Sinclair Broadcast (SBGI) 10-Q 12 Nov 19 2019 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Cover Page

Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Nov. 08, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-26076
Entity Registrant Name	SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	52-1494660
Entity Address, Address Line One	10706 Beaver Dam Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Hunt Valley
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	21030
City Area Code	410
Local Phone Number	568-1500
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, par value $ 0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	SBGI
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000912752
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Class A Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		67,094,403
Class B Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		25,027,682

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 1,399,000	$ 1,060,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3 and $2, respectively		1,137,000	599,000
Current portion of program contract costs		80,000	64,000
Income taxes receivable		50,000	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		237,000	61,000
Total current assets		2,903,000	1,784,000
Program contract costs, less current portion		6,000	11,000
Property and equipment, net		740,000	683,000
Operating lease assets		222,000
Goodwill		4,048,000	2,124,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		158,000	158,000
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		9,104,000	1,627,000
Other assets		598,000	185,000
Total assets	[1]	17,779,000	6,572,000
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		630,000	330,000
Income taxes payable		0	23,000
Current portion of notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing		71,000	43,000
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		38,000
Current portion of program contracts payable		107,000	93,000
Other current liabilities		247,000	84,000
Total current liabilities		1,093,000	573,000
Notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing, less current portion		12,392,000	3,850,000
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion		213,000
Program contracts payable, less current portion		43,000	50,000
Deferred tax liabilities		361,000	413,000
Other long-term liabilities		640,000	86,000
Total liabilities	[1]	14,742,000	4,972,000
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 6)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		1,362,000	0
Shareholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital		1,028,000	1,121,000
Retained earnings		467,000	518,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,000)	(1,000)
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ equity		1,495,000	1,639,000
Noncontrolling interests		180,000	(39,000)
Total equity		1,675,000	1,600,000
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		17,779,000	6,572,000
Assets of variable interest entities		299,000	128,000
Liabilities of variable interest entities		26,000	22,000
Class A Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock		1,000	1,000
Class B Common Stock
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock		$ 0	$ 0
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $299 million and $128 million , respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total liabilities of VIEs of $26 million and $22 million , respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 9. Variable Interest Entities .

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 3	$ 2
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)	67,063,137	68,897,723
Common Stock, shares outstanding (shares)	67,063,137	68,897,723
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)	25,027,682	25,670,684
Common Stock, shares outstanding (shares)	25,027,682	25,670,684

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 1,125	$ 766	$ 2,618	$ 2,162
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Media programming and production expenses	560	304	1,215	894
Media selling, general and administrative expenses	185	155	510	452
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	22	24	68	76
Non-media expenses	42	32	120	85
Depreciation of property and equipment	24	25	69	75
Corporate general and administrative expenses	237	34	317	89
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	96	45	183	131
Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment	(35)	(11)	(57)	(37)
Total operating expenses	1,131	608	2,425	1,765
Operating (loss) income	(6)	158	193	397
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	(129)	(76)	(237)	(238)
Loss from equity method investments	(12)	(14)	(38)	(44)
Other income (expense), net	3	(6)	12	2
Total other expense, net	(138)	(96)	(263)	(280)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(144)	62	(70)	117
INCOME TAX BENEFIT	95	3	88	21
NET (LOSS) INCOME	(49)	65	18	138
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(11)	0	(11)	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	(1)	(3)	(3)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	$ (60)	$ 64	$ 4	$ 135
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	$ (0.65)	$ 0.63	$ 0.05	$ 1.32
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ (0.64)	$ 0.62	$ 0.05	$ 1.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding (shares)	92,086	102,083	92,050	102,069
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (shares)	93,435	102,789	93,271	102,898
Media revenues
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 1,070	$ 730	$ 2,465	$ 2,070
Non-media revenues
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 55	$ 36	$ 153	$ 92

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net (loss) income	$ (49)	$ 65	$ 18	$ 138
Comprehensive (loss) income	(49)	65	18	138
Comprehensive income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(11)	0	(11)	0
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	(1)	(3)	(3)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ (60)	$ 64	$ 4	$ 135

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUI

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	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 Temporary Equity
Net income	$ 0
BALANCE (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017							76,071,145		25,670,684
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2017	1,534	$ 1,319	$ 249	$ (1)	$ (34)		$ 1		$ 0
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard at Dec. 31, 2017	2		2
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(55)		(55)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock (in shares)							(1,636,019)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(45)	(45)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (shares)							543,298
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	19	19
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(7)				(7)
Net (loss) income	138		135		3
BALANCE (shares) at Sep. 30, 2018							74,978,424		25,670,684
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2018	1,586	1,293	331	(1)	(38)		$ 1		$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity
Net income	0
BALANCE (shares) at Jun. 30, 2018							76,576,980		25,670,684
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2018	1,585	1,336	285	(1)	(36)		$ 1		$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(18)		(18)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock (in shares)							(1,636,019)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(46)	(46)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (shares)							37,463
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	3	3
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(3)				(3)
Net (loss) income	65		64		1
BALANCE (shares) at Sep. 30, 2018							74,978,424		25,670,684
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2018	1,586	1,293	331	(1)	(38)		$ 1		$ 0
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2018	0
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity
Issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net of issuance costs	985
Noncontrolling interests acquired in a business combination	380
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(14)
Net income	(11)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2019	1,362
BALANCE (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018						68,897,723	68,897,723	25,670,684	25,670,684
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2018	1,600	1,121	518	(1)	(39)		$ 1		$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(55)		(55)
Class B Common Stock converted into Class A Common Stock (in shares)							643,002		(643,002)
Class B Common Stock converted into Class A Common Stock	0
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock (in shares)							(3,993,194)
Repurchases of Class A Common Stock	(125)	(125)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (shares)							1,515,606
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	32	32
Noncontrolling interests acquired in a business combination	231
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(15)				(15)
Net (loss) income	7		4		3
BALANCE (shares) at Sep. 30, 2019						67,063,137	67,063,137	25,027,682	25,027,682
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2019	1,675	1,028	467	(1)	180		$ 1		$ 0
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2019	0
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity
Issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net of issuance costs	985
Noncontrolling interests acquired in a business combination	380
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(14)
Net income	(11)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2019	1,362
BALANCE (shares) at Jun. 30, 2019							67,032,088		25,027,682
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2019	1,529	1,024	545	(1)	(40)		$ 1		$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Dividends declared and paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(18)		(18)
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans (shares)							31,049
Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans	4	4
Noncontrolling interests acquired in a business combination	231
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(11)				(11)
Net (loss) income	(60)		(60)		0
BALANCE (shares) at Sep. 30, 2019						67,063,137	67,063,137	25,027,682	25,027,682
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,675	$ 1,028	$ 467	$ (1)	$ 180		$ 1		$ 0

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQ_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Class A Common Stock
Dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.2	$ 0.18	$ 0.6	$ 0.54
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)	0.2	0.18	0.6	0.54
Class B Common Stock
Dividends declared per share (USD per share)	0.2	0.18	0.6	0.54
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)	$ 0.2	$ 0.18	$ 0.6	$ 0.54

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net (loss) income	$ 18	$ 138
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment	69	75
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	183	131
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	68	76
Stock-based compensation	26	21
Deferred tax benefit	(51)	(70)
Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment	(50)	(24)
Loss from equity method investments	38	55
Amortization of prepaid program rights	193	0
Additions to prepaid program rights	(117)	0
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	63	(48)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(56)	(20)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	210	54
Net change in net income taxes payable/receivable	(73)	40
Decrease in program contracts payable	(72)	(83)
Other, net	45	28
Net cash flows from operating activities	494	373
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(96)	(78)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(9,006)	0
Purchases of investments	(427)	(30)
Distributions from investments	4	23
Spectrum repack reimbursements	50	2
Other, net	(2)	(4)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(9,477)	(87)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing	9,453	3
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and finance leases	(715)	(154)
Debt issuance costs	(182)	0
Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net	985	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(55)	(55)
Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity	(10)	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(125)	(46)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(30)	(7)
Other, net	1	1
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	9,322	(258)
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH	339	28
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period	1,060	996
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period	$ 1,399	$ 1,024

