Sinclair Broadcast (SBGI) 10-Q 8 Nov 17 2017 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Nov. 06, 2017
Entity Information [Line Items]
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, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Class A Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (shares)		76,071,145
Class B Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (shares)		25,670,684

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Un

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 602,193	$ 259,984
Restricted cash		312,802	200
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,510 and $2,124, respectively		523,111	513,954
Current portion of program contract costs		97,768	83,601
Income taxes receivable		5,080	5,500
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		37,384	36,067
Deferred barter costs		11,093	5,782
Total current assets		1,589,431	905,088
Program contract costs, less current portion		4,513	8,919
Property and equipment, net		724,125	717,576
Restricted cash		1,501	0
Goodwill		2,113,651	1,990,746
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		168,720	156,306
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		1,841,938	1,944,403
Notes Receivable from affiliates		19,500	19,500
Other assets		223,690	220,630
Total assets	[1]	6,687,069	5,963,168
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		290,848	322,505
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		310,802	0
Income taxes payable		1,500	23,491
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing		164,485	171,131
Current portion of notes and capital leases payable to affiliates		2,183	3,604
Current portion of program contracts payable		130,892	109,702
Deferred barter revenues		10,513	6,040
Total current liabilities		911,223	636,473
Long-term liabilities:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		3,876,134	4,014,932
Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion		12,824	14,181
Program contracts payable, less current portion		46,026	53,836
Deferred tax liabilities		661,745	609,317
Other long-term liabilities		70,818	76,493
Total liabilities	[1]	5,578,770	5,405,232
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 4)
Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity:
Additional paid-in capital		1,318,155	843,691
Accumulated deficit		(176,370)	(255,804)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(807)	(807)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		1,141,995	587,983
Noncontrolling interests		(33,696)	(30,047)
Total equity		1,108,299	557,936
Total liabilities and equity		6,687,069	5,963,168
Assets of variable interest entities		260,700	142,300
Liabilities of variable interest entities		160,200	40,900
Class A Common Stock
Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity:
Common Stock		760	646
Class B Common Stock
Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity:
Common Stock		$ 257	$ 257
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $260.7 million and $142.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $160.2 million and $40.9 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 (U3

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 2,510	$ 2,124
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)	76,032,524	64,558,207
Common Stock, shares outstanding (shares)	76,032,524	64,558,207
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)	25,670,684	25,670,684
Common Stock, shares outstanding (shares)	25,670,684	25,670,684

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
REVENUES:
Media revenues	$ 624,169	$ 635,269	$ 1,858,477	$ 1,772,860
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements	31,787	32,061	91,817	92,574
Other non-media revenues	14,935	26,505	49,821	73,824
Total revenues	670,891	693,835	2,000,115	1,939,258
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media production expenses	267,993	242,880	795,140	702,377
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	133,605	126,672	385,372	370,169
Expenses realized from barter arrangements	26,696	27,181	77,491	79,365
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	28,047	32,441	87,962	96,722
Other non-media expenses	14,945	20,488	46,921	57,946
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,442	25,886	72,026	74,330
Corporate general and administrative expenses	25,831	19,052	71,458	54,672
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	43,368	47,807	132,299	137,197
Research and development expenses	2,551	745	5,053	3,055
Gain on asset dispositions	(34)	(3,311)	(53,531)	(5,982)
Total operating expenses	567,444	539,841	1,620,191	1,569,851
Operating income	103,447	153,994	379,924	369,407
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(51,743)	(53,488)	(160,020)	(156,819)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0	(23,699)	(1,404)	(23,699)
(Loss) income from equity and cost method investments	(4,362)	1,423	(4,221)	2,789
Other income, net	2,342	789	5,601	2,355
Total other expense, net	(53,763)	(74,975)	(160,044)	(175,374)
Income before income taxes	49,684	79,019	219,880	194,033
INCOME TAX PROVISION	(17,118)	(26,986)	(70,577)	(65,771)
NET INCOME	32,566	52,033	149,303	128,262
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,929)	(1,188)	(16,820)	(3,858)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ 30,637	$ 50,845	$ 132,483	$ 124,404
Dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.54	$ 0.525
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	0.30	0.54	1.34	1.32
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.54	$ 1.32	$ 1.30
Weighted average common shares outstanding (shares)	102,245	93,948	99,210	94,595
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (shares)	103,055	94,766	100,173	95,465

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 32,566	$ 52,033	$ 149,303	$ 128,262
Comprehensive income	32,566	52,033	149,303	128,262
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,929)	(1,188)	(16,820)	(3,858)
Comprehensive income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ 30,637	$ 50,845	$ 132,483	$ 124,404

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUIT

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT) (Unaudited) - 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standards	$ 2,264	$ 431	$ 1,833
BALANCE (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015							68,792,483		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 (in shares)							(3,610,201)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(101,164)	(101,127)					$ (37)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (shares)							364,319
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	14,869	14,865					$ 4
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(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		25,928,357
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2016	486,666	876,895	(360,459)	(834)	(29,850)		$ 655		$ 259
BALANCE (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016						64,558,207	64,558,207	25,670,684	25,670,684
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2016	557,936	843,691	(255,804)	(807)	(30,047)		$ 646		$ 257
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(53,049)		(53,049)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock (in shares)							997,300
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(30,287)	(30,277)					$ 10
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (shares)							471,617
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	16,982	16,978					$ 4
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(20,469)				(20,469)
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs (in shares)							12,000,000
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	487,883	487,763					$ 120
Net income	149,303		132,483		16,820
BALANCE (shares) at Sep. 30, 2017						76,032,524	76,032,524	25,670,684	25,670,684
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 1,108,299	$ 1,318,155	$ (176,370)	$ (807)	$ (33,696)		$ 760		$ 257

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 149,303	$ 128,262
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment	72,026	74,330
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	132,299	137,197
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	87,962	96,722
Loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash portion	1,404	3,875
Stock-based compensation expense	12,905	13,470
Deferred tax provision (benefit)	(13,285)	6,631
Gain on asset dispositions	(53,531)	(5,982)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	2,167	(77,118)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,057)	(4,344)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(28,237)	36,286
Net change in net income taxes payable/receivable	(21,571)	(8,411)
Payments on program contracts payable	(84,499)	(84,625)
Other, net	22,525	13,967
Net cash flows from operating activities	278,411	330,260
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(55,463)	(68,601)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(269,799)	(425,856)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(5,682)	(29,143)
Proceeds from sale of non-media business	192,634	16,396
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(22,302)	(34,224)
Loans to affiliates	0	(19,500)
Other, net	(550)	3,401
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(161,162)	(557,527)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	166,041	1,011,312
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(318,309)	(653,987)
Net proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock	487,883	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(53,049)	(49,667)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(20,469)	(8,363)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(30,287)	(101,164)
Payments for deferred financing cost	731	15,598
Other, net	(6,119)	(693)
Net cash flows from financing activities	224,960	181,840
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	342,209	(45,427)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	259,984	149,972
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 602,193	$ 104,545

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMAR

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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. (the Company) is a diversified television broadcasting company with national reach and 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, 2017 , 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 192 stations in 89 markets. These stations broadcast 586 channels, as of September 30, 2017 . For the purpose of this report, these 192 stations and 586 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, 2017 and 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, 2016 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. Based on the terms of the agreements and the significance of our investment in the stations, we are the primary beneficiary when, 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 we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs. The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation. 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. 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 Federal Communications Commission (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: Restricted cash $ 122,948 $ — Accounts receivable 18,820 21,879 Other current assets 12,851 12,076 Total current assets 154,619 33,955 Program contract costs, less current portion 1,091 2,468 Property and equipment, net 6,418 2,996 Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets 16,475 16,475 Definite-lived intangible assets, net 76,487 79,509 Other assets 5,601 6,871 Total assets $ 260,691 $ 142,274 LIABILITIES Current liabilities: Deferred spectrum auction proceeds $ 122,948 $ — Other current liabilities 23,899 18,992 Long-term liabilities: Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion 15,043 19,449 Program contracts payable, less current portion 12,063 14,353 Other long-term liabilities 8,452 12,921 Total liabilities $ 182,405 $ 65,715 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 outsourcing agreements 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, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , which are excluded from liabilities above, were $42.8 million and $40.8 million , respectively. The total capital lease liabilities, net of capital lease assets, excluded from the above were $4.7 million and $4.5 million for the years ended September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. Also excluded from the amounts above are liabilities associated with certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs totaling $78.1 million and $74.5 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , 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, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are $105.2 million and $117.0 million , respectively, and are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. 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 loss of $1.3 million and income of $2.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , and income of $1.4 million and $2.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , 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 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. Since ASU 2014-09 was issued, several additional ASUs have been issued and incorporated within ASC 606 to clarify various elements of the guidance. We have not finalized our assessment of the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. However, we do not currently believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our station advertising or retransmission consent revenue. We have determined that under the new standard, certain barter revenue and expense related to syndicated programming will no longer be recognized. Barter revenues and expenses for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2017 was $26.4 million and $76.4 million , respectively. In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclose of financial instruments. The new guidance requires entities to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that resulted in consolidation of the investee) at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. 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 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. In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the accounting for income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Currently the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity are prohibited until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This update requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements. In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which relates to related party considerations in the variable interest entities assessment. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements. In November 2016, FASB issued new guidance related to the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. This new standard requires that a statement of cash flow explain change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling from period to period as shown on the cash flow. The new standard is effective for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017, including the interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, we will retrospectively reconcile the consolidated statement of cash flows to the restricted cash balance included in the consolidated balance sheet for the period presented in our financial statements. We are currently evaluating the method of presentation on our financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies the definition of a business with additional guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The new standard should be applied prospectively and is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. The new standard should be applied prospectively and is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements. In May 2017, the FASB issued new guidance which relates to stock based compensation and clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this guidance during the second quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements. Broadcast Incentive Auction Congress authorized the FCC to conduct so-called “incentive auctions” to auction and re-purpose broadcast television spectrum for mobile broadband use. Pursuant to the auction, television broadcasters submitted bids to receive compensation for relinquishing all or a portion of its rights in the television spectrum of their full-service and Class A stations. Low power stations were not eligible to participate in the auction and are not protected and therefore may be displaced or forced to go off the air as a result of the post-auction repacking process. On April 13, 2017, the FCC issued a public notice which announced the conclusion of the spectrum auction. In July 2017, we received $310.8 million of gross proceeds from the auction. These proceeds are reflected as restricted cash because we directed the FCC to deposit those proceeds with the qualifying intermediaries accounts to facilitate potential like kind exchange transactions. We are limited in our ability to access this cash for a period of time which ends at the earlier of the date that we close on the acquisition of qualifying replacement property or 180 days from the date that the cash was received. We received the auction proceeds in advance of vacating the spectrum sold in the auction; as a result, we have recorded a corresponding deferred liability of $310.8 million . We expect to recognize a gain of approximately $308.2 million once we vacate/cease using the spectrum sold in the auction which we expect will occur during the first quarter of 2018. The results of the auction are not expected to produce any material change in operations of the Company as there is no change in on air operations. In the repacking process associated with the auction, the FCC has reassigned some stations to new post-auction channels. We do not expect reassignment to new channels to have a material impact on our coverage. We have received notification from the FCC that 98 of our stations have been assigned to new channels. The legislation authorizing the incentive auction provides the FCC with a $1.75 billion fund to reimburse reasonable costs incurred by stations that are reassigned to new channels in the repack. We expect that the reimbursements from the fund will cover the majority of our expenses related to the repack. However, we cannot predict whether the fund will be sufficient to reimburse all of our expenses. The sufficiency of the fund is dependent upon a number of factors including the amounts to be reimbursed to other industry participants for repacking costs. Revenue Recognition Total revenues include: (i) station advertising revenue, net of agency commissions; (ii) barter advertising revenues; (iii) retransmission consent fees; (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. Income Taxes Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes. The tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 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, 2017 and 2016, approximated the statutory rate. Equity Offering On March 15, 2017, we issued and sold 12.0 million shares of Class A Common stock to the public at a price of $42.00 per share. The proceeds from the offering, net of financing costs, were approximately $487.9 million and are intended to fund future potential acquisitions and general corporate purposes. 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 shares repurchases authorization. There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , we purchased approximately 1.0 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $30.3 million . As of September 30, 2017 , the total remaining repurchase authorization is $88.8 million . Subsequent Events In October 2017, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, payable on December 15, 2017 to holders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2017. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years' consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year's presentation.

