		39,437	42,199
Affiliate long-term debt		384,174	366,042
Other liabilities		177,155	171,102
Total liabilities		756,061	726,332
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		(101,024)	(91,703)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		(34,214)	(29,981)
Total liabilities and equity		620,823	604,648
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		0	0	$ 0	$ 0
Accounts receivable		(1,261)	(1,258)
Other current assets		(3,629)	(4,033)
Total current assets		(4,890)	(5,291)
Property and equipment, net		(3,650)	(8,792)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		(4,184,207)	(3,931,875)
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets		(60,578)	(57,859)
Other long-term assets		(863,412)	(779,173)
Total assets		(5,116,737)	(4,782,990)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(4,162)	(4,837)
Current portion of long-term debt		0	(1,425)
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		(2,032)	(252)
Other current liabilities		0	0
Total current liabilities		(6,194)	(6,514)
Long-term debt		0	0
Affiliate long-term debt		(382,594)	(364,289)
Other liabilities		(662,464)	(576,055)
Total liabilities		(1,051,252)	(946,858)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		(4,069,849)	(3,839,981)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		4,364	3,849
Total liabilities and equity		$ (5,116,737)	$ (4,782,990)
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $151.1 million and $152.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $41.1 million and $35.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN48

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	$ 693,835	$ 548,404	$ 1,939,258	$ 1,607,346
Media program and production expenses	242,880	187,173	702,377	540,554
Selling, general and administrative	145,724	122,086	424,841	357,773
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	151,237	139,539	442,633	410,526
Total operating expenses	539,841	448,798	1,569,851	1,308,853
Operating income	153,994	99,606	369,407	298,493
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(53,488)	(48,566)	(156,819)	(142,878)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	(23,699)	0	(23,699)	0
Other income (expense)	2,212	204	5,144	6,625
Total other expense, net	(74,975)	(48,362)	(175,374)	(136,253)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(26,986)	(7,210)	(65,771)	(46,971)
NET INCOME	52,033	44,034	128,262	115,269
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,188)	(779)	(3,858)	(1,945)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	50,845	43,255	124,404	113,324
Comprehensive income	52,033	44,044	128,262	115,447
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	0	0	0	0
Media program and production expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	1,275	930	3,277	3,432
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	266	266	798	799
Total operating expenses	1,541	1,196	4,075	4,231
Operating income	(1,541)	(1,196)	(4,075)	(4,231)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	51,113	43,480	124,536	114,176
Interest expense	(56)	(93)	(192)	(301)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0		0
Other income (expense)	1,157	957	3,386	3,250
Total other expense, net	52,214	44,344	127,730	117,125
Income tax benefit (provision)	172	107	749	430
NET INCOME	50,845	43,255	124,404	113,324
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	50,845	43,255	124,404	113,324
Comprehensive income	50,845	44,044	124,404	115,447
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	0	0	0	0
Media program and production expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	16,969	14,386	53,189	40,598
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	3,257	1,040	5,666	2,624
Total operating expenses	20,226	15,426	58,855	43,222
Operating income	(20,226)	(15,426)	(58,855)	(43,222)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	114,060	88,687	289,593	238,635
Interest expense	(50,364)	(45,784)	(147,635)	(134,626)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	(23,699)		(23,699)
Other income (expense)	469	(407)	736	(116)
Total other expense, net	40,466	42,496	118,995	103,893
Income tax benefit (provision)	34,334	20,235	75,470	60,435
NET INCOME	54,574	47,305	135,610	121,106
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	54,574	47,305	135,610	121,106
Comprehensive income	54,574	47,315	135,610	121,132
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	655,778	515,097	1,828,407	1,514,173
Media program and production expenses	234,474	185,371	679,337	535,098
Selling, general and administrative	124,352	102,984	360,793	302,962
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	115,527	105,427	340,974	316,934
Total operating expenses	474,353	393,782	1,381,104	1,154,994
Operating income	181,425	121,315	447,303	359,179
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	51	100	170	0
Interest expense	(1,117)	(1,140)	(3,417)	(3,481)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0		0
Other income (expense)	(27)	3	583	269
Total other expense, net	(1,093)	(1,037)	(2,664)	(3,212)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(64,535)	(30,126)	(150,436)	(113,403)
NET INCOME	115,797	90,152	294,203	242,564
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	115,797	90,152	294,203	242,564
Comprehensive income	115,797	90,152	294,203	242,713
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	63,877	53,845	178,164	153,757
Media program and production expenses	33,556	20,272	88,378	61,949
Selling, general and administrative	3,153	3,819	7,641	10,919
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	32,571	34,336	96,560	92,667
Total operating expenses	69,280	58,427	192,579	165,535
Operating income	(5,403)	(4,582)	(14,415)	(11,778)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(8,256)	(7,721)	(24,258)	(21,898)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0		0
Other income (expense)	613	(349)	439	3,222
Total other expense, net	(7,643)	(8,070)	(23,819)	(18,676)
Income tax benefit (provision)	3,043	2,574	8,446	5,567
NET INCOME	(10,003)	(10,078)	(29,788)	(24,887)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,180)	(799)	(3,341)	(1,999)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(11,183)	(10,877)	(33,129)	(26,886)
Comprehensive income	(10,003)	(10,078)	(29,788)	(24,885)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	(25,820)	(20,538)	(67,313)	(60,584)
Media program and production expenses	(25,150)	(18,470)	(65,338)	(56,493)
Selling, general and administrative	(25)	(33)	(59)	(138)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	(384)	(1,530)	(1,365)	(2,498)