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMAR

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
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 media company with national reach and a strong focus on providing high-quality content on our local television stations, regional sports networks, and digital platforms. The content, distributed through our broadcast platform and third-party platforms, consists of programming provided by third-party networks and syndicators, local news, college and professional sports, and other original programming produced by us. 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, 2019 , we had two reportable segments for accounting purposes, local news and sports . The local news segment consists primarily of our 191 broadcast television stations in 89 markets, 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)). These stations broadcast 605 channels as of September 30, 2019 . For the purpose of this report, these 191 stations and 605 channels are referred to as "our" stations and channels. The sports segment consists primarily of 23 regional sports network brands (the RSNs), including 21 regional sports network brands acquired during the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Marquee Sports Network (Marquee), and a 20% equity interest in the Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network, LLC ( YES Network ). The RSNs own the exclusive rights to air, among other sporting events, the games of 45 professional sports teams. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, including the operating results of the regional sports networks acquired on August 23, 2019, as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets , and variable interest entities (VIEs) for which we are the primary beneficiary. Noncontrolling interests represent a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities. Noncontrolling interests which may be redeemed by the holder, and the redemption is outside of our control, are presented as redeemable noncontrolling interests. All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation. We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary. We are the primary beneficiary of a VIE when we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE. See Note 9. Variable Interest Entities for more information on our VIEs. Investments in entities over which we have significant influence but not control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Income from equity method investments represents our proportionate share of net income generated by equity method investees. Interim Financial Statements The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 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 statements of equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests, 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, 2018 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. Equity Investments We measure our investments, excluding equity method investments, at fair value or, in situations where fair value is not readily determinable, we have the option to value investments at cost plus observable changes in value less impairment. Investments accounted for utilizing the measurement alternative were $33 million , net of $2 million of cumulative impairments, as of September 30, 2019 and $25 million as of December 31, 2018 . There were no adjustments to the carrying amount of investments accounted for utilizing the measurement alternative for the three months ended September 30, 2019 . We recorded a $2 million impairment related to one investment for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and a $10 million impairment related to one investment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , which are reflected in other income (expense), net on our consolidated statements of operations . YES Network Investment . On August 29, 2019, an indirect subsidiary of Diamond Sports Group, LLC ( DSG ), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired a 20% equity interest in the YES Network for cash consideration of $346 million as part of a consortium led by Yankee Global Enterprises. We account for our investment in the YES Network as an equity method investment, which is recorded within other assets on our consolidated balance sheets , and in which our proportionate share of the net income generated by the investment is represented within loss from equity method investments on our consolidated statements of operations . During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 , we recorded income of $1 million related to our investment. 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 February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new guidance related to accounting for leases, Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 (ASC 842). We adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and the optional transition method. Under this adoption method, comparative prior periods were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historical accounting policy. We elected to apply the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which, among other things, allowed us to carryforward our historical assessments of whether contracts are, or contain, leases and lease classification. The primary impact of adopting this standard was the recognition of $215 million of operating lease liabilities and $196 million of operating lease assets. The adoption did not have a material impact on how we account for finance leases. See Note 5. Leases for more information regarding our leasing arrangements. In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software, with the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract expensed over the term of the hosting arrangement. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. In October 2018, the FASB issued guidance for determining whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest. The amendments require organizations to consider indirect interests held through related parties under common control on a proportional basis rather than as the equivalent of a direct interest in its entirety (as currently required in generally accepted accounting principles). The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2019, the FASB issued guidance which requires that an entity test a film or license agreement within the scope of Subtopic 920-350 for impairment at the film group level, when the film or license agreement is predominantly monetized with other films and/or license agreements. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. Revenue Recognition The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by type and segment (in millions): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Local News Sports Other Total Local News Sports Other Total Distribution revenue $ 340 $ 306 $ 33 $ 679 $ 303 $ — $ 28 $ 331 Advertising revenue 301 43 32 376 366 — 19 385 Other media and non-media revenues 10 3 57 70 10 — 40 50 Total revenues $ 651 $ 352 $ 122 $ 1,125 $ 679 $ — $ 87 $ 766 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Local News Sports Other Total Local News Sports Other Total Distribution revenue $ 995 $ 306 $ 97 $ 1,398 $ 882 $ — $ 83 $ 965 Advertising revenue 904 43 77 1,024 1,003 — 58 1,061 Other media and non-media revenues 31 3 162 196 32 — 104 136 Total revenues $ 1,930 $ 352 $ 336 $ 2,618 $ 1,917 $ — $ 245 $ 2,162 Distribution Revenue. We generate distribution revenue through fees received from multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and virtual MVPDs for cable network programming and the right to distribute our stations and other properties on their respective distribution platforms. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 , one MVPD included within the local news, sports, and other segments accounted for $297 million of our total revenues. Advertising Revenue. We generate advertising revenue primarily from the sale of advertising spots/impressions on our television and digital platforms. In accordance with ASC 606, we do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) distribution arrangements which are accounted for as a sales/usage based royalty. Deferred Revenue. We record deferred revenue when cash payments are received or due in advance of our performance, including amounts which are refundable. Deferred revenue was $61 million and $83 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Deferred revenue recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 that was included in the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $65 million and $29 million , respectively. Programming Rights The Company has rights agreements covering the broadcast of regular season games that expire on various dates during the fiscal years ended 2019 through 2035 . A prepaid asset is recorded for the rights acquired to broadcast future games or events over a specified season upon payment of the contracted fee. The assets recorded for the rights acquired are classified as current or non-current based on the period when the games are expected to be aired. The program rights for a specified season are amortized over that season on a straight-line basis under the contractual cash flows method, which provides for a reasonable basis to match program rights amortization expense with revenues over the contract term. Assets are recorded for any program rights that have been prepaid. Liabilities are recorded for any program rights obligations that have been incurred for a given season but not yet paid at period end. Recorded programming assets are held at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value. 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, 2019 and 2018 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 months ended September 30, 2019 was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to a $34 million benefit related to a change in the treatment of the gain from the sale of certain broadcast spectrum in connection with the Broadcast Incentive Auction and a $16 million benefit related to a release of valuation allowance on certain state net operating losses. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to a $34 million benefit related to a change in the treatment of the gain from the sale of certain broadcast spectrum in connection with the Broadcast Incentive Auction, $18 million in federal tax credits related to investments in sustainability initiatives, and a $16 million benefit related to a release of valuation allowance on certain state net operating losses. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to $15 million in federal tax credits related to investments in sustainability initiatives. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to an $18 million permanent tax benefit recognized from an IRS tax ruling on the treatment of the gain from the sale of certain broadcast spectrum in connection with the Broadcast Incentive Auction and $21 million Share Repurchase Program On August 9, 2018 , the Board of Directors authorized a $1 billion share repurchase authorization, in addition to the previous repurchase authorization of $150 million . There is no expiration date and currently, management has no plans to terminate this program. We repurchased no shares during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock for $125 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 . As of September 30, 2019 , the total remaining purchase authorization was $743 million . Subsequent Events In November 2019, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on December 16, 2019 to holders of record at the close of business on November 29, 2019. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years' consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year's presentation.