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS	ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS: 2017 Acquisitions. Bonten . On September 1, 2017, we acquired the stock of Bonten Media Group Holdings, Inc. (Bonten) and Cunningham acquired the membership interest of Esteem Broadcasting (Esteem) for an aggregate purchase price of $240 million plus a working capital adjustment, excluding cash acquired, of $1.3 million accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. As a result of the transaction we added 14 television stations in 8 markets: Tri-Cities, TN/VA; Greensville/New Bern/Washington, NC; Chico/Redding, CA; Abilene/Sweetwater, TX; Missoula, MT; Butte/Bozeman, MT; San Angelo, TX; and Eureka, CA. Cunningham assumed the joint sales agreement under which we will provide services to 4 additional stations. The transaction was funded through cash on hand. The acquisition will expand our regional presence in several states where we already operate and help us bring improvements to small market stations. The following table summarizes the allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities (in thousands): Accounts receivable 14,665 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 699 Program contract costs 683 Property and equipment 23,019 Definite-lived intangible assets 157,979 Indefinite-lived intangible assets 8,363 Other assets 3,609 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (8,481 ) Program contracts payable (783 ) Deferred tax liability (65,789 ) Other long term liabilities (3,409 ) Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired 130,555 Goodwill 110,716 Total purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 241,271 The preliminary purchase price allocation presented above is based upon management’s estimate of the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. 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 allocation is preliminary pending a final determination of the fair value of the assets and liabilities. The definite-lived intangible assets of $158.0 million is comprised of network affiliations of $49.5 million and customer relationships of $108.5 million . These intangible assets will be amortized over a weighted average useful life of 14 years for network affiliations and other intangible assets. 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 transferred 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. We expect that goodwill deductible for tax purposes will be approximately $5.6 million . In connection with the acquisition for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , we incurred a total of $0.3 million and $0.8 million , respectively, 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. Net revenues and operating income of the Bonten stations in our consolidated statements of operations, were $7.6 million and $0.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 . Other 2017 Acquisitions. During 2017, we acquired certain media assets for an aggregate $27 million , less working capital of $2.8 million . The transactions were funded with cash on hand. 2016 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, excluding cash acquired, of $4.1 million accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. The transaction 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): 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 (16,991 ) Other long term liabilities (1,669 ) Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired 300,627 Goodwill 53,427 Total purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 354,054 The purchase price allocation presented above is based upon management’s estimate of the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. 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 definite-lived intangible assets of $272.7 million related primarily to customer relationships, which represent existing advertiser relationships and contractual relationships with multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and will be amortized over a weighted average useful life of 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 transferred 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 not be deductible for tax purposes. In connection with the acquisition, for the year ended December 31, 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. Net revenues of Tennis included in our consolidated statements of operations, were $33.9 million and $103.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , and $27.4 million and $62.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively. Our consolidated statements of operations included operating income of Tennis of $3.0 million and $8.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and an operating income of $1.3 million and an operating loss of $9.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively. Other 2016 Acquisitions. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we acquired certain television station related assets for an aggregate purchase price of $72.0 million less working capital of $0.1 million . We also exchanged certain broadcast assets which had a carrying value of $23.8 million with another broadcaster for no cash consideration, and recognized a gain on the derecognition of those broadcast assets of $4.4 million , respectively. Pro Forma Information. The following table sets forth unaudited results of operations, assuming that Bonten for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and that Tennis for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , 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 other acquisitions discussed above, 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, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Total revenues $ 685,382 $ 714,451 $ 2,056,790 $ 2,014,195 Net Income $ 34,303 $ 54,437 $ 155,532 $ 134,504 Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 32,374 $ 53,249 $ 138,712 $ 130,646 Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 0.32 $ 0.57 $ 1.40 $ 1.38 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 0.31 $ 0.56 $ 1.38 $ 1.37 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 Bonten or Tennis for the periods 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 and any adjustments to interest expense to reflect the debt financing of the transactions, if applicable. 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. Pending Acquisitions. In May 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the stock of Tribune Media Company (Tribune) for $43.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $3.9 billion , plus the assumption or refinancing of approximately $2.7 billion in net debt. Under the terms of the agreement, Tribune stockholders will receive $35.00 in cash and 0.23 shares of Sinclair Class A common stock for each share of Tribune Class A common stock and Class B common stock they own. Tribune owns or operates 42 television stations in 33 markets, cable network WGN America, digital multicast network Antenna TV, minority stakes in the TV Food Network, ThisTV, and CareerBuilder, and a variety of real estate assets. Tribune’s stations consists of 14 FOX, 12 CW, 6 CBS, 3 ABC, 2 NBC, 3 MyNetworkTV affiliates and 2 independent stations. We expect the transaction will close during the first quarter of 2018, as well as customary closing conditions, including antitrust clearance and approval by the FCC. We expect to fund the purchase price through a combination of cash on hand, fully committed debt financing, and by accessing the capital markets. In October 2017, Tribune shareholders held a meeting and voted to approve the merger agreement. See Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing for further discussion on debt financing. 2017 Dispositions Alarm Funding Sale. In March 2017, we sold Alarm Funding Associates LLC (Alarm) for $200.0 million less working capital and transaction costs of $5.0 million . We recognized a gain on the sale of Alarm of $53.0 million of which $12.3 million was attributable to noncontrolling interests which is included in the gain on asset dispositions and net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest, respectively, on the consolidated statement of operations.