Total operating expenses	(25,559)	(20,033)	(66,762)	(59,129)
Operating income	(261)	(505)	(551)	(1,455)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(165,224)	(132,267)	(414,299)	(352,811)
Interest expense	6,305	6,172	18,683	17,428
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0		0
Other income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Total other expense, net	(158,919)	(126,095)	(395,616)	(335,383)
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME	(159,180)	(126,600)	(396,167)	(336,838)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(8)	20	(517)	54
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(159,188)	(126,580)	(396,684)	(336,784)
Comprehensive income	$ (159,180)	$ (127,389)	$ (396,167)	$ (338,960)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN49

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 330,260	$ 313,721
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(68,601)	(72,476)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(425,856)	(15,514)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(29,143)	(31,340)
Proceeds from sale of assets	16,396	23,650
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(34,224)	(43,068)
Loans to affiliates	(19,500)	0
Other, net	3,401	11,215
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(557,527)	(127,533)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	1,011,312	379,481
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(653,987)	(375,104)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(49,667)	(47,104)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(101,164)	(28,823)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	0	0
Other, net	(24,654)	(12,931)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	181,840	(84,481)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(45,427)	101,707
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	149,972	17,682
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	104,545	119,389
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(4,060)	(6,476)
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(7)	0
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets	0	0
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(2,945)	0
Loans to affiliates	0
Other, net	1,714	3,776
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(1,238)	3,776
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	0	0
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	0	(473)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(49,667)	(47,104)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(101,164)	(28,823)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	158,574	82,410
Other, net	(2,445)	(3,310)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	5,298	2,700
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	0	0
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(152,724)	(66,929)
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(3,626)	(7,687)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets	0	0
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(10,840)	(7,486)
Loans to affiliates	(19,500)
Other, net	(1,828)	539
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(35,794)	(14,634)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	995,000	349,559
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(636,547)	(370,011)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	0	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(189,022)	200,108
Other, net	(15,013)	(3,491)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	154,418	176,165
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(34,100)	94,602
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	115,771	3,394
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	81,671	97,996
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	451,804	390,101
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(61,758)	(64,693)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(415,481)	(15,514)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets	7,263	23,650
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(34)	(27)
Loans to affiliates	0
Other, net	(86)	530
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(470,096)	(56,054)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	0	0
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(1,171)	(937)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	0	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	22,603	(335,447)
Other, net	1,175	847
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	22,607	(335,537)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	4,315	(1,490)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	235	1,749
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	4,550	259
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	17,138	(21,156)
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(3,842)	(1,603)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(10,375)	0
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(29,143)	(31,340)
Proceeds from sale of assets	9,133	0
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(20,405)	(35,555)
Loans to affiliates	0
Other, net	3,601	6,370
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(51,031)	(62,128)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	16,312	29,922
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(16,269)	(3,683)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	0	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	26,764	72,757
Other, net	(8,556)	(7,117)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	18,251	91,879
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(15,642)	8,595
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	33,966	12,539
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	18,324	21,134
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	18,102	18,181
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	632	1,507
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets	0	0
Investments in equity and cost method investees	0	0
Loans to affiliates	0
Other, net	0	0
Net cash flows used in investing activities	632	1,507
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	0	0
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	0	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	0	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(18,919)	(19,828)
Other, net	185	140
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	(18,734)	(19,688)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 0	$ 0