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS O

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS	ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS: Acquisitions RSN Acquisition . In May 2019, DSG entered into a definitive agreement to acquire controlling interests in 21 Regional Sports Network brands and Fox College Sports (collectively, the Acquired RSNs ), from the The Walt Disney Company (Disney) for $9.6 billion plus certain adjustments. On August 23, 2019 we completed the acquisition for an aggregate preliminary purchase price, including cash acquired, and subject to an adjustment based upon finalization of working capital, net debt, and other adjustments, of $9,829 million , accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisition provides an expansion to our premium sports programming including the exclusive regional distribution rights to 42 professional teams consisting of 14 Major League Baseball teams, 16 National Basketball Association teams, and 12 National Hockey League teams. The Acquired RSNs are reported within Sports , a reportable segment within Note 8. Segment Data . The transaction was funded through a combination of debt financing raised by DSG and Sinclair Television Group (STG) as described in Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing and redeemable subsidiary preferred equity described in Note 4: Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests . The following table summarizes the preliminary allocated fair value of acquired assets, assumed liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of the Acquired RSNs (in millions): Cash and cash equivalents $ 823 Accounts receivable, net 604 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 176 Property and equipment, net 25 Definite-lived intangible assets, net 7,676 Other assets 52 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (261 ) Other long-term liabilities (579 ) Goodwill 1,924 Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired $ 10,440 Redeemable noncontrolling interests (380 ) Noncontrolling interests (231 ) Gross purchase price $ 9,829 Purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 9,006 The preliminary purchase price allocation presented above is based upon management's estimates of the fair value of the acquired assets, assumed liabilities, and noncontrolling interest 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 $7,676 million are primarily comprised of customer relationships, which represent existing advertiser relationships and contractual relationships with MVPDs of $6,220 million , the fair value of contracts with sports teams of $1,440 million , and tradenames/trademarks of $16 million . The intangible assets will be amortized over a weighted average useful life of 2 years for tradenames/trademarks, 10 years for customer relationships, and 12 years for contracts with sports teams on a straight line basis. The fair value of the sports team contracts will be amortized over the respective contract term. Acquired property and equipment will be depreciated on a straightline 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, as well as expected future synergies. We estimate that $1.8 billion of goodwill, which represents our interest in the Acquired RSNs , will be deductible for tax purposes. In connection with the acquisition, for three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 , we recognized $85 million and $94 million , respectively, of transaction costs that we expensed as incurred and classified as corporate general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations . Revenue and operating income, exclude transaction costs above, of the Acquired RSNs included on our consolidated statements of operations were $352 million and $46 million , respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 . Pro Forma Information. The table below sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations, assuming that the RSN Acquisition, along with transactions necessary to finance the acquisition, occurred at the beginning of the year preceding the year of the acquisition (in millions, expect per share data): Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 2019 2018 Total revenue $ 1,632 $ 1,732 $ 5,067 $ 5,058 Net income $ 1 $ 248 $ 319 $ 475 Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ (48 ) $ 199 $ 166 $ 330 Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ (0.52 ) $ 1.95 $ 1.80 $ 3.24 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ (0.51 ) $ 1.94 $ 1.78 $ 3.21 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 the Acquired RSNs for the period presented because the pro forma results do not reflect expected synergies. The pro forma adjustments reflect depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets related to the fair value 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 in purchase accounting. Termination of Material Definitive Agreement In August 2018, we received a termination notice from Tribune Media Company (Tribune), terminating the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into on May 8, 2017, between the Company and Tribune (Merger Agreement), which provided for the acquisition by the Company of the outstanding shares of Tribune Class A common stock and Tribune Class B common stock (Merger). See Litigation under Note 6. Commitments and Contingencies for further discussion on our pending litigation related to the Tribune acquisition. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 , we recognized $34 million of costs in connection with this acquisition, which included $11 million primarily related to legal and other professional services, that we expensed as incurred and classified as corporate general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations ; and $22 million related to financing ticking fees, which was recorded as interest expense on our consolidated statements of operations . For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we recognized $100 million of costs in connection with this acquisition, which included $21 million primarily related to legal and other professional services, that we expensed as incurred and classified as corporate general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations ; and $79 million related to financing ticking fees, which was recorded as interest expense on our consolidated statements of operations . Dispositions 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. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we recognized a gain of $83 million which is included within gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment on our consolidated statements of operations . This gain relates to the auction proceeds associated with one market where the underlying spectrum was vacated 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 100 of our stations have been assigned to new channels. Legislation has provided the FCC with a $3 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. We recorded gains related to reimbursements for spectrum repack costs incurred of $28 million and $50 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 , respectively, and $1 million and $3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, which are recorded within gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment on our consolidated financial statements. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 , capital expenditures related to the spectrum repack were $16 million and $41 million , respectively, and $9 million and $21 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BA

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING	NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING: STG Bank Credit Agreement On August 13, 2019, we issued a seven-year incremental term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $600 million (the Term Loan B-2b) with an original issuance discount of $3 million , which bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% . The proceeds from the Term Loan B-2b were used, together with cash on hand, to redeem, at par value, $600 million aggregate principal amount of STG's 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021 (the STG 5.375% Notes). We recognized a loss on the extinguishment of the STG 5.375% Notes of $2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 . On August 23, 2019, we amended and restated the STG Bank Credit Agreement which provided additional operating flexibility and revisions to certain restrictive covenants. Concurrent with the amendment, we raised a seven-year incremental term loan facility of $700 million (the Term Loan B-2a) with an original issuance discount of $4 million , which bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% . Prior to February 23, 2020, if we repay, refinance, or replace the Term Loan B-2a or B-2b facilities (the Term Loan B-2 Facilities), we are subject to a prepayment premium of 1% of the aggregate principal balance of the repayment. The Term Loan B-2 Facilities amortize in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate amount equal to 1% of the original amount of such term loans, with the balance being payable on the maturity date. As of September 30, 2019 , the Term Loan B-2 Facilities balance, net of debt discount and deferred financing costs, was $1,279 million . Additionally, in connection with the amendment, we replaced STG's existing revolving credit facility with a new $650 million five-year revolving credit facility (the STG Revolving Credit Facility ), priced at LIBOR plus 2.00% , which includes capacity for up to $50 million of letters of credit and for borrowings of up to $50 million under swingline loans. As of September 30, 2019 , there were no outstanding borrowings, $1 million in letters of credit outstanding, and $649 million available under the STG Revolving Credit Facility . The STG Bank Credit Agreement contains covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, qualifications, ratios, and "baskets", generally limit the ability of the borrower and its restricted subsidiaries to incur debt, create liens, make fundamental changes, enter into asset sales, make certain investments, pay dividends or distribute or redeem certain equity interests, prepay or redeem certain debt, and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. Also, the STG Revolving Credit Facility is subject to compliance with a first lien net leverage ratio test that will be tested at the end of each fiscal quarter if certain borrowings under the STG Revolving Credit Facility exceed 35% of the total commitments under the STG Revolving Credit Facility on such date. As of September 30, 2019, we were in compliance with all covenants. STG Term Loan A. On April 30, 2019, we paid in full the remaining principal balance of $92 million of Term Loan A-2 debt under the STG Bank Credit Agreement, due July 31, 2021. DSG Bank Credit Agreement On August 23, 2019, DSG and Diamond Sports Intermediate Holdings LLC ( DSIH ), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and an indirect parent of DSG, entered into a credit agreement (the DSG Bank Credit Agreement ). Pursuant to the DSG Bank Credit Agreement , DSG raised a seven-year $3,300 million aggregate amount term loan (the DSG Term Loan ), with an original issuance discount of $17 million , which bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.25% . Prior to February 23, 2020, if we repay, refinance, or replace the DSG Term Loan , we are subject to a prepayment premium of 1% of the aggregate principal balance of the repayment. The DSG Term Loan amortizes in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate amount equal to 1% of the original amount of such term loan, with the balance being payable on the maturity date. Following the end of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, we are required to prepay the DSG Term Loan in an aggregate amount equal to (a) 50% of excess cash flow for such fiscal year if the first lien leverage ratio is greater than 3.75 to 1.00, (b) 25% of excess cash flow for such fiscal year if the first lien leverage ratio is greater than 3.25 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 3.75 to 1.00, and (c) 0% of excess cash flow for such fiscal year if the first lien leverage ratio is equal to or less than 3.25 to 1.00. As of September 30, 2019 , the DSG Term Loan balance, net of debt discount and deferred financing costs, was $3,222 million . Additionally, in connection with the DSG Bank Credit Agreement , DSG obtained a $650 million five-year revolving credit facility (the DSG Revolving Credit Facility , and, together with the DSG Term Loan , the DSG Credit Facilities ), priced at LIBOR plus 3.00% , subject to reduction based on a first lien net leverage ratio, which includes capacity for up to $50 million of letters of credit and for borrowings of up to $50 million under swingline loans. As of September 30, 2019 , there were no outstanding borrowings and $650 million available under the DSG Revolving Credit Facility . The DSG Bank Credit Agreement contains covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, qualifications, ratios, and "baskets", generally limit the ability of the borrower and its restricted subsidiaries to incur debt, create liens, make fundamental changes, enter into asset sales, make certain investments, pay dividends or distribute or redeem certain equity interests, prepay or redeem certain debt, and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. Also, the DSG Revolving Credit Facility is subject to compliance with a first lien net leverage ratio test that will be tested at the end of each fiscal quarter if certain borrowings under the DSG Revolving Credit Facility exceed 35% of the total commitments under the DSG Revolving Credit Facility on such date. As of September 30, 2019, we were in compliance with all covenants. DSG 's obligations under the DSG Bank Credit Agreement are (i) jointly and severally guaranteed by DSIH and DSG ’s direct and indirect, existing and future wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, and (ii) secured by first-priority lien on substantially all tangible and intangible assets (whether now owned or hereafter arising or acquired) of DSG and the guarantors, subject to certain permitted liens and other agreed upon exceptions. The DSG Credit Facilities are not guaranteed by the Company, STG, or any of STG’s subsidiaries. DSG Senior Notes On August 2, 2019, DSG issued $3,050 million principal amount of senior secured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 5.375% per annum and mature on August 15, 2026 (the DSG 5.375% Secured Notes) and issued $1,825 million principal amount of senior notes, which bear interest at a rate of 6.625% per annum and mature on August 15, 2027 (the DSG 6.625% Notes and, together with the DSG 5.375% Secured Notes, the DSG Senior Notes ). The proceeds of the DSG Senior Notes were used, in part, to fund the RSN Acquisition. As of September 30, 2019 , the DSG Senior Notes balance, net of deferred financing costs, was $4,777 million . Prior to August 15, 2022, we may redeem the DSG Senior Notes , in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the applicable DSG Senior Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, plus a ‘‘make-whole’’ premium. Beginning on August 15, 2022, we may redeem the DSG Senior Notes , in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time at certain redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. In addition, on or prior to August 15, 2022, we may redeem up to 40% of each series of the DSG Senior Notes using the proceeds of certain equity offerings. If the notes are redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning August 15, 2022, 2023, and 2024 and thereafter, then the redemption prices for the DSG 5.375% Secured Notes are 102.688% , 101.344% , and 100% , respectively, and the redemption prices for the DSG 6.625% Notes are 103.313% , 101.656% , and 100% , respectively. DSG ’s obligations under the DSG Senior Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed by DSIH , DSG ’s direct parent, and certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of DSIH . The RSNs wholly-owned by DSIH and its subsidiaries will also jointly and severally guarantee the Issuers' obligations under the DSG Senior Notes . The DSG Senior Notes are not guaranteed by the Company, STG, or any of STG’s subsidiaries. Notes payable and finance leases to affiliates The current portion of notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing on our consolidated balance sheets includes finance leases to affiliates of $2 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 . Notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing, less current portion, on our consolidated balance sheets includes finance leases to affiliates of $9 million and $11 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Debt of variable interest entities and guarantees of third-party debt We jointly, severally, unconditionally, and irrevocably guarantee $59 million and $77 million of debt of certain third parties as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively, of which $21 million and $24 million , net of deferred financing costs, related to consolidated VIEs that are included on our consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. These guarantees primarily relate to the debt of Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham) as discussed under Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation within Note 10. Related Person Transactions . We have determined that, as of September 30, 2019 , it is not probable that we would have to perform under any of these guarantees.