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BA

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING	NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING: Bank Credit Agreement On January 3, 2017, we amended our bank credit agreement. We extended the maturity date of the Term Loan B from April 9, 2020 and July 31, 2021 to January 3, 2024. In connection with the extension, we added additional operating flexibility, including a reduction in certain pricing terms related to Term Loan B and our existing revolving credit facility (Revolver) and revisions to certain covenant ratio requirements. The Term Loan B and Revolver bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.25% and 2.00% , respectively. We incurred approximately $11.6 million of financing costs in connection with the amendment, of which $3.4 million related to an original issuance discount, $7.7 million was expensed, and $0.5 million was capitalized as a deferred financing cost as of September 30, 2017 . Additionally, unamortized deferred financing costs of $1.4 million were written off as loss on extinguishment in the consolidated statement of operations in the first quarter of 2017 related to this amendment. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Term Loan B balance net of deferred financing costs and debt discounts was $1,346.7 million and $1,353.5 million , respectively. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , there was no outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2017 , we had $484.4 million of borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility. Commitment Letters and Incremental Term B Facility related to Tribune Acquisition In connection with the pending acquisition of Tribune discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions and Disposition of Assets , we entered into financing commitment letters (Commitment Letters) with certain financial institutions for (i) a seven -year senior secured incremental term loan B facility of up to $3.747 billion (Incremental Term Loan B Facility) and (ii) a one -year senior unsecured term loan bridge facility of up to $785 million (Bridge Facility) and, together with the Incremental Term B Facility, collectively the (Facilities), convertible into a nine -year extended term loan, for purposes of financing a portion of the cash consideration payable under the terms of the agreement of plan merger between the Company and Tribune (Merger Agreement) and to pay or redeem certain indebtedness of Tribune and its subsidiaries. The Commitment Letters also contemplate certain amendments to our existing credit agreement, as subsequently amended (Existing Credit Agreement) in connection with the Tribune Acquisition to permit the acquisition and to provide for the Incremental Term B Facility in accordance with the terms of the Existing Credit Agreement. The Commitment Letters also provide for the syndication of an incremental revolving credit loan facility commitment of up to $225 million (Incremental Revolving Commitments) to be provided in accordance with the terms of the Existing Credit Agreement. The provision of the Incremental Revolving Commitments is not a condition of the Incremental Term B Facility or the Bridge Facility. The Incremental Term Loan B Facility will be subject to representations, warranties and covenants that, subject to certain agreed modifications, will be substantially similar to those in the Existing Credit Agreement. The documentation for the Bridge Facility shall, except as otherwise agreed, be based on and consistent with the indenture governing our 5.125% Senior Notes due 2027, dated as of August 30, 2016, among STG and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee ( 5.125% Notes Indenture), and shall in any case, except as expressly agreed, be no less favorable to us than the 5.125% Notes Indenture. The funding of the Facilities is subject to our compliance with customary terms and conditions precedent as set forth in the Commitment Letters, including, among others, (i) the execution and delivery by us of definitive documentation consistent with the Commitment Letters and (ii) that the acquisition of Tribune shall have been, or substantially simultaneously with the funding under the Facilities shall be, consummated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement without giving effect to any amendments or waivers that are material and adverse to the parties to the Commitment Letters. In June 2017, Tribune commenced a consent solicitation, seeking consents from the holders of Tribune notes to amend certain provisions of the indenture governing Tribune's 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (Tribune notes), to (i) eliminate any requirement for Tribune to make a "Change of Control Offer," to holders of Tribune notes in connection with the transactions, (ii) clarify the treatment under the Tribune notes of the proposed structure of the transactions and to facilitate the integration of Tribune and its subsidiaries and the Tribune notes with and into the Company's debt capital structure, and (iii) eliminate the expense associated with producing and filing with the SEC separate financial reports for STG, a wholly-owned subsidiary and the television operating subsidiary of the Company, as successor issuer of the Tribune notes, if the Company or any other parent entity of the successor issuer of the Tribune notes, in its sole discretion, provides an unconditional guarantee of the payment obligations of the successor issuer under the Tribune notes. Tribune received the requisite consent from the holders of the Notes and executed a supplemental indenture to amend these provisions of the Tribune indenture. The Company paid a consent fee of $8.25 million to the consenting holders of the Notes.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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, Local Marketing Agreements, Joint Sales Agreements, Retransmission Consent Negotiations, and National Ownership Cap Certain of our stations have entered into what have commonly been referred to as local marketing agreements or LMAs. One typical type of LMA is a programming agreement between two separately owned television stations serving the same market, whereby the licensee of one station programs substantial portions of the broadcast day and sells advertising time during such programming segments on the other licensee’s station subject to the latter licensee’s ultimate editorial and other controls. We believe these arrangements allow us to reduce our operating expenses and enhance profitability. In 1999, the FCC established a new local television ownership rule which made LMAs attributable. However, the rule grandfathered LMAs that were entered into prior to November 5, 1996, and permitted the applicable stations to continue operations pursuant to the LMAs until the conclusion of the FCC’s 2004 biennial review. The FCC stated it would conduct a case-by-case review of grandfathered LMAs and assess the appropriateness of extending the grandfathering periods. The FCC did not initiate any review of grandfathered LMAs in 2004 or as part of its subsequent quadrennial reviews. We do not know when, or if, the FCC will conduct any such review of grandfathered LMAs. Currently, all of our LMAs are grandfathered under the local television ownership rule because they were entered into prior to November 5, 1996. If the FCC were to eliminate the grandfathering of these LMAs, we would have to terminate or modify these LMAs. 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, the FCC initiated an investigation. In order to resolve the investigation and all other pending matters before the FCC's Media Bureau (including the grant of all outstanding renewals and dismissal or cancellation of all outstanding adversarial pleadings or forfeitures before the Media Bureau), the Company, on July 29, 2016, without any admission of liability, entered into a consent decree with the FCC pursuant to which the Company paid a settlement payment and agreed to be subject to ongoing compliance monitoring by the FCC for a period of 36 months . 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 sought comment on new factors and evidence to consider in the FCC's 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, then-Chairman Wheeler announced that the FCC would not, at such time, proceed to adopt additional rules governing good faith negotiations of retransmission consent. No formal action has yet been taken on this Proposed Rulemaking, and we cannot predict if the full Commission will agree to terminate the Rulemaking without action. In August 2016, the FCC completed both its 2010 and 2014 quadrennial reviews of its media ownership rules and issued an order (the "Ownership Order") which left most of the existing multiple ownership rules intact, but amended the rules to provide for the attribution of JSAs where two television stations are located in the same market, and a party with an attributable ownership interest in one station sells more than 15% of the advertising time per week of the second station. The Ownership Order also provides that JSAs that existed prior to March 31, 2014, will not be counted as attributable and may remain in place until October 1, 2025, at which point they must be terminated, amended or otherwise come into compliance with the rules. These "grandfathered" JSAs may be transferred or assigned without terminating the grandfathering status relief. Among other things, the television JSA attribution rule could limit our future ability to create duopolies or other two-station operations in certain markets. We cannot predict whether we will be able to terminate or restructure such arrangements prior to October 1, 2025, on terms that are as advantageous to us as the current arrangements. The revenues of these JSA arrangements we earned during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $15.9 million and $45.1 million , and $16.0 million and $42.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively. The Ownership Order is the subject of an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Petitions for Reconsideration before the FCC. On October 26, 2017, the FCC announced plans to grant in part and deny in part the Petitions for Reconsideration and released a draft Order on Reconsideration to be voted on at the Commission’s November 16, 2017 monthly public meeting. The draft Order on Reconsideration includes, among other things, proposals to (1) eliminate the Newspaper/Broadcast and TV/Radio Cross-Ownership Rules; (2) permit certain TV duopolies in all markets by eliminating the Eight Voices Test and assessing proposed Big-4 station combinations on a case-by-case basis; (3) eliminate attribution of Joint Sales Agreements; and (4) create an incubator program to promote new entry and ownership diversity in the broadcast industry. The draft Order on Reconsideration is subject to change prior to adoption. If adopted, the Order on Reconsideration would be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. If we are required to terminate or modify our LMAs or JSAs, our business could be affected in the following ways: Losses on investments . In some cases, we own the non-license assets used by the stations we operate under LMAs and JSAs. If certain of these arrangements are no longer permitted, we could be forced to sell these assets, restructure our agreements or find another use for them. If this happens, the market for such assets may not be as good as when we purchased them and, therefore, we cannot be certain of a favorable return on our original investments. Termination penalties . If the FCC requires us to modify or terminate existing LMAs or JSAs before the terms of the agreements expire, or under certain circumstances, we elect not to extend the terms of the agreements, we may be forced to pay termination penalties under the terms of some of our agreements. Any such termination penalties could be material. On September 6, 2016, the FCC released an order eliminating the UHF discount (the "UHF Discount Order"). The UHF discount allowed television station owners to recognize the limitation of coverage inherent with 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 34 of the stations we currently own and operate, or to which we provide programming services are UHF. On April 20, 2017, the FCC acted on a Petition for Reconsideration of the UHF Discount Order and adopted an Order on Reconsideration which reinstated the UHF Discount, which was to become effective June 5, 2017. The Order on Reconsideration also announced the FCC's plans to open a rulemaking proceeding later this year to consider whether to modify the national audience reach rule, including the UHF discount. A petition for judicial review of the Order on Reconsideration was filed at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on May 12, 2017. Sinclair has filed to intervene in support of the FCC. Prior to the effective date, the petitioners in that case filed an emergency motion with the court seeking a stay of the Order on Reconsideration pending judicial review. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals entered an administrative stay of the Order on Reconsideration pending its review of the emergency stay motion. On June 15, 2017, the court issued an order dissolving the administrative stay and denying the emergency stay motion. The Order on Reconsideration became effective immediately upon release of the court's order, as a result of which the UHF discount remains in effect. The petitioners filed their brief in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on September 25, 2017. The FCC's brief is currently due November 7, 2017, and the intervenor's brief is currently due November 14, 2017. Petitioners' reply brief is due December 5, 2017. We cannot predict the outcome of this proceeding. With the application of the UHF discount, counting all our present stations, we reach approximately 25% of U.S. households. With the pending Tribune transaction, absent divestitures, we would exceed the 39% cap, even with the application of the UHF discount. Changes to the national ownership cap could limit our ability to make television station acquisitions.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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 2017 2016 2017 2016 Income (Numerator) Net income $ 32,566 $ 52,033 $ 149,303 $ 128,262 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (1,929 ) (1,188 ) (16,820 ) (3,858 ) Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders $ 30,637 $ 50,845 $ 132,483 $ 124,404 Shares (Denominator) Weighted-average common shares outstanding 102,245 93,948 99,210 94,595 Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options 810 818 963 870 Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 103,055 94,766 100,173 95,465 The following table shows the weighted-average stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options (in thousands) that are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share as the inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2017 2016 2017 2016 Weighted-average stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options excluded 1,150 525 383 525

SEGMENT DATA

SEGMENT DATA	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
SEGMENT DATA	SEGMENT DATA: We measure segment performance based on operating income (loss). Our broadcast segment includes stations in 89 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 $172.7 million and $226.5 million of intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other, and corporate as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. We had $4.3 million and $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, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. We had $14.2 million and $18.3 million in intercompany interest expense for the the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , 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, 2017 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 610,840 $ 60,051 $ — $ 670,891 Depreciation of property and equipment 22,344 1,851 247 24,442 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 38,186 5,182 — 43,368 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 28,047 — — 28,047 General and administrative overhead expenses 23,582 224 2,025 25,831 Research and development — 2,551 — 2,551 Operating income (loss) 115,571 (9,852 ) (2,272 ) 103,447 Interest expense 1,281 204 50,258 51,743 Loss from equity and cost method investments — (4,362 ) — (4,362 ) Assets 5,274,895 762,751 649,423 6,687,069 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 Nine months ended September 30, 2017 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 1,821,248 $ 178,867 $ — $ 2,000,115 Depreciation of property and equipment 65,850 5,438 738 72,026 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 114,810 17,489 — 132,299 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 87,962 — — 87,962 General and administrative overhead expenses 65,059 785 5,614 71,458 Research and development — 5,053 — 5,053 Operating income (loss) 361,259 25,016 (a) (6,351 ) 379,924 Interest expense 3,976 1,633 154,411 160,020 Loss from equity and cost method investments — (4,221 ) — (4,221 ) (a) - Includes gain on the sale of Alarm of $53.0 million of which $12.3 million was attributable to noncontrolling interests. See Note 2. Acquisitions and Disposition of Assets . 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

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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, 2017 and 2016 , and $3.9 million and $3.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Charter Aircraft. We lease aircraft owned by certain controlling shareholders. For all leases, we incurred expenses of $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , and $1.3 million and $1.0 million for the for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation Cunningham owns a portfolio of television stations including: WNUV-TV Baltimore, Maryland; WRGT-TV Dayton, Ohio; WVAH-TV Charleston, West Virginia; WMYA-TV Anderson, South Carolina; WTTE-TV Columbus, Ohio; WDBB-TV Birmingham, Alabama; WBSF-TV Flint, Michigan; WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV Traverse City/Cadillac, Michigan, and beginning in September 2017, WEMT-TV Tri-Cities, Tennessee, WYDO-TV Greenville, North Carolina, KBVU-TV Eureka, California, KCVU-TV Chico-Redding, California, and WPFO-TV Portland, Maine (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. 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, 2017 was approximately $ 53.6 million . Additionally, we provide services to WDBB-TV pursuant to an LMA, which expires April 22, 2025, and own a purchase option to acquire for $0.2 million . We paid Cunningham under these agreements, $2.4 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , and $6.4 million and $6.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. In September 2017, Cunningham acquired the membership interest of Esteem Broadcasting in connection with our acquisition of Bonten Media Group, as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions and Disposition of Assets . As a result of the transaction, Cunningham assumed the joint sales agreement under which we will provide services to four stations; WEMT-TV, WYDO-TV, and KBVU-TV/KCVU-TV. The agreements with KBVU-TV/KCVU-TV, WBSF-TV, WEMT-TV, WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV, WPFO-TV, and WYDO-TV expire in December 2020, November 2021, May 2023, August 2023, December 2023, and August 2025 respectively, and each has renewal provisions for successive eight year periods. We earned $6.6 million and $1.4 million from the services we performed for these stations for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , and $10.9 million and $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , 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 $31.4 million and $29.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , and $84.5 million and $83.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , 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. Interest income was $0.2 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and $0.7 million for both the for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. 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 a time brokerage agreement that expires in April 2019 . Under the agreement, 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 Executive Chairman, has a controlling interest in, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Atlantic Automotive. We received payments for advertising totaling $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , and $0.4 million and $0.6 million , for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Additionally, Atlantic Automotive leases office space owned by one of our consolidated real estate ventures in Towson, Maryland. In May 2017, our consolidated real estate ventures sold their investment. See Leased property by real estate ventures below for discussion on the sale our consolidated real estate ventures' investment. Atlantic Automotive paid $0.4 million and $0.8 million in rent for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Leased property by real estate ventures Certain of our real estate ventures have entered into leases with entities owned by David D. Smith to lease space. There are leases for space in a building owned by one of our consolidated real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD. Total rent received under these leases was $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , and $0.3 million and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. One of our real estate ventures, accounted for under the equity method, owned a building in Towson, MD, which leased restaurant space to entities owned by David D. Smith up until May 2017, when the property was sold to an unrelated party. This investment received less than $0.1 million and $0.2 million in rent pursuant to the lease for the for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Payments for services provided by the restaurants to us was less than $0.1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 . Other transactions with equity method investees In April 2017, we made a $15.0 million investment in 120 Sports LLC, a multi-platform sports network branded as Stadium, which we account for under the equity method. We entered into a services agreement with the entity to provide certain linear distribution, engineering advertising, traffic, sales, and promotional services. For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , we did not receive any consideration pursuant to the services agreement.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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 fair value of our notes payable, capital leases, and commercial bank financing are considered Level 2 measurements within the fair value hierarchy. The carrying value and fair value of our notes and debentures for the periods presented (in thousands): As of September 30, 2017 As of December 31, 2016 Carrying Value (a) Fair Value Carrying Value (a) Fair Value 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 500,000 516,170 500,000 521,240 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 350,000 359,342 350,000 351,456 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 550,000 565,637 550,000 562,755 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 600,000 615,714 600,000 617,892 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 400,000 389,156 400,000 382,028 Term Loan A 241,073 241,374 272,198 271,517 Term Loan B 1,359,725 1,361,425 1,365,625 1,364,841 Debt of variable interest entities 20,585 20,585 23,198 23,198 Debt of other operating divisions 27,470 27,470 135,211 135,211 (a) Amounts are carried net of debt discount and deferred financing cost, which are excluded in the above table, of $40.7 million as of September 30, 2017 and $43.4 million as of December 31, 2016.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCI

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: 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, 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, 2017 , 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 5.125% Notes, and until they were redeemed, the 6.375% Notes. As of September 30, 2017 , our consolidated total debt, net of deferred financing costs and debt discounts, of $4,055.6 million included $4,027.1 million related to STG and its subsidiaries of which SBG guaranteed $3,980.9 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. The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 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, 2017 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash $ — $ 551,349 $ 22,161 $ 28,683 $ — $ 602,193 Restricted cash — — 187,854 124,948 — 312,802 Accounts receivable — — 488,553 34,558 — 523,111 Other current assets 4,063 4,843 139,838 25,511 (22,930 ) 151,325 Total current assets 4,063 556,192 838,406 213,700 (22,930 ) 1,589,431 Property and equipment, net 1,075 17,814 584,699 133,155 (12,618 ) 724,125 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 1,109,617 3,759,217 4,179 — (4,873,013 ) — Goodwill — — 2,109,784 3,867 — 2,113,651 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 153,011 15,709 — 168,720 Definite-lived intangible assets — — 1,820,369 80,168 (58,599 ) 1,841,938 Other long-term assets 36,255 836,081 102,107 157,903 (883,142 ) 249,204 Total assets $ 1,151,010 $ 5,169,304 $ 5,612,555 $ 604,502 $ (5,850,302 ) $ 6,687,069 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 207 $ 68,816 $ 204,821 $ 42,129 $ (25,125 ) $ 290,848 Deferred spectrum auction proceeds — — 187,854 122,948 — 310,802 Current portion of long-term debt — 154,521 2,357 7,607 — 164,485 Current portion of affiliate long-term debt 479 — 1,388 765 (449 ) 2,183 Other current liabilities — — 127,097 15,808 142,905 Total current liabilities 686 223,337 523,517 189,257 (25,574 ) 911,223 Long-term debt — 3,806,135 28,954 41,045 — 3,876,134 Affiliate long-term debt — — 11,505 343,517 (342,198 ) 12,824 Other liabilities 8,329 36,524 1,289,220 181,505 (736,989 ) 778,589 Total liabilities 9,015 4,065,996 1,853,196 755,324 (1,104,761 ) 5,578,770 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 1,141,995 1,103,308 3,759,359 (112,439 ) (4,750,228 ) 1,141,995 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (38,383 ) 4,687 (33,696 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 1,151,010 $ 5,169,304 $ 5,612,555 $ 604,502 $ (5,850,302 ) $ 6,687,069 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2016 (in thousands) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash $ — $ 232,297 $ 10,675 $ 17,012 $ — $ 259,984 Restricted Cash — — 200 — — 200 Accounts receivable — — 478,190 37,024 (1,260 ) 513,954 Other current assets 5,561 3,143 124,113 25,406 (27,273 ) 130,950 Total current assets 5,561 235,440 613,178 79,442 (28,533 ) 905,088 Property and equipment, net 1,820 17,925 570,289 131,326 (3,784 ) 717,576 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 551,250 3,614,605 4,179 — (4,170,034 ) — Goodwill — — 1,986,467 4,279 — 1,990,746 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 140,597 15,709 — 156,306 Definite-lived intangible assets — — 1,770,512 233,368 (59,477 ) 1,944,403 Other long-term assets $ 46,586 $ 819,506 $ 103,808 $ 169,817 $ (890,668 ) $ 249,049 Total assets $ 605,217 $ 4,687,476 $ 5,189,030 $ 633,941 $ (5,152,496 ) $ 5,963,168 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 100 $ 69,118 $ 225,645 $ 48,815 $ (21,173 ) $ 322,505 Current portion of long-term debt — 55,501 1,851 113,779 — 171,131 Current portion of affiliate long-term debt 1,857 — 1,514 2,336 (2,103 ) 3,604 Other current liabilities — — 127,967 13,590 (2,324 ) 139,233 Total current liabilities 1,957 124,619 356,977 178,520 (25,600 ) 636,473 Long-term debt — 3,939,463 31,014 44,455 — 4,014,932 Affiliate long-term debt — — 12,663 396,957 (395,439 ) 14,181 Other liabilities 15,277 31,817 1,190,717 183,418 (681,583 ) 739,646 Total liabilities 17,234 4,095,899 1,591,371 803,350 (1,102,622 ) 5,405,232 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 587,983 591,577 3,597,659 (134,991 ) (4,054,245 ) 587,983 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (34,418 ) 4,371 (30,047 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 605,217 $ 4,687,476 $ 5,189,030 $ 633,941 $ (5,152,496 ) $ 5,963,168 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 638,100 $ 50,816 $ (18,025 ) $ 670,891 Media program and production expenses — — 254,956 29,376 (16,339 ) 267,993 Selling, general and administrative 2,027 23,534 130,289 3,582 4 159,436 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 247 1,591 111,849 27,158 (830 ) 140,015 Total operating expenses 2,274 25,125 497,094 60,116 (17,165 ) 567,444 Operating (loss) income (2,274 ) (25,125 ) 141,006 (9,300 ) (860 ) 103,447 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 32,196 90,445 114 — (122,755 ) — Interest expense (10 ) (50,247 ) (1,013 ) (4,968 ) 4,495 (51,743 ) Other income (expense) (92 ) 1,869 (2,673 ) (1,124 ) — (2,020 ) Total other income (expense) 32,094 42,067 (3,572 ) (6,092 ) (118,260 ) (53,763 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 817 25,364 (46,987 ) 3,688 — (17,118 ) Net income (loss) 30,637 42,306 90,447 (11,704 ) (119,120 ) 32,566 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (1,730 ) (199 ) (1,929 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 30,637 $ 42,306 $ 90,447 $ (13,434 ) $ (119,319 ) $ 30,637 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 30,637 $ 42,306 $ 90,447 $ (11,704 ) $ (119,120 ) $ 32,566 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 NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 1,901,075 $ 157,236 $ (58,196 ) $ 2,000,115 Media program and production expenses — — 760,642 88,296 (53,798 ) 795,140 Selling, general and administrative 5,615 64,903 377,177 9,135 — 456,830 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 738 4,967 335,316 29,248 (2,048 ) 368,221 Total operating expenses 6,353 69,870 1,473,135 126,679 (55,846 ) 1,620,191 Operating (loss) income (6,353 ) (69,870 ) 427,940 30,557 (2,350 ) 379,924 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 136,311 274,850 257 — (411,418 ) — Interest expense (81 ) (154,330 ) (3,557 ) (16,740 ) 14,688 (160,020 ) Loss from the extinguishment of debt — (1,404 ) — — — (1,404 ) Other income 731 3,796 (4,071 ) 924 — 1,380 Total other income (expense) 136,961 122,912 (7,371 ) (15,816 ) (396,730 ) (160,044 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 1,875 75,105 (143,059 ) (4,498 ) — (70,577 ) Net income (loss) 132,483 128,147 277,510 10,243 (399,080 ) 149,303 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (16,608 ) (212 ) (16,820 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 132,483 $ 128,147 $ 277,510 $ (6,365 ) $ (399,292 ) $ 132,483 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 132,483 $ 128,147 $ 277,510 $ 10,243 $ (399,080 ) $ 149,303 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 extinguishment of debt — (23,699 ) — — — (23,699 ) Other income (expense) 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 CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (5,605 ) $ (141,239 ) $ 433,435 $ (12,959 ) $ 4,779 $ 278,411 CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment (131 ) (6,088 ) (47,564 ) (2,677 ) 997 (55,463 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired — (8,308 ) (261,491 ) — — (269,799 ) Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts — — — (5,682 ) — (5,682 ) Proceeds from sale of non-media business — — — 192,634 — 192,634 Investments in equity and cost method investees (945 ) (1,101 ) (15,469 ) (4,787 ) — (22,302 ) Other, net 3,903 (7,733 ) 541 2,739 — (550 ) Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities 2,827 (23,230 ) (323,983 ) 182,227 997 (161,162 ) CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — 159,669 — 6,372 — 166,041 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — (200,119 ) (1,367 ) (116,823 ) — (318,309 ) Proceeds from the issuance of Class A Common Stock 487,883 — — — — 487,883 Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (53,049 ) — — — — (53,049 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (30,287 ) — — — — (30,287 ) Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — (20,469 ) — (20,469 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables (400,451 ) 524,016 (92,993 ) (24,750 ) (5,822 ) — Other, net (1,318 ) (45 ) (3,606 ) (1,927 ) 46 (6,850 ) Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities 2,778 483,521 (97,966 ) (157,597 ) (5,776 ) 224,960 NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — 319,052 11,486 11,671 — 342,209 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period — 232,297 10,675 17,012 — 259,984 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ — $ 551,349 $ 22,161 $ 28,683 $ — $ 602,193 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 FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (4,060 ) $ (152,724 ) $ 451,804 $ 17,138 $ 18,102 $ 330,260 CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) 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 ) Investments in equity and cost method investees (2,945 ) (10,840 ) (34 ) (20,405 ) — (34,224 ) Proceeds from sale of non-media business — — 7,263 9,133 — 16,396 Loans to affiliates — (19,500 ) — — — (19,500 ) Other, net 1,714 (1,828 ) (86 ) 3,601 — 3,401 Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities (1,238 ) (35,794 ) (470,096 ) (51,031 ) 632 (557,527 ) CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — 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 ) Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — (8,363 ) — (8,363 ) 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 (193 ) 185 (16,291 ) Net cash flows (used in) from 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