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTER

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Temporary Equity Disclosure [Abstract]
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS: We account for redeemable noncontrolling interests in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity , and classify them as mezzanine equity on our consolidated balance sheets because their possible redemption is outside of the control of the Company. Our redeemable non-controlling interests consist of the following: Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity . On August 23, 2019, Diamond Sports Holdings LLC ( DSH ), an indirect parent of DSG and indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued preferred equity (the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity ) for $1,025 million . The Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity is redeemable by the holder in the following circumstances (1) in the event of a change of control with respect to DSH , the holder will have the right (but not the obligation) to require the redemption of the securities at a per unit amount equal to the liquidation preference per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (2) in the event of the sale of new equity interests in DSG or direct and indirect subsidiaries to the extent of proceeds received and (3) beginning on August 23, 2027, so long as any Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity remains outstanding, the holder, subject to certain minimum holding requirements, or investors holding a majority of the outstanding Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity , may compel DSH and DSG to initiate a process to sell DSG and/or conduct an initial public offering. DSH may not redeem any of the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity until November 22, 2019. At its option, DSH may redeem some or all of the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity from time to time thereafter at a price equal to $1,000 per unit plus the amount of dividends per unit previously paid in kind (the Liquidation Preference), multiplied by the applicable premium as follows (presented as a percentage of the Liquidation Preference): (i) on or after November 22, 2019 until February 19, 2020: 100% ; (ii) on or after February 20, 2020 until August 22, 2020: 102% ; (iii) on or after August 23, 2020 but prior to August 23, 2021: at a customary "make-whole" premium representing the present value of 103% plus all required dividend payments due on such Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity through August 23, 2021; (iv) on or after August 23, 2021 until August 22, 2022: 103% ; (v) on or after August 23, 2022 until August 22, 2023: 101% ; and (vi) August 23, 2023 and thereafter: 100% , in each case, plus accrued and unpaid dividends. The Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity accrues an initial quarterly dividend commencing on August 23, 2019 equal to 1-Month LIBOR ( 0.75% floor) plus 7.5% ( 8% if paid in kind) per annum on the sum of (i) $1,025 million (the Aggregate Liquidation Preference) plus (ii) the amount of aggregate accrued and unpaid dividends as of the end of the immediately preceding dividend accrual period, payable, at DSH 's election, in cash or, to the extent not paid in cash, by automatically increasing the Aggregate Liquidation Preference, whether or not such dividends have been declared and whether or not there are profits, surplus, or other funds legally available for the payment of dividends. The Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity dividend rate is subject to rate step-ups of 0.5% per annum, beginning on August 23, 2022; provided that, and subject to other applicable increases in the dividend rate described below, the cumulative dividend rate will be capped at 1-Month LIBOR plus 10.5% per annum until (a) on February 23, 2028, the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity dividend rate will increase by 1.50% with further increases of 0.5% on each six month anniversary thereafter and (b) the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity dividend rate will increase by 2% if DSH does not redeem the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity , to the extent elected by holders of the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity , upon a change of control; provided, in each case, that the cumulative dividend rate will be capped at 1-Month LIBOR plus 14% per annum. Subject to limited exceptions, DSH shall not, and shall not permit its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to pay a dividend or make a distribution, unless DSH applies 75% of the amount of such dividend or distribution payable to DSH or its subsidiaries (with the amount payable calculated on a pro rata basis based on their direct or indirect common equity ownership by DSH ) to make an offer to the holders of Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity to redeem the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity (subject to certain redemption restrictions) at a price equal to 100% of the Liquidation Preference of such Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity , plus accrued and unpaid dividends. Dividends accrued during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $10 million and are reflected in net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests on our consolidated statements of operations . All accrued dividends were distributed as of September 30, 2019 . The balance of the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity as of September 30, 2019 was $985 million , net of issuance costs. In connection with the Redeemable Subsidiary Preferred Equity , the Company provides a guarantee of collection of distributions. Subsidiary Equity Put Right . A noncontrolling equity holder of one of our subsidiaries has the right to sell their interest to the Company at a fair market sale value of $376 million , plus any undistributed income, at any time during the 30 -day period following January 2, 2020. In the event the noncontrolling equity holder does not redeem its interest, the Company has the right to purchase the interest for $376 million . As of September 30, 2019, this redeemable noncontrolling interest was recorded at $377 million which represents the $376 million plus $1 million of undistributed noncontrolling interest income.