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM17

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (the Company) is a diversified television broadcasting company with national reach and 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, 2017 , 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 192 stations in 89 markets. These stations broadcast 586 channels, as of September 30, 2017 . For the purpose of this report, these 192 stations and 586 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, 2017 and 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, 2016 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. Based on the terms of the agreements and the significance of our investment in the stations, we are the primary beneficiary when, 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 we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs. The fees paid between us and the licensees pursuant to these arrangements are eliminated in consolidation. Several of these VIEs are owned by a related party, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham).
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 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. Since ASU 2014-09 was issued, several additional ASUs have been issued and incorporated within ASC 606 to clarify various elements of the guidance. We have not finalized our assessment of the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. However, we do not currently believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our station advertising or retransmission consent revenue. We have determined that under the new standard, certain barter revenue and expense related to syndicated programming will no longer be recognized. Barter revenues and expenses for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2017 was $26.4 million and $76.4 million , respectively. In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclose of financial instruments. The new guidance requires entities to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that resulted in consolidation of the investee) at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. 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 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. In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the accounting for income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Currently the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity are prohibited until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This update requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements. In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which relates to related party considerations in the variable interest entities assessment. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements. In November 2016, FASB issued new guidance related to the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. This new standard requires that a statement of cash flow explain change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling from period to period as shown on the cash flow. The new standard is effective for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017, including the interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, we will retrospectively reconcile the consolidated statement of cash flows to the restricted cash balance included in the consolidated balance sheet for the period presented in our financial statements. We are currently evaluating the method of presentation on our financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies the definition of a business with additional guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The new standard should be applied prospectively and is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. The new standard should be applied prospectively and is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements. In May 2017, the FASB issued new guidance which relates to stock based compensation and clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The new standard is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this guidance during the second quarter of 2017. The impact of the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
Revenue Recognition	Total revenues include: (i) station advertising revenue, net of agency commissions; (ii) barter advertising revenues; (iii) retransmission consent fees; (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.
Income Taxes	Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes. The tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 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.
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.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM18

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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: Restricted cash $ 122,948 $ — Accounts receivable 18,820 21,879 Other current assets 12,851 12,076 Total current assets 154,619 33,955 Program contract costs, less current portion 1,091 2,468 Property and equipment, net 6,418 2,996 Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets 16,475 16,475 Definite-lived intangible assets, net 76,487 79,509 Other assets 5,601 6,871 Total assets $ 260,691 $ 142,274 LIABILITIES Current liabilities: Deferred spectrum auction proceeds $ 122,948 $ — Other current liabilities 23,899 18,992 Long-term liabilities: Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion 15,043 19,449 Program contracts payable, less current portion 12,063 14,353 Other long-term liabilities 8,452 12,921 Total liabilities $ 182,405 $ 65,715

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION 19

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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): 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 (16,991 ) Other long term liabilities (1,669 ) Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired 300,627 Goodwill 53,427 Total purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 354,054 The following table summarizes the allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities (in thousands): Accounts receivable 14,665 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 699 Program contract costs 683 Property and equipment 23,019 Definite-lived intangible assets 157,979 Indefinite-lived intangible assets 8,363 Other assets 3,609 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (8,481 ) Program contracts payable (783 ) Deferred tax liability (65,789 ) Other long term liabilities (3,409 ) Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired 130,555 Goodwill 110,716 Total purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 241,271
Summary of Pro Forma Information	The following table sets forth unaudited results of operations, assuming that Bonten for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and that Tennis for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , 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 other acquisitions discussed above, 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, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Total revenues $ 685,382 $ 714,451 $ 2,056,790 $ 2,014,195 Net Income $ 34,303 $ 54,437 $ 155,532 $ 134,504 Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 32,374 $ 53,249 $ 138,712 $ 130,646 Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 0.32 $ 0.57 $ 1.40 $ 1.38 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 0.31 $ 0.56 $ 1.38 $ 1.37

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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 2017 2016 2017 2016 Income (Numerator) Net income $ 32,566 $ 52,033 $ 149,303 $ 128,262 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (1,929 ) (1,188 ) (16,820 ) (3,858 ) Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders $ 30,637 $ 50,845 $ 132,483 $ 124,404 Shares (Denominator) Weighted-average common shares outstanding 102,245 93,948 99,210 94,595 Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options 810 818 963 870 Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 103,055 94,766 100,173 95,465
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share	The following table shows the weighted-average stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options (in thousands) that are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share as the inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2017 2016 2017 2016 Weighted-average stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options excluded 1,150 525 383 525

SEGMENT DATA (Tables)

SEGMENT DATA (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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, 2017 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 610,840 $ 60,051 $ — $ 670,891 Depreciation of property and equipment 22,344 1,851 247 24,442 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 38,186 5,182 — 43,368 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 28,047 — — 28,047 General and administrative overhead expenses 23,582 224 2,025 25,831 Research and development — 2,551 — 2,551 Operating income (loss) 115,571 (9,852 ) (2,272 ) 103,447 Interest expense 1,281 204 50,258 51,743 Loss from equity and cost method investments — (4,362 ) — (4,362 ) Assets 5,274,895 762,751 649,423 6,687,069 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 Nine months ended September 30, 2017 Broadcast Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 1,821,248 $ 178,867 $ — $ 2,000,115 Depreciation of property and equipment 65,850 5,438 738 72,026 Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 114,810 17,489 — 132,299 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 87,962 — — 87,962 General and administrative overhead expenses 65,059 785 5,614 71,458 Research and development — 5,053 — 5,053 Operating income (loss) 361,259 25,016 (a) (6,351 ) 379,924 Interest expense 3,976 1,633 154,411 160,020 Loss from equity and cost method investments — (4,221 ) — (4,221 ) (a) - Includes gain on the sale of Alarm of $53.0 million of which $12.3 million was attributable to noncontrolling interests. See Note 2. Acquisitions and Disposition of Assets . 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

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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, 2017 As of December 31, 2016 Carrying Value (a) Fair Value Carrying Value (a) Fair Value 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 500,000 516,170 500,000 521,240 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 350,000 359,342 350,000 351,456 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 550,000 565,637 550,000 562,755 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 600,000 615,714 600,000 617,892 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 400,000 389,156 400,000 382,028 Term Loan A 241,073 241,374 272,198 271,517 Term Loan B 1,359,725 1,361,425 1,365,625 1,364,841 Debt of variable interest entities 20,585 20,585 23,198 23,198 Debt of other operating divisions 27,470 27,470 135,211 135,211 (a) Amounts are carried net of debt discount and deferred financing cost, which are excluded in the above table, of $40.7 million as of September 30, 2017 and $43.4 million as of December 31, 2016.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN23

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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, 2017 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash $ — $ 551,349 $ 22,161 $ 28,683 $ — $ 602,193 Restricted cash — — 187,854 124,948 — 312,802 Accounts receivable — — 488,553 34,558 — 523,111 Other current assets 4,063 4,843 139,838 25,511 (22,930 ) 151,325 Total current assets 4,063 556,192 838,406 213,700 (22,930 ) 1,589,431 Property and equipment, net 1,075 17,814 584,699 133,155 (12,618 ) 724,125 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 1,109,617 3,759,217 4,179 — (4,873,013 ) — Goodwill — — 2,109,784 3,867 — 2,113,651 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 153,011 15,709 — 168,720 Definite-lived intangible assets — — 1,820,369 80,168 (58,599 ) 1,841,938 Other long-term assets 36,255 836,081 102,107 157,903 (883,142 ) 249,204 Total assets $ 1,151,010 $ 5,169,304 $ 5,612,555 $ 604,502 $ (5,850,302 ) $ 6,687,069 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 207 $ 68,816 $ 204,821 $ 42,129 $ (25,125 ) $ 290,848 Deferred spectrum auction proceeds — — 187,854 122,948 — 310,802 Current portion of long-term debt — 154,521 2,357 7,607 — 164,485 Current portion of affiliate long-term debt 479 — 1,388 765 (449 ) 2,183 Other current liabilities — — 127,097 15,808 142,905 Total current liabilities 686 223,337 523,517 189,257 (25,574 ) 911,223 Long-term debt — 3,806,135 28,954 41,045 — 3,876,134 Affiliate long-term debt — — 11,505 343,517 (342,198 ) 12,824 Other liabilities 8,329 36,524 1,289,220 181,505 (736,989 ) 778,589 Total liabilities 9,015 4,065,996 1,853,196 755,324 (1,104,761 ) 5,578,770 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 1,141,995 1,103,308 3,759,359 (112,439 ) (4,750,228 ) 1,141,995 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (38,383 ) 4,687 (33,696 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 1,151,010 $ 5,169,304 $ 5,612,555 $ 604,502 $ (5,850,302 ) $ 6,687,069 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2016 (in thousands) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash $ — $ 232,297 $ 10,675 $ 17,012 $ — $ 259,984 Restricted Cash — — 200 — — 200 Accounts receivable — — 478,190 37,024 (1,260 ) 513,954 Other current assets 5,561 3,143 124,113 25,406 (27,273 ) 130,950 Total current assets 5,561 235,440 613,178 79,442 (28,533 ) 905,088 Property and equipment, net 1,820 17,925 570,289 131,326 (3,784 ) 717,576 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 551,250 3,614,605 4,179 — (4,170,034 ) — Goodwill — — 1,986,467 4,279 — 1,990,746 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 140,597 15,709 — 156,306 Definite-lived intangible assets — — 1,770,512 233,368 (59,477 ) 1,944,403 Other long-term assets $ 46,586 $ 819,506 $ 103,808 $ 169,817 $ (890,668 ) $ 249,049 Total assets $ 605,217 $ 4,687,476 $ 5,189,030 $ 633,941 $ (5,152,496 ) $ 5,963,168 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 100 $ 69,118 $ 225,645 $ 48,815 $ (21,173 ) $ 322,505 Current portion of long-term debt — 55,501 1,851 113,779 — 171,131 Current portion of affiliate long-term debt 1,857 — 1,514 2,336 (2,103 ) 3,604 Other current liabilities — — 127,967 13,590 (2,324 ) 139,233 Total current liabilities 1,957 124,619 356,977 178,520 (25,600 ) 636,473 Long-term debt — 3,939,463 31,014 44,455 — 4,014,932 Affiliate long-term debt — — 12,663 396,957 (395,439 ) 14,181 Other liabilities 15,277 31,817 1,190,717 183,418 (681,583 ) 739,646 Total liabilities 17,234 4,095,899 1,591,371 803,350 (1,102,622 ) 5,405,232 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 587,983 591,577 3,597,659 (134,991 ) (4,054,245 ) 587,983 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (34,418 ) 4,371 (30,047 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 605,217 $ 4,687,476 $ 5,189,030 $ 633,941 $ (5,152,496 ) $ 5,963,168
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, 2017 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 638,100 $ 50,816 $ (18,025 ) $ 670,891 Media program and production expenses — — 254,956 29,376 (16,339 ) 267,993 Selling, general and administrative 2,027 23,534 130,289 3,582 4 159,436 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 247 1,591 111,849 27,158 (830 ) 140,015 Total operating expenses 2,274 25,125 497,094 60,116 (17,165 ) 567,444 Operating (loss) income (2,274 ) (25,125 ) 141,006 (9,300 ) (860 ) 103,447 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 32,196 90,445 114 — (122,755 ) — Interest expense (10 ) (50,247 ) (1,013 ) (4,968 ) 4,495 (51,743 ) Other income (expense) (92 ) 1,869 (2,673 ) (1,124 ) — (2,020 ) Total other income (expense) 32,094 42,067 (3,572 ) (6,092 ) (118,260 ) (53,763 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 817 25,364 (46,987 ) 3,688 — (17,118 ) Net income (loss) 30,637 42,306 90,447 (11,704 ) (119,120 ) 32,566 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (1,730 ) (199 ) (1,929 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 30,637 $ 42,306 $ 90,447 $ (13,434 ) $ (119,319 ) $ 30,637 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 30,637 $ 42,306 $ 90,447 $ (11,704 ) $ (119,120 ) $ 32,566 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 NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 1,901,075 $ 157,236 $ (58,196 ) $ 2,000,115 Media program and production expenses — — 760,642 88,296 (53,798 ) 795,140 Selling, general and administrative 5,615 64,903 377,177 9,135 — 456,830 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses 738 4,967 335,316 29,248 (2,048 ) 368,221 Total operating expenses 6,353 69,870 1,473,135 126,679 (55,846 ) 1,620,191 Operating (loss) income (6,353 ) (69,870 ) 427,940 30,557 (2,350 ) 379,924 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 136,311 274,850 257 — (411,418 ) — Interest expense (81 ) (154,330 ) (3,557 ) (16,740 ) 14,688 (160,020 ) Loss from the extinguishment of debt — (1,404 ) — — — (1,404 ) Other income 731 3,796 (4,071 ) 924 — 1,380 Total other income (expense) 136,961 122,912 (7,371 ) (15,816 ) (396,730 ) (160,044 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 1,875 75,105 (143,059 ) (4,498 ) — (70,577 ) Net income (loss) 132,483 128,147 277,510 10,243 (399,080 ) 149,303 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (16,608 ) (212 ) (16,820 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 132,483 $ 128,147 $ 277,510 $ (6,365 ) $ (399,292 ) $ 132,483 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 132,483 $ 128,147 $ 277,510 $ 10,243 $ (399,080 ) $ 149,303 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 extinguishment of debt — (23,699 ) — — — (23,699 ) Other income (expense) 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
Schedule of condensed consolidating statement of cash flows	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 (in thousands) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (5,605 ) $ (141,239 ) $ 433,435 $ (12,959 ) $ 4,779 $ 278,411 CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment (131 ) (6,088 ) (47,564 ) (2,677 ) 997 (55,463 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired — (8,308 ) (261,491 ) — — (269,799 ) Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts — — — (5,682 ) — (5,682 ) Proceeds from sale of non-media business — — — 192,634 — 192,634 Investments in equity and cost method investees (945 ) (1,101 ) (15,469 ) (4,787 ) — (22,302 ) Other, net 3,903 (7,733 ) 541 2,739 — (550 ) Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities 2,827 (23,230 ) (323,983 ) 182,227 997 (161,162 ) CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — 159,669 — 6,372 — 166,041 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — (200,119 ) (1,367 ) (116,823 ) — (318,309 ) Proceeds from the issuance of Class A Common Stock 487,883 — — — — 487,883 Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (53,049 ) — — — — (53,049 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (30,287 ) — — — — (30,287 ) Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — (20,469 ) — (20,469 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables (400,451 ) 524,016 (92,993 ) (24,750 ) (5,822 ) — Other, net (1,318 ) (45 ) (3,606 ) (1,927 ) 46 (6,850 ) Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities 2,778 483,521 (97,966 ) (157,597 ) (5,776 ) 224,960 NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — 319,052 11,486 11,671 — 342,209 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period — 232,297 10,675 17,012 — 259,984 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ — $ 551,349 $ 22,161 $ 28,683 $ — $ 602,193 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 FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (4,060 ) $ (152,724 ) $ 451,804 $ 17,138 $ 18,102 $ 330,260 CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) 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 ) Investments in equity and cost method investees (2,945 ) (10,840 ) (34 ) (20,405 ) — (34,224 ) Proceeds from sale of non-media business — — 7,263 9,133 — 16,396 Loans to affiliates — (19,500 ) — — — (19,500 ) Other, net 1,714 (1,828 ) (86 ) 3,601 — 3,401 Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities (1,238 ) (35,794 ) (470,096 ) (51,031 ) 632 (557,527 ) CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases — 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 ) Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — (8,363 ) — (8,363 ) 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 (193 ) 185 (16,291 ) Net cash flows (used in) from 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