LEASES

LEASES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
LEASES	LEASES: As described in Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies , we adopted new lease accounting guidance effective January 1, 2019. We determine if a contractual arrangement is a lease at inception. Our lease arrangements provide the Company the right to utilize certain specified tangible assets for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Our leases primarily relate to building space, tower space, and equipment. We do not separate non-lease components from our building and tower leases for the purposes of measuring our lease liabilities and assets. Our leases consist of operating leases and finance leases which are presented separately on our consolidated balance sheets . Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. We recognize a lease liability and a right of use asset at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term discounted using our incremental borrowing rate. Implicit interest rates within our lease arrangements are rarely determinable. Right of use assets also include, if applicable, prepaid lease payments and initial direct costs, less incentives received. We recognize operating lease expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease within operating expenses. Expense associated with our finance leases consists of two components, including interest on our outstanding finance lease obligations and amortization of the related right of use assets. The interest component is recorded in interest expense and amortization of the finance lease asset is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease in depreciation of property and equipment. Our leases do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Some of our leases include optional renewal periods or termination provisions which we assess at inception to determine the term of the lease, subject to reassessment in certain circumstances. The following table presents lease expense we have recorded on our consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 (in millions): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Finance lease expense: Amortization of finance lease asset $ 1 $ 2 Interest on lease liabilities 1 3 Total finance lease expense 2 5 Operating lease expense (a) 12 32 Total lease expense $ 14 $ 37 (a) Includes variable and short-term lease expense of $1 million and $0.4 million , respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and $4 million and $1 million , respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 . The following table summarizes our outstanding operating and finance lease obligations as of September 30, 2019 (in millions): Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (remainder) $ 13 $ 2 $ 15 2020 49 8 57 2021 41 8 49 2022 31 7 38 2023 28 7 35 2024 and thereafter 173 21 194 Total undiscounted obligations 335 53 388 Less imputed interest (84 ) (14 ) (98 ) Present value of lease obligations $ 251 $ 39 $ 290 Future minimum payments under operating leases as of December 31, 2018 were as follows (in millions): 2019 $ 32 2020 31 2021 30 2022 27 2023 24 2024 and thereafter 158 Total $ 302 The following table summarizes supplemental balance sheet information related to leases as of September 30, 2019 (in millions, except lease term and discount rate): Operating Leases Finance Leases Lease assets, non-current $ 222 $ 16 (a) Lease liabilities, current $ 38 $ 5 Lease liabilities, non-current 213 34 Total lease liabilities $ 251 $ 39 Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) 9.63 7.37 Weighted average discount rate 5.6 % 9.0 % (a) Finance lease assets are reflected in property and equipment, net on our consolidated balance sheets . The following table presents other information related to leases for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (in millions): Nine Months Ended Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 25 Operating cash flows from finance leases 3 Financing cash flows from finance leases 3 Leased assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities 10
LEASES	LEASES: As described in Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies , we adopted new lease accounting guidance effective January 1, 2019. We determine if a contractual arrangement is a lease at inception. Our lease arrangements provide the Company the right to utilize certain specified tangible assets for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Our leases primarily relate to building space, tower space, and equipment. We do not separate non-lease components from our building and tower leases for the purposes of measuring our lease liabilities and assets. Our leases consist of operating leases and finance leases which are presented separately on our consolidated balance sheets . Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. We recognize a lease liability and a right of use asset at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term discounted using our incremental borrowing rate. Implicit interest rates within our lease arrangements are rarely determinable. Right of use assets also include, if applicable, prepaid lease payments and initial direct costs, less incentives received. We recognize operating lease expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease within operating expenses. Expense associated with our finance leases consists of two components, including interest on our outstanding finance lease obligations and amortization of the related right of use assets. The interest component is recorded in interest expense and amortization of the finance lease asset is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease in depreciation of property and equipment. Our leases do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Some of our leases include optional renewal periods or termination provisions which we assess at inception to determine the term of the lease, subject to reassessment in certain circumstances. The following table presents lease expense we have recorded on our consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 (in millions): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Finance lease expense: Amortization of finance lease asset $ 1 $ 2 Interest on lease liabilities 1 3 Total finance lease expense 2 5 Operating lease expense (a) 12 32 Total lease expense $ 14 $ 37 (a) Includes variable and short-term lease expense of $1 million and $0.4 million , respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and $4 million and $1 million , respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 . The following table summarizes our outstanding operating and finance lease obligations as of September 30, 2019 (in millions): Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (remainder) $ 13 $ 2 $ 15 2020 49 8 57 2021 41 8 49 2022 31 7 38 2023 28 7 35 2024 and thereafter 173 21 194 Total undiscounted obligations 335 53 388 Less imputed interest (84 ) (14 ) (98 ) Present value of lease obligations $ 251 $ 39 $ 290 Future minimum payments under operating leases as of December 31, 2018 were as follows (in millions): 2019 $ 32 2020 31 2021 30 2022 27 2023 24 2024 and thereafter 158 Total $ 302 The following table summarizes supplemental balance sheet information related to leases as of September 30, 2019 (in millions, except lease term and discount rate): Operating Leases Finance Leases Lease assets, non-current $ 222 $ 16 (a) Lease liabilities, current $ 38 $ 5 Lease liabilities, non-current 213 34 Total lease liabilities $ 251 $ 39 Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) 9.63 7.37 Weighted average discount rate 5.6 % 9.0 % (a) Finance lease assets are reflected in property and equipment, net on our consolidated balance sheets . The following table presents other information related to leases for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (in millions): Nine Months Ended Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 25 Operating cash flows from finance leases 3 Financing cash flows from finance leases 3 Leased assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities 10

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: Programming Rights We are contractually obligated to make payments to purchase sports programming rights. The following table presents our annual non-cancellable commitments relating to our sports programming rights agreement as of September 30, 2019 (in millions): 2019 (remainder) $ 466 2020 1,834 2021 1,783 2022 1,529 2023 1,478 2024 and thereafter 9,626 Total $ 16,716 Other Liabilities In connection with the RSN Acquisition, we assumed a deferred purchase price liability. The purchase price liability is payable to the sellers in semi-annual installments through 2027. This obligation was recorded at the acquisition date fair value. As of September 30, 2019, $8 million was recorded within other current liabilities and $92 million was recorded within other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets . Interest expense of $0.5 million was recorded for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 . In addition to the purchase price liability, we assumed a profit participation interest whereby we are obligated to pay 7% of the excess cash flow generated by two of our RSNs. This obligation was recorded at the acquisition date fair value. As of September 30, 2019, $8 million was recorded within other current liabilities and $44 million was recorded within other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets . Interest expense of $0.3 million was recorded for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 . In connection with the RSN Acquisition, we assumed an obligation to redeem equity of one of our regional sports networks. The redemption amount will be paid in quarterly installments through the end of 2030 and is based upon a proportion of the excess cash flow generated by the regional sports network. We recorded this obligation in purchase accounting at our preliminary estimate of fair value. As of September 30, 2019, $37 million was recorded within other current liabilities and $245 million was recorded within other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets . Interest expense of $3 million was recorded for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 . Litigation We are a party to lawsuits, claims, and regulatory matters 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. Except as noted below, we do not believe the outcome of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material effect on the Company's financial statements. On December 21, 2017, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture proposing a $13 million fine for alleged violations of the FCC's sponsorship identification rules by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. Based on a review of the current facts and circumstances, management has provided for what is believed to be a reasonable estimate of the loss exposure for this matter. We have responded to dispute the Commission's findings and the proposed fine; however, we cannot predict the outcome of any potential FCC action related to this matter. We do not believe that the ultimate outcome of this matter will have a material effect on the Company's financial statements. On November 6, 2018, the Company agreed to enter into a proposed consent decree with the Department of Justice (DOJ). This consent decree resolves the Department of Justice’s investigation into the sharing of pacing information among certain stations in some local markets. The DOJ filed the consent decree and related documents in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on November 13, 2018. The U.S District Court for the District of Columbia entered the consent decree on May 22, 2019. The consent decree is not an admission of any wrongdoing by the Company and does not subject Sinclair to any monetary damages or penalties. The Company believes that even if the pacing information was shared as alleged, it would not have impacted any pricing of advertisements or the competitive nature of the market. The consent decree requires the Company to adopt certain antitrust compliance measures, including the appointment of an Antitrust Compliance Officer, consistent with what the Department of Justice has required in previous consent decrees in other industries. The consent decree also requires the Company stations not to exchange pacing and certain other information with other stations in their local markets, which the Company’s management has already instructed them not to do. The Company is aware of twenty-two putative class action lawsuits that were filed against the Company following published reports of the DOJ investigation into the exchange of pacing data within the industry. On October 3, 2018, these lawsuits were consolidated in the Northern District of Illinois. The consolidated action alleges that the Company and thirteen other broadcasters conspired to fix prices for commercials to be aired on broadcast television stations throughout the United States and engaged in unlawful information sharing, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The consolidated action seeks damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and interest, as well as injunctions against adopting practices or plans that would restrain competition in the ways the plaintiffs have alleged. The Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against all such claims. On July 19, 2018, the FCC released a Hearing Designation Order (HDO) to commence a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) with respect to the Company’s proposed acquisition of Tribune. The HDO directed the FCC's Media Bureau to hold in abeyance all other pending applications and amendments thereto related to the proposed Merger with Tribune until the issues that are the subject of the HDO have been resolved with finality. The HDO asked the ALJ to determine (i) whether Sinclair was the real party in interest to the sale of WGN-TV, KDAF(TV), and KIAH(TV), (ii) if so, whether the Company engaged in misrepresentation and/or lack of candor in its applications with the FCC and (iii) whether consummation of the overall transaction would be in the public interest and compliance with the FCC’s ownership rules. The Company maintains that the overall transaction and the proposed divestitures complied with the FCC’s rules, and strongly rejects any allegation of misrepresentation or lack of candor. The Merger Agreement was terminated by Tribune on August 9, 2018, on which date the Company subsequently filed a letter with the FCC to withdraw the merger applications and have them dismissed with prejudice and filed with the ALJ a Notice of Withdrawal of Applications and Motion to Terminate Hearing (Motion). On August 10, 2018, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau filed a responsive pleading with the ALJ stating that it did not oppose dismissal of the merger applications and concurrent termination of the hearing proceeding. The ALJ granted the Motion and terminated the hearing on March 5, 2019. As part of a discussion initiated by the Company to respond to allegations raised in the HDO, the FCC’s Media Bureau sent the Company a confidential letter of inquiry, which was inadvertently posted to the FCC’s online docket and removed by FCC staff shortly thereafter. The FCC subsequently released a statement that said the Media Bureau is in the process of resolving an outstanding issue regarding Sinclair’s conduct as part of the last year's FCC’s review of its proposed merger with Tribune and that the Bureau believes that delaying consideration of this matter would not be in anyone's interest. We cannot predict the outcome of the FCC's inquiry or whether or how the issues raised in the now-terminated HDO might impact the Company's ability to acquire additional TV stations in the future. On August 9, 2018, Tribune filed a complaint (the "Tribune Complaint") in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against the Company, which action is captioned Tribune Media Company v. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc, Case No. 2018-0593-JTL. The Tribune Complaint alleges that the Company breached the Merger Agreement by, among other things, failing to use its reasonable best efforts to secure regulatory approval of the Merger, and that such breach resulted in the failure of the Merger to obtain regulatory approval and close. The Tribune Complaint seeks declaratory relief, money damages in an amount to be determined at trial (but which the Tribune Complaint suggests could be in excess of $1 billion ), and attorney's fees and costs. On August 29, 2018, the Company filed its Answer, Affirmative Defenses, and Verified Counterclaim to the Verified Complaint. In its counterclaim, the Company alleges that Tribune breached the Merger Agreement and seeks declaratory relief, money damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and attorneys' fees and costs. The Company intends to continue its vigorous defense of this matter, while exploring opportunities to resolve it on reasonable terms. Based on a review of the current facts and circumstances, and while no finding of liability or damages against the Company has been made, management has provided for what is believed to be a reasonable estimate of the potential loss exposure for this matter. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded an estimated liability of $120 million and $135 million , respectively, which is reflected in corporate general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations . There can be no assurance that the amount of the loss ultimately incurred in this matter will not be greater than the amount recorded at this time. On August 9, 2018, Edward Komito, a putative Company shareholder, filed a class action complaint (the "Initial Complaint") in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (the "District of Maryland") against the Company, Christopher Ripley and Lucy Rutishauser, which action is now captioned In re Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Securities Litigation, case No. 1:18-CV-02445-CCB (the "Securities Action"). On March 1, 2019, lead counsel in the Securities Action filed an amended complaint, adding David Smith and Steven Marks as defendants, and alleging that defendants violated the federal securities laws by issuing false or misleading disclosures concerning (a) the Merger prior to the termination thereof; and (b) the DOJ investigation concerning the alleged exchange of pacing information. The Securities Action seeks declaratory relief, money damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and attorney’s fees and costs. On May 3, 2019, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, which motion has been opposed by lead plaintiff. The Company believes that the allegations in the Securities Action are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against the allegations. In addition, beginning in late July 2018, Sinclair received letters from two putative Company shareholders requesting that the Board of Directors of the Company investigate whether any of the Company’s officers and directors committed nonexculpated breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with, or gross mismanagement with respect to: (i) seeking regulatory approval of the Tribune Merger and (ii) the HDO, and the allegations contained therein. A committee consisting of independent members of the board of directors has been formed to respond to these demands (the "Special Litigation Committee"). The members of the Special Litigation Committee are Martin R. Leader, Larry E. McCanna, and the Honorable Benson Everett Legg, with Martin Leader as its designated Chair. On November 29, 2018, putative Company shareholder Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund, San Antonio filed a shareholder derivative complaint in the District of Maryland against the members of the Company’s Board of Directors, Mr. Ripley, and the Company (as a nominal defendant), which action is captioned Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund, San Antonio v. Smith, et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-03670-RDB (the "San Antonio Action"). On December 26, 2018, putative Company shareholder Teamsters Local 677 Health Services & Insurance Plan filed a shareholder derivative complaint in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Baltimore County (the "Circuit Court") against the members of the Company’s Board of Directors, Mr. Ripley, and the Company (as a nominal defendant), which action is captioned Teamsters Local 677 Health Services & Insurance Plan v. Friedman, et al., Case No. 03-C-18-12119 (the "Teamsters Action"). A defendant in the Teamsters Action removed the Teamsters action to the District of Maryland, and the plaintiff in that case has moved to remand the case back to the Circuit Court. That motion is fully briefed and awaiting decision. On December 21, 2018, putative Company shareholder Norfolk County Retirement System filed a shareholder derivative complaint in the District of Maryland against the members of the Company’s Board of Directors, Mr. Ripley, and the Company (as a nominal defendant), which action is captioned Norfolk County Retirement System v. Smith, et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-03952-RDB (the "Norfolk Action," and together with the San Antonio Action and the Teamsters Action, the "Derivative Actions"). The plaintiffs in each of the Derivative Actions allege breaches of fiduciary duties by the defendants in connection with (i) seeking regulatory approval of the Tribune Merger and (ii) the HDO, and the allegations contained therein. The plaintiffs in the Derivative Actions seek declaratory relief, money damages to be awarded to the Company in an amount to be determined at trial, corporate governance reforms, equitable or injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees and costs. Additionally, the plaintiffs in the Teamsters and Norfolk Actions allege that the defendants were unjustly enriched, in the form of their compensation as directors and/or officers of the Company, in light of the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, and seek restitution to be awarded to the Company. These allegations are the subject matter of the review being conducted by the Special Litigation Committee, as noted above. On April 30, 2019, the Special Litigation Committee moved to dismiss and, in the alternative, to stay the San Antonio and Norfolk Actions, which motion has been opposed by the plaintiffs. The Company and the remaining individual defendants joined in this motion.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
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 millions, except share amounts which are reflected in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2019 2018 2019 2018 Income (Numerator) Net (loss) income $ (49 ) $ 65 $ 18 $ 138 Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests (11 ) — (11 ) — Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — (1 ) (3 ) (3 ) Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders $ (60 ) $ 64 $ 4 $ 135 Shares (Denominator) Weighted-average common shares outstanding 92,086 102,083 92,050 102,069 Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options 1,349 706 1,221 829 Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 93,435 102,789 93,271 102,898 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 2019 2018 2019 2018 Weighted-average stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options excluded — 1,600 317 1,233