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM24

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Nature of Operations (Narrative) (Details)	Sep. 30, 2017channelstationmarket
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of television stations owned | station	192
Number of markets | market	89
Number of channels | channel	586

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM25

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Variable Interest Entities (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Income from equity and cost method investments	$ 4,362	$ (1,423)	$ 4,221	$ (2,789)
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Initial term of certain outsourcing agreements			5 years
Consolidated VIEs | Eliminations
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options	78,100		$ 78,100		$ 74,500
Consolidated VIEs | Cunningham | Eliminations
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total payments made under the LMA excluded from liabilities	42,800		42,800		40,800
Total capital leased liabilities excluded from VIE consolidation	4,700		4,700		4,500
VIEs which are not primary beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying amount	105,200		105,200		$ 117,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	$ 1,300	$ (1,400)	$ (2,100)	$ (2,800)

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, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Restricted cash		$ 312,802		$ 200
Accounts receivable		523,111		513,954
Other current assets		37,384		36,067
Total current assets		1,589,431		905,088
Program contract costs, less current portion		4,513		8,919
Property and equipment, net		724,125		717,576
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		1,841,938		1,944,403
Other assets		223,690		220,630
Total assets	[1]	6,687,069		5,963,168
Current liabilities:
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		310,802	$ 310,800	0
Other current liabilities		142,905		139,233
Long-term liabilities:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		3,876,134		4,014,932
Program contracts payable, less current portion		46,026		53,836
Other long-term liabilities		70,818		76,493
Total liabilities	[1]	5,578,770		5,405,232
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
Current assets:
Restricted cash		122,948		0
Accounts receivable		18,820		21,879
Other current assets		12,851		12,076
Total current assets		154,619		33,955
Program contract costs, less current portion		1,091		2,468
Property and equipment, net		6,418		2,996
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets		16,475		16,475
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		76,487		79,509
Other assets		5,601		6,871
Total assets		260,691		142,274
Current liabilities:
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		122,948		0
Other current liabilities		23,899		18,992
Long-term liabilities:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		15,043		19,449
Program contracts payable, less current portion		12,063		14,353
Other long-term liabilities		8,452		12,921
Total liabilities		$ 182,405		$ 65,715
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $260.7 million and $142.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $160.2 million and $40.9 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 Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Barter revenues and expenses	$ 26.4	$ 76.4

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM28

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Broadcast Incentive Auction (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017USD ($)station	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Broadcast incentive auction, proceeds	$ 310,800
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds	$ 310,800			$ 310,802	$ 0
Number of stations assigned new channels | station		98
Broadcast incentive auction, total legislation funds to reimburse stations		$ 1,750,000
Scenario, Forecast
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Broadcast incentive auction, gain to be recognized			$ 308,200

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM29

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Equity Offering (Details) - Class A Common Stock - Public Offering $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Mar. 15, 2017USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares) | shares	12
Sale of stock, price per share (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 42
Sale of stock, consideration received on transaction | $	$ 487.9

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM30

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Share Repurchase Program (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 20, 2014
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount				$ 150,000,000
Stock repurchase program, additional authorized repurchase amount	$ 150,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock, shares acquired (in shares)		1	1
Treasury stock, value acquired		$ 30,300,000	$ 30,300,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount		$ 88,800,000	$ 88,800,000

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM31

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Subsequent Events (Details) - $ / shares	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share (USD per share)		$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.54	$ 0.525
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.18

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION 32

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Sep. 01, 2017USD ($)stationmarket	May 31, 2017USD ($)stationmarket$ / sharesshares	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)stationmarket	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)stationmarket	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station					192		192
Number of markets | market					89		89
Acquisition related costs									$ 200
Net revenues					$ 33,900	$ 27,400	$ 103,200	$ 62,500
Operating income (loss)					(3,000)	1,300	8,100	(9,600)
Gains of sale of broadcast assets					34	$ 3,311	53,531	$ 5,982
Bonten
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price	$ 240,000
Number of television stations owned | station	14
Number of markets | market	8
Number of stations to which sales services were provided | station	4
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 158,000
Goodwill, expected to be deductible for tax purposes	5,600
Acquisition related costs					300		800
Net revenues					7,600		7,600
Operating income (loss)					$ 900		$ 900
Working capital adjustment	1,300
Bonten | Network Affiliations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired	49,500
Bonten | Other Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 108,500
Bonten | Network Affiliations and Other Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life	14 years
Other Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination purchase price			$ 27,000
Working capital adjustment									2,800
Tennis Channel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price				$ 350,000
Cash acquired in an acquisition				4,100
Tennis Channel | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired				$ 272,700
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life				15 years
Television Station Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination purchase price									72,000
Working capital adjustment									100
Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station		42
Number of markets | market		33
Business combination purchase price		$ 3,900,000
Share price of acquisition | $ / shares		$ 43.50
Assumption of debt from acquisition		$ 2,700,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | Disposals in 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Carrying value of broadcast assets exchanged									23,800
Gains of sale of broadcast assets									$ 4,400
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | Alarm Funding Associates
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sale price of assets sold			200,000
Working capital and transaction costs			5,000
Gain on sale of consolidated non-media business			53,000
Gain on sale attributable to non-controlling interest			$ 12,300
FOX | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station		14
CW | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station		12
CBS | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station		6
ABC | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station		3
NBC | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station		2
MyNetworkTV | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station		3
Independent Station | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of television stations owned | station		2
Tribune Media Company, Stockholders | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash stockholders will receive (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 35
Tribune Media Company, Stockholders | Class A Common Stock | Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of shares to be received for a share of acquired stock (in shares) | shares		0.23

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION 33

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS - Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Goodwill	$ 2,113,651		$ 1,990,746
Bonten
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Accounts receivable		$ 14,665
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		699
Program contract costs		683
Property and equipment		23,019
Definite-lived intangible assets		157,979
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		8,363
Other assets		3,609
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(8,481)
Program contracts payable		783
Deferred tax liability		(65,789)
Other long term liabilities		(3,409)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		130,555
Goodwill		110,716
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired		$ 241,271
Tennis Channel
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
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				(16,991)
Other long term liabilities				(1,669)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired				300,627
Goodwill				53,427
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired				$ 354,054

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION 34

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS - Pro Forma Results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 685,382	$ 714,451	$ 2,056,790	$ 2,014,195
Net Income	34,303	54,437	155,532	134,504
Net Income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ 32,374	$ 53,249	$ 138,712	$ 130,646
Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair (USD per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.57	$ 1.40	$ 1.38
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair (USD per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.56	$ 1.38	$ 1.37