SEGMENT DATA

SEGMENT DATA	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
SEGMENT DATA	SEGMENT DATA: We measure segment performance based on operating income (loss). We have two reportable segments: local news and sports . Our local news segment, previously disclosed as our broadcast segment, provides free over-the-air programming to television viewing audiences and includes stations in 89 markets located throughout the continental United States. Our sports segment provides viewers with live professional sports content and includes 23 regional sports network brands. Other and Corporate are not reportable segments but are included for reconciliation purposes. Other primarily consists of original networks and content, including Tennis, non-broadcast digital and internet solutions, technical services, and other non-media investments. Corporate costs primarily include our costs to operate as a public company and to operate our corporate headquarters location. All of our businesses are located within the United States. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 , local news and sports excluded $9 million of revenue and selling, general, and administrative expenses, respectively, for services provided by local news to sports , which are eliminated in consolidation. We had $3 million and $4 million in intercompany interest expense related to intercompany loans between other and corporate for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. We had $10 million and $12 million in intercompany interest expense related to intercompany loans between other and corporate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in millions): As of September 30, 2019 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Assets $ 4,868 $ 11,815 $ 706 $ 390 $ 17,779 For the three months ended September 30, 2019 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 651 $ 352 $ 122 $ — $ 1,125 Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets 60 54 6 — 120 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 22 — — — 22 Corporate general and administrative expenses 23 92 — 122 237 Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment (28 ) — — (7 ) (35 ) Operating income (loss) 146 (47 ) 9 (114 ) (6 ) Interest expense 1 73 — 55 129 Income (loss) from equity method investments — 1 (13 ) — (12 ) For the three months ended September 30, 2018 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 679 $ — $ 87 $ — $ 766 Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets 62 — 8 — 70 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 24 — — — 24 Corporate general and administrative expenses 32 — — 2 34 Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment (11 ) — — — (11 ) Operating income (loss) 170 — (9 ) (3 ) 158 Interest expense 2 — — 74 76 Loss from equity method investments — — (14 ) — (14 ) For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 1,930 $ 352 $ 336 $ — $ 2,618 Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets 182 54 16 — 252 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 68 — — — 68 Corporate general and administrative expenses 82 92 1 142 317 (Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment (51 ) — 1 (7 ) (57 ) Operating income (loss) 376 (47 ) (1 ) (135 ) 193 Interest expense 4 73 1 159 237 Income (loss) income from equity method investments — 1 (39 ) — (38 ) For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 1,917 $ — $ 245 $ — $ 2,162 Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets 184 — 22 — 206 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 76 — — — 76 Corporate general and administrative expenses 80 — 1 8 89 (Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment (97 ) (b) — 60 (a) — (37 ) Operating income (loss) 487 (b) — (82 ) (a) (8 ) 397 Interest expense 4 — 1 233 238 (Loss) income from equity method investments — — (45 ) 1 (44 ) (a) Includes a $60 million impairment to the carrying value of a consolidated real estate venture. (b) Includes a gain of $83 million related to the auction proceeds. See Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets .

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES	VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES: 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. In February 2019, we entered into a joint venture with an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs to establish and operate Marquee. Marquee simultaneously entered into a long term telecast rights agreement with the Chicago Cubs, providing Marquee with the rights to air certain live game telecasts and other content, which we guarantee. In connection with the RSN acquisition, we became party to a joint venture associated with one other regional sports network. We participate significantly in the economics and have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of these regional sports networks, including sales and certain operational services. We consolidate these regional sports networks because they are variable interest entities and we are the primary beneficiary. The carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above, which have been included on our consolidated balance sheets as of the dates presented, were as follows (in millions): As of September 30, As of December 31, ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 36 $ — Accounts receivable, net 32 28 Other current assets 8 7 Total current assets 76 35 Program contract costs, less current portion 1 2 Property and equipment, net 11 5 Operating lease assets 3 — Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets 15 15 Definite-lived intangible assets, net 191 68 Other assets 2 3 Total assets $ 299 $ 128 LIABILITIES Current liabilities: Other current liabilities $ 22 $ 18 Notes payable, finance leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion 16 19 Operating lease liabilities, less current portion 2 — Program contracts payable, less current portion 7 9 Other long-term liabilities 1 1 Total liabilities $ 48 $ 47 The amounts above represent the consolidated assets and liabilities of the VIEs described above, for which we are the primary beneficiary. Total liabilities associated with certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options with certain VIEs, which are excluded from the above, were $126 million and $125 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , 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. As of September 30, 2019 , all of the liabilities are non-recourse to us except for the debt of certain VIEs. See Debt of variable interest entities and guarantees of third-party debt under Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing for further discussion. The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar. Other VIEs We have several investments in entities 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. The carrying amounts of our investments in these VIEs for which we are not the primary beneficiary were $71 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 . Our maximum exposure is equal to the carrying value of our investments. The income and loss related to equity method investments and other investments are recorded in loss from equity method investments and other income, net, respectively, on our consolidated statements of operations . We recorded losses of $13 million and $38 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 , respectively, and losses of $10 million and $34 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively. Included in these amounts is an investment in a sustainable energy company accounted for under the equity method. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 , this entity had net revenues, operating loss , and net loss of $1 million , $35 million , and $35 million , respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , this entity had net revenues, operating loss , and net loss of $2 million , $35 million , and $35 million , respectively.

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
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 our 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 entities owned by the controlling shareholders. Lease payments made to these entities were $1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and $4 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 . Charter Aircraft. We lease aircraft owned by certain controlling shareholders. For all leases, we incurred expenses of $1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and $2 million and $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , 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; WEMT-TV Tri-Cities, Tennessee; WYDO-TV Greenville, North Carolina; KBVU-TV/KCVU-TV Eureka/Chico-Redding, California; WPFO-TV Portland, Maine; and KRNV-DT/KENV-DT Reno, Nevada/Salt Lake City, Utah (collectively, the Cunningham Stations). Certain of our stations provide services to the Cunningham Stations pursuant to LMAs or JSAs and SSAs. See Note 9. Variable Interest Entities , for further discussion of the scope of services provided under these types of arrangements. As of September 30, 2019 , we have jointly and severally, unconditionally, and irrevocably guaranteed $47 million of Cunningham's debt, of which $9 million , net of $1 million deferred financing costs, relates to the Cunningham VIEs that we consolidate. The voting stock of Cunningham is owned by an unrelated party. 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. 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 or (ii) $5 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 cumulative prepayments made under these purchase agreements were $50 million and $47 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. The remaining aggregate purchase price of these stations, net of prepayments, as of both September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , was approximately $54 million . Additionally, we provide services to WDBB-TV pursuant to an LMA, which expires April 22, 2025, and have a purchase option to acquire for $0.2 million . We paid Cunningham, under these agreements, $2 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and $6 million and $7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. The agreements with KBVU-TV/KCVU-TV, KRNV-DT/KENV-DT, WBSF-TV, WEMT-TV, WGTU-TV/WGTQ-TV, WPFO-TV, and WYDO-TV expire between December 2020 and August 2025 and certain stations have renewal provisions for successive eight -year periods. 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 on our consolidated statements of operations . Our consolidated revenues include $38 million and $43 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $111 million and $120 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, related to the Cunningham Stations. 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 Cunningham has an LMA that expires in June 2022. Under the agreement, Cunningham paid us an initial fee of $1 million and pays us $0.2 million annually for master control services plus the cost to maintain and repair the equipment. In August 2016, we entered into an agreement, expiring in October 2021, with Cunningham to provide a news share service with the Johnstown, PA station beginning in October 2016 for an annual fee of $1 million . 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 less than $0.2 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and both the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 . Leased property by real estate ventures Certain of our real estate ventures have entered into leases with entities owned by members of the Smith Family. Total rent received under these leases was $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively, and $0.7 million and $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 , respectively. Equity method investees YES Network . In August 2019, YES Network, an equity method investee, entered into a management services agreement with the Company, in which the Company provides certain services for an initial term that expires on August 29, 2025. The agreement will automatically renew for two 2 -year renewal terms, with a final expiration on August 29, 2029. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, YES Network paid us a management services fee of $0.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. In conjunction with the acquisition of the RSNs on August 23, 2019, as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets , we assumed a minority interest in four mobile truck companies, which we account for as equity method investments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 , we made payments to these investments totaling $4 million for mobile truck related services. Sports Holding, LLC . In 2019, 120 Sports Holding, LLC (120 Sports), an equity method investee, entered into a secured promissory note to borrow $6 million from us, maturing on January 11, 2020 . The note bears interest at a fixed rate of 12.0% per annum. Programming Rights The Company has rights agreements covering the broadcast of regular season games with 5 professional teams, of whom have affiliates which have non-controlling equity interest in certain of our RSNs. These agreements expire on various dates during the fiscal year ended 2030 through 2033. Program rights fees paid by the Company to the teams, in total, were $38 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
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 following table sets forth the face value and fair value of our notes and debentures for the periods presented (in millions): As of September 30, 2019 As of December 31, 2018 Face Value (a) Fair Value Face Value (a) Fair Value Level 2: STG: 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 $ 500 $ 510 $ 500 $ 504 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 350 366 350 326 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 550 566 550 516 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 (b) — — 600 599 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 400 402 400 353 Term Loan A (c) — — 96 92 Term Loan B 1,332 1,334 1,343 1,275 Term Loan B-2 (d) 1,300 1,303 — — DSG: 5.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (d) 3,050 3,164 — — 6.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 (d) 1,825 1,893 — — Term Loan (d) 3,300 3,321 — — Debt of variable interest entities 22 22 25 25 Debt of non-media subsidiaries 18 18 20 20 (a) Amounts are carried on our consolidated balance sheets net of debt discount and deferred financing cost, which are excluded in the above table, of $223 million and $33 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. (b) The STG 5.375% Notes were redeemed, in full, in August 2019. For additional information, see Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing . (c) The STG Term Loan A debt was repaid in April 2019. For additional information, see Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing . (d) The STG Term Loan B-2, DSG Senior Notes , and DSG Term Loan were issued in August 2019. For additional information, see Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing .