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL 35

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING (Details) - USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2017	May 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Aug. 30, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs incurred			$ 40,700,000			$ 40,700,000			$ 43,400,000
Loss on debt extinguishment			0		$ 23,699,000	1,404,000	$ 23,699,000
Outstanding debt			$ 4,055,600,000			$ 4,055,600,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			5.125%			5.125%				5.125%
Bank Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs incurred	$ 11,600,000
Debt issuance discount	3,400,000
Financing costs expensed	7,700,000
Financing costs capitalized	$ 500,000
Loss on debt extinguishment				$ 1,400,000
Bank Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Term Loan B
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt			$ 1,346,700,000			$ 1,346,700,000			1,353,500,000
Bank Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance			0			0			$ 0
Current borrowing capacity			$ 484,400,000			$ 484,400,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Bank Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Term Loan B
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.25%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Bank Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Revolver
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.00%
Tribune Media Company | Extended Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term		9 years
Tribune Media Company | Senior Unsecured Notes | Senior Notes 5.875 Percent Due 2022, Tribune Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate								5.875%
Consent fee								$ 8,250,000
Tribune Media Company | Secured Debt | Incremental Term B Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term		7 years
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 3,747,000,000
Tribune Media Company | Bridge Loan | Bridge Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term		1 year
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 785,000,000
Tribune Media Company | Line of Credit | Incremental Revolving Commitments
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 225,000,000

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Thousands	Jul. 29, 2016	Jul. 31, 2017USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017USD ($)station	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)station	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)station	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 06, 2016station
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Period subject to ongoing compliance monitoring by the FCC	36 months
Net revenue | $				$ 670,891	$ 693,835	$ 2,000,115	$ 1,939,258
FCC national ownership cap, percentage of domestic households reached								39.00%
Number of television stations owned and operated				192		192
Broadcast incentive auction, proceeds | $		$ 310,800
Number of stations assigned new channels			98
Broadcast incentive auction, total legislation funds to reimburse stations | $			$ 1,750,000
FCC Consent Decree Settlement
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Number of television stations owned and operated								34
Percentage of domestic households reached, UHF discount applied								25.00%
LMA
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Number of separately owned television stations having programming agreement						2
Number of stations that programs substantial portions of broadcast day and sells advertising time						1
Joint Sales Agreements
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Net revenue | $				$ 15,900	$ 16,000	$ 45,100	$ 42,500

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income (Numerator)
Net income	$ 32,566	$ 52,033	$ 149,303	$ 128,262
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,929)	(1,188)	(16,820)	(3,858)
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders	$ 30,637	$ 50,845	$ 132,483	$ 124,404
Shares (Denominator)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (shares)	102,245	93,948	99,210	94,595
Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options (shares)	810	818	963	870
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (shares)	103,055	94,766	100,173	95,465

EARNINGS PER SHARE - SUMMARY OF

EARNINGS PER SHARE - SUMMARY OF ANTIDILUTIVE SECURITIES (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Potentially antidilutive dilutive securities excluded from calculation of diluted earnings per share (shares)	1,150	525	383	525

SEGMENT DATA (Narrative) (Detai

SEGMENT DATA (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)market	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)market	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Segment data
Number of markets | market	89		89
Intercompany loans | $	$ 172.7	$ 226.5	$ 172.7	$ 226.5
Intercompany interest expense | $	$ 4.3	$ 6.1	$ 14.2	$ 18.3
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets | market	89		89

SEGMENT DATA (Details)

SEGMENT DATA (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment data
Revenue			$ 670,891	$ 693,835	$ 2,000,115	$ 1,939,258
Depreciation of property and equipment			24,442	25,886	72,026	74,330
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets			43,368	47,807	132,299	137,197
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments			28,047	32,441	87,962	96,722
General and administrative overhead expenses			25,831	19,052	71,458	54,672
Research and development expenses			2,551	745	5,053	3,055
Operating income (loss)			103,447	153,994	379,924	369,407
Interest expense			51,743	53,488	160,020	156,819
Loss from equity and cost method investments			(4,362)	1,423	(4,221)	2,789
Assets	[1]		6,687,069		6,687,069		$ 5,963,168
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Revenue			610,840	635,559	1,821,248	1,790,561
Depreciation of property and equipment			22,344	24,195	65,850	69,469
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets			38,186	38,717	114,810	117,038
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments			28,047	32,441	87,962	96,722
General and administrative overhead expenses			23,582	17,530	65,059	50,320
Research and development expenses			0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)			115,571	158,666	361,259	402,236
Interest expense			1,281	1,404	3,976	4,297
Loss from equity and cost method investments			0	0	0	0
Assets			5,274,895		5,274,895
Operating segments | Other
Segment data
Revenue			60,051	58,276	178,867	148,697
Depreciation of property and equipment			1,851	1,425	5,438	4,063
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets			5,182	9,090	17,489	20,159
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments			0	0	0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses			224	247	785	1,075
Research and development expenses			2,551	745	5,053	3,055
Operating income (loss)			(9,852)	(3,077)	25,016	(28,699)
Interest expense			204	1,664	1,633	4,695
Loss from equity and cost method investments			(4,362)	611	(4,221)	414
Assets			762,751		762,751
Corporate
Segment data
Revenue			0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment			247	266	738	798
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			2,025	1,275	5,614	3,277
Research and development expenses			0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)			(2,272)	(1,595)	(6,351)	(4,130)
Interest expense			50,258	50,420	154,411	147,827
Loss from equity and cost method investments			0	$ 812	0	$ 2,375
Assets			$ 649,423		$ 649,423
Alarm Funding Associates | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Segment data
Gain on sale of consolidated non-media business		$ 53,000
Gain on sale attributable to non-controlling interest		$ 12,300
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $260.7 million and $142.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $160.2 million and $40.9 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.

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - T

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Transactions with our Controlling Shareholders (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Lease Services | Entities owned by the controlling shareholders
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease payments made to entities	$ 1.3	$ 1.3	$ 3.9	$ 3.8
Charter Aircraft | Controlling shareholders | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aircraft expenses	$ 0.4	$ 0.3	$ 1.3	$ 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 ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)renewal	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net revenue				$ 670,891	$ 693,835	$ 2,000,115	$ 1,939,258
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
Purchase options, broadcast stations				200		200
Related party promissory note			$ 19,500
Loan receivable, interest rate			5.00%
Related party interest income				200	200	$ 700	700
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				$ 2,400	2,100	$ 6,400	6,600
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				$ 6,600	1,400	$ 10,900	3,900
Net revenue				$ 31,400	$ 29,400	$ 84,500	$ 83,800

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, 2017USD ($)real_estate_venture	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)real_estate_venture	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual rent			$ 0.4	$ 0.8
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	$ 0.1	$ 0.3	$ 0.4	$ 0.6

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - L

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Leased Property by Real Estate Ventures (Details) - President and Chief Executive Officer $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)real_estate_venture	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)real_estate_venture	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)
Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments for services (less than)	$ 0.1	$ 0.1	$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD | Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of consolidated real estate ventures | real_estate_venture	1		1
Real estate ventures in Towson, MD | Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of consolidated real estate ventures | real_estate_venture	1		1
Annual rent			$ 0.1	0.2
Maximum | Real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD | Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount received	$ 0.1	$ 0.2	$ 0.3	$ 0.5

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - O

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Other Transactions with Equity Method Investments (Details) $ in Millions	Apr. 30, 2017USD ($)
120 Sports LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment	$ 15

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Detail

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Aug. 30, 2016
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt discount and deferred financing costs	$ 40,700	$ 43,400
Level 2 | Carrying Value | Debt of variable interest entities
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	20,585	23,198
Level 2 | Carrying Value | Debt of other operating divisions
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	27,470	135,211
Level 2 | Fair Value | Debt of variable interest entities
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	20,585	23,198
Level 2 | Fair Value | Debt of other operating divisions
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 27,470	135,211
Senior Unsecured Notes | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	6.125%
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	5.875%
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	5.625%
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	5.375%
Senior Unsecured Notes | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate	5.125%		5.125%
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 500,000	500,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	350,000	350,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	550,000	550,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	600,000	600,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	400,000	400,000
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	516,170	521,240
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	359,342	351,456
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	565,637	562,755
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	615,714	617,892
Senior Unsecured Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	389,156	382,028
Term Loan | Level 2 | Carrying Value | Term Loan A
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	241,073	272,198
Term Loan | Level 2 | Carrying Value | Term Loan B
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	1,359,725	1,365,625
Term Loan | Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan A
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	241,374	271,517
Term Loan | Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan B
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 1,361,425	$ 1,364,841

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN47

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 4,055.6
Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of debt guaranteed by parent	$ 4,027.1
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 Unsecured 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	$ 3,980.9
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%
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.125%

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN48

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		$ 602,193		$ 259,984	$ 104,545	$ 149,972
Restricted cash		312,802		200
Accounts receivable		523,111		513,954
Other current assets		151,325		130,950
Total current assets		1,589,431		905,088
Property and equipment, net		724,125		717,576
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Goodwill		2,113,651		1,990,746
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		168,720		156,306
Definite-lived intangible assets		1,841,938		1,944,403
Other long-term assets		249,204		249,049
Total assets	[1]	6,687,069		5,963,168
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		290,848		322,505
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		310,802	$ 310,800	0
Current portion of long-term debt		164,485		171,131
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		2,183		3,604
Other current liabilities		142,905		139,233
Total current liabilities		911,223		636,473
Long-term debt		3,876,134		4,014,932
Affiliate long-term debt		12,824		14,181
Other liabilities		778,589		739,646
Total liabilities	[1]	5,578,770		5,405,232
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,141,995		587,983
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		(33,696)		(30,047)
Total liabilities and equity		6,687,069		5,963,168
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		0		0	0	0
Restricted cash		0		0
Accounts receivable		0		0
Other current assets		4,063		5,561
Total current assets		4,063		5,561
Property and equipment, net		1,075		1,820
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		1,109,617		551,250
Goodwill		0		0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0		0
Definite-lived intangible assets		0		0
Other long-term assets		36,255		46,586
Total assets		1,151,010		605,217
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		207		100
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		0
Current portion of long-term debt		0		0
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		479		1,857
Other current liabilities		0		0
Total current liabilities		686		1,957
Long-term debt		0		0
Affiliate long-term debt		0		0
Other liabilities		8,329		15,277
Total liabilities		9,015		17,234
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,141,995		587,983
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Total liabilities and equity		1,151,010		605,217
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		551,349		232,297	81,671	115,771
Restricted cash		0		0
Accounts receivable		0		0
Other current assets		4,843		3,143
Total current assets		556,192		235,440
Property and equipment, net		17,814		17,925
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		3,759,217		3,614,605
Goodwill		0		0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0		0
Definite-lived intangible assets		0		0
Other long-term assets		836,081		819,506
Total assets		5,169,304		4,687,476
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		68,816		69,118
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		0
Current portion of long-term debt		154,521		55,501
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		0		0
Other current liabilities		0		0
Total current liabilities		223,337		124,619
Long-term debt		3,806,135		3,939,463
Affiliate long-term debt		0		0
Other liabilities		36,524		31,817
Total liabilities		4,065,996		4,095,899
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,103,308		591,577
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Total liabilities and equity		5,169,304		4,687,476
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		22,161		10,675	4,550	235
Restricted cash		187,854		200
Accounts receivable		488,553		478,190
Other current assets		139,838		124,113
Total current assets		838,406		613,178
Property and equipment, net		584,699		570,289
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		4,179		4,179
Goodwill		2,109,784		1,986,467
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		153,011		140,597
Definite-lived intangible assets		1,820,369		1,770,512
Other long-term assets		102,107		103,808
Total assets		5,612,555		5,189,030
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		204,821		225,645
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		187,854
Current portion of long-term debt		2,357		1,851
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		1,388		1,514
Other current liabilities		127,097		127,967
Total current liabilities		523,517		356,977
Long-term debt		28,954		31,014
Affiliate long-term debt		11,505		12,663
Other liabilities		1,289,220		1,190,717
Total liabilities		1,853,196		1,591,371
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		3,759,359		3,597,659
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Total liabilities and equity		5,612,555		5,189,030
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		28,683		17,012	18,324	33,966
Restricted cash		124,948		0
Accounts receivable		34,558		37,024
Other current assets		25,511		25,406
Total current assets		213,700		79,442
Property and equipment, net		133,155		131,326
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Goodwill		3,867		4,279
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		15,709		15,709
Definite-lived intangible assets		80,168		233,368
Other long-term assets		157,903		169,817
Total assets		604,502		633,941
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		42,129		48,815
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		122,948
Current portion of long-term debt		7,607		113,779
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		765		2,336
Other current liabilities		15,808		13,590
Total current liabilities		189,257		178,520
Long-term debt		41,045		44,455
Affiliate long-term debt		343,517		396,957
Other liabilities		181,505		183,418
Total liabilities		755,324		803,350
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		(112,439)		(134,991)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		(38,383)		(34,418)
Total liabilities and equity		604,502		633,941
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash		0		0	$ 0	$ 0
Restricted cash		0		0
Accounts receivable		0		(1,260)
Other current assets		(22,930)		(27,273)
Total current assets		(22,930)		(28,533)
Property and equipment, net		(12,618)		(3,784)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		(4,873,013)		(4,170,034)
Goodwill		0		0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0		0
Definite-lived intangible assets		(58,599)		(59,477)
Other long-term assets		(883,142)		(890,668)
Total assets		(5,850,302)		(5,152,496)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(25,125)		(21,173)
Deferred spectrum auction proceeds		0
Current portion of long-term debt		0		0
Current portion of affiliate long-term debt		(449)		(2,103)
Other current liabilities				(2,324)
Total current liabilities		(25,574)		(25,600)
Long-term debt		0		0
Affiliate long-term debt		(342,198)		(395,439)
Other liabilities		(736,989)		(681,583)
Total liabilities		(1,104,761)		(1,102,622)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		(4,750,228)		(4,054,245)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		4,687		4,371
Total liabilities and equity		$ (5,850,302)		$ (5,152,496)
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $260.7 million and $142.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $160.2 million and $40.9 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 FINAN49

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	$ 670,891	$ 693,835	$ 2,000,115	$ 1,939,258
Media program and production expenses	267,993	242,880	795,140	702,377
Selling, general and administrative	159,436	145,724	456,830	424,841
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	140,015	151,237	368,221	442,633
Total operating expenses	567,444	539,841	1,620,191	1,569,851
Operating income	103,447	153,994	379,924	369,407
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(51,743)	(53,488)	(160,020)	(156,819)
Loss from extinguishment of debt	0	(23,699)	(1,404)	(23,699)
Other income (expense)	(2,020)	2,212	1,380	5,144
Total other expense, net	(53,763)	(74,975)	(160,044)	(175,374)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(17,118)	(26,986)	(70,577)	(65,771)
NET INCOME	32,566	52,033	149,303	128,262
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,929)	(1,188)	(16,820)	(3,858)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	30,637	50,845	132,483	124,404
Comprehensive income	32,566	52,033	149,303	128,262
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	2,027	1,275	5,615	3,277
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	247	266	738	798
Total operating expenses	2,274	1,541	6,353	4,075
Operating income	(2,274)	(1,541)	(6,353)	(4,075)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	32,196	51,113	136,311	124,536
Interest expense	(10)	(56)	(81)	(192)
Loss from extinguishment of debt		0	0	0
Other income (expense)	(92)	1,157	731	3,386
Total other expense, net	32,094	52,214	136,961	127,730
Income tax benefit (provision)	817	172	1,875	749
NET INCOME	30,637	50,845	132,483	124,404
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	30,637	50,845	132,483	124,404
Comprehensive income	30,637	50,845	132,483	124,404
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	23,534	16,969	64,903	53,189
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	1,591	3,257	4,967	5,666
Total operating expenses	25,125	20,226	69,870	58,855
Operating income	(25,125)	(20,226)	(69,870)	(58,855)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	90,445	114,060	274,850	289,593
Interest expense	(50,247)	(50,364)	(154,330)	(147,635)
Loss from extinguishment of debt		(23,699)	(1,404)	(23,699)
Other income (expense)	1,869	469	3,796	736
Total other expense, net	42,067	40,466	122,912	118,995
Income tax benefit (provision)	25,364	34,334	75,105	75,470
NET INCOME	42,306	54,574	128,147	135,610
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	42,306	54,574	128,147	135,610
Comprehensive income	42,306	54,574	128,147	135,610
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	638,100	655,778	1,901,075	1,828,407
Media program and production expenses	254,956	234,474	760,642	679,337
Selling, general and administrative	130,289	124,352	377,177	360,793
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	111,849	115,527	335,316	340,974
Total operating expenses	497,094	474,353	1,473,135	1,381,104
Operating income	141,006	181,425	427,940	447,303
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	114	51	257	170
Interest expense	(1,013)	(1,117)	(3,557)	(3,417)
Loss from extinguishment of debt		0	0	0
Other income (expense)	(2,673)	(27)	(4,071)	583
Total other expense, net	(3,572)	(1,093)	(7,371)	(2,664)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(46,987)	(64,535)	(143,059)	(150,436)
NET INCOME	90,447	115,797	277,510	294,203
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	90,447	115,797	277,510	294,203
Comprehensive income	90,447	115,797	277,510	294,203
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	50,816	63,877	157,236	178,164
Media program and production expenses	29,376	33,556	88,296	88,378
Selling, general and administrative	3,582	3,153	9,135	7,641
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	27,158	32,571	29,248	96,560
Total operating expenses	60,116	69,280	126,679	192,579
Operating income	(9,300)	(5,403)	30,557	(14,415)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(4,968)	(8,256)	(16,740)	(24,258)
Loss from extinguishment of debt		0	0	0
Other income (expense)	(1,124)	613	924	439
Total other expense, net	(6,092)	(7,643)	(15,816)	(23,819)
Income tax benefit (provision)	3,688	3,043	(4,498)	8,446
NET INCOME	(11,704)	(10,003)	10,243	(29,788)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,730)	(1,180)	(16,608)	(3,341)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(13,434)	(11,183)	(6,365)	(33,129)
Comprehensive income	(11,704)	(10,003)	10,243	(29,788)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net revenue	(18,025)	(25,820)	(58,196)	(67,313)
Media program and production expenses	(16,339)	(25,150)	(53,798)	(65,338)
Selling, general and administrative	4	(25)	0	(59)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	(830)	(384)	(2,048)	(1,365)
Total operating expenses	(17,165)	(25,559)	(55,846)	(66,762)
Operating income	(860)	(261)	(2,350)	(551)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(122,755)	(165,224)	(411,418)	(414,299)
Interest expense	4,495	6,305	14,688	18,683
Loss from extinguishment of debt		0	0	0
Other income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Total other expense, net	(118,260)	(158,919)	(396,730)	(395,616)
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME	(119,120)	(159,180)	(399,080)	(396,167)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(199)	(8)	(212)	(517)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(119,319)	(159,188)	(399,292)	(396,684)
Comprehensive income	$ (119,120)	$ (159,180)	$ (399,080)	$ (396,167)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN50

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 278,411	$ 330,260
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(55,463)	(68,601)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(269,799)	(425,856)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(5,682)	(29,143)
Proceeds from sale of non-media business	192,634	16,396
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(22,302)	(34,224)
Loans to affiliates	0	(19,500)
Other, net	550	(3,401)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(161,162)	(557,527)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	166,041	1,011,312
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(318,309)	(653,987)
Net proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock	487,883	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(53,049)	(49,667)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(30,287)	(101,164)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(20,469)	(8,363)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	0	0
Other, net	(6,850)	(16,291)
Net cash flows from financing activities	224,960	181,840
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	342,209	(45,427)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	259,984	149,972
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	602,193	104,545
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(5,605)	(4,060)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(131)	(7)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	0	0
Proceeds from sale of non-media business	0	0
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(945)	(2,945)
Loans to affiliates		0
Other, net	(3,903)	(1,714)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	2,827	(1,238)
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
Net proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock	487,883
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(53,049)	(49,667)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(30,287)	(101,164)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(400,451)	158,574
Other, net	(1,318)	(2,445)
Net cash flows from financing activities	2,778	5,298
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) 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 FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(141,239)	(152,724)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(6,088)	(3,626)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(8,308)	0
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	0	0
Proceeds from sale of non-media business	0	0
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(1,101)	(10,840)
Loans to affiliates		(19,500)
Other, net	7,733	1,828
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(23,230)	(35,794)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	159,669	995,000
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(200,119)	(636,547)
Net proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	0	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	524,016	(189,022)
Other, net	(45)	(15,013)
Net cash flows from financing activities	483,521	154,418
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	319,052	(34,100)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	232,297	115,771
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	551,349	81,671
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	433,435	451,804
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(47,564)	(61,758)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(261,491)	(415,481)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	0	0
Proceeds from sale of non-media business	0	7,263
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(15,469)	(34)
Loans to affiliates		0
Other, net	(541)	86
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(323,983)	(470,096)
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	(1,367)	(1,171)
Net proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	0	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(92,993)	22,603
Other, net	(3,606)	1,175
Net cash flows from financing activities	(97,966)	22,607
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	11,486	4,315
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	10,675	235
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	22,161	4,550
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(12,959)	17,138
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(2,677)	(3,842)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	(10,375)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(5,682)	(29,143)
Proceeds from sale of non-media business	192,634	9,133
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(4,787)	(20,405)
Loans to affiliates		0
Other, net	(2,739)	(3,601)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	182,227	(51,031)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	6,372	16,312
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(116,823)	(16,269)
Net proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	0	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(20,469)	(8,363)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(24,750)	26,764
Other, net	(1,927)	(193)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(157,597)	18,251
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	11,671	(15,642)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	17,012	33,966
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	28,683	18,324
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	4,779	18,102
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	997	632
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	0	0
Proceeds from sale of non-media business	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	997	632
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
Net proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	0	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(5,822)	(18,919)
Other, net	46	185
Net cash flows from financing activities	(5,776)	(18,734)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) 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