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCI

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Condensed Financial Information 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, 5.625% Notes, 6.125% Notes, 5.875% Notes, and 5.125% Notes. STG’s 6.125% Notes were publicly registered in a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-187724), effective April 16, 2013, and STG’s 5.625% Notes were publicly registered in a Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (No. 333-203483), effective April 17, 2015. Our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as of September 30, 2019 , were obligations or securities of SBG and not obligations or securities of STG. SBG is a guarantor under the STG Bank Credit Agreement , 5.625% Notes, 6.125% Notes, 5.875% Notes, and 5.125% Notes. As of September 30, 2019 , our consolidated total debt, net of deferred financing costs and debt discounts, of $12,463 million included $4,447 million related to STG and its subsidiaries of which SBG guaranteed $4,408 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, 2019 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ 238 $ 9 $ 1,152 $ — $ 1,399 Accounts receivable, net — — 530 607 — 1,137 Other current assets 6 19 178 190 (26 ) 367 Total current assets 6 257 717 1,949 (26 ) 2,903 Property and equipment, net 1 31 631 97 (20 ) 740 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 2,263 3,601 — — (5,864 ) — Goodwill — — 2,120 1,928 — 4,048 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 144 14 — 158 Definite-lived intangible assets, net — — 1,481 7,671 (48 ) 9,104 Other long-term assets 75 1,601 289 601 (1,740 ) 826 Total assets $ 2,345 $ 5,490 $ 5,382 $ 12,260 $ (7,698 ) $ 17,779 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 136 $ 73 $ 233 $ 214 $ (26 ) $ 630 Current portion of long-term debt — 27 4 41 (1 ) 71 Other current liabilities 1 4 147 240 — 392 Total current liabilities 137 104 384 495 (27 ) 1,093 Long-term debt 700 4,360 33 8,333 (1,034 ) 12,392 Other long-term liabilities 13 49 1,364 749 (918 ) 1,257 Total liabilities 850 4,513 1,781 9,577 (1,979 ) 14,742 Redeemable noncontrolling interests — — — 1,362 — 1,362 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 1,495 977 3,601 1,145 (5,723 ) 1,495 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — 176 4 180 Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 2,345 $ 5,490 $ 5,382 $ 12,260 $ (7,698 ) $ 17,779 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 (in millions) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ 962 $ 19 $ 79 $ — $ 1,060 Accounts receivable, net — — 531 68 — 599 Other current assets 3 6 103 37 (24 ) 125 Total current assets 3 968 653 184 (24 ) 1,784 Property and equipment, net 1 32 594 70 (14 ) 683 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 1,604 3,654 4 — (5,262 ) — Goodwill — — 2,120 4 — 2,124 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 144 14 — 158 Definite-lived intangible assets, net — — 1,609 70 (52 ) 1,627 Other long-term assets 31 851 119 166 (971 ) 196 Total assets $ 1,639 $ 5,505 $ 5,243 $ 508 $ (6,323 ) $ 6,572 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ — $ 78 $ 236 $ 40 $ (24 ) $ 330 Current portion of long-term debt — 31 4 8 — 43 Other current liabilities — 1 144 55 — 200 Total current liabilities — 110 384 103 (24 ) 573 Long-term debt — 3,776 37 383 (346 ) 3,850 Other long-term liabilities — 40 1,169 173 (833 ) 549 Total liabilities — 3,926 1,590 659 (1,203 ) 4,972 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 1,639 1,579 3,653 (108 ) (5,124 ) 1,639 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (43 ) 4 (39 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 1,639 $ 5,505 $ 5,243 $ 508 $ (6,323 ) $ 6,572 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ 9 $ 702 $ 445 $ (31 ) $ 1,125 Media programming and production expenses — — 312 262 (14 ) 560 Selling, general and administrative 122 24 162 124 (10 ) 422 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses — (6 ) 55 104 (4 ) 149 Total operating expenses 122 18 529 490 (28 ) 1,131 Operating (loss) income (122 ) (9 ) 173 (45 ) (3 ) (6 ) Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 35 202 — — (237 ) — Interest expense (1 ) (55 ) (1 ) (76 ) 4 (129 ) Other income (expense) 1 (2 ) (12 ) 6 (2 ) (9 ) Total other income (expense) 35 145 (13 ) (70 ) (235 ) (138 ) Income tax benefit 27 4 43 21 — 95 Net (loss) income (60 ) 140 203 (94 ) (238 ) (49 ) Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests — — — (11 ) — (11 ) Net (loss) income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ (60 ) $ 140 $ 203 $ (105 ) $ (238 ) $ (60 ) Comprehensive (loss) income $ (60 ) $ 140 $ 203 $ (94 ) $ (238 ) $ (49 ) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 714 $ 77 $ (25 ) $ 766 Media programming and production expenses — — 289 36 (21 ) 304 Selling, general and administrative 3 32 150 5 (1 ) 189 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses — 1 77 39 (2 ) 115 Total operating expenses 3 33 516 80 (24 ) 608 Operating (loss) income (3 ) (33 ) 198 (3 ) (1 ) 158 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 65 155 — — (220 ) — Interest expense — (74 ) (1 ) (5 ) 4 (76 ) Other income (expense) 1 (6 ) (16 ) 1 — (20 ) Total other income (expense) 66 75 (17 ) (4 ) (216 ) (96 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 1 28 (25 ) (1 ) — 3 Net income (loss) 64 70 156 (8 ) (217 ) 65 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (1 ) — (1 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 64 $ 70 $ 156 $ (9 ) $ (217 ) $ 64 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 64 $ 70 $ 156 $ (8 ) $ (217 ) $ 65 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ 9 $ 2,064 $ 616 $ (71 ) $ 2,618 Media programming and production expenses — — 931 325 (41 ) 1,215 Selling, general and administrative 143 82 481 133 (12 ) 827 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses — (3 ) 203 193 (10 ) 383 Total operating expenses 143 79 1,615 651 (63 ) 2,425 Operating (loss) income (143 ) (70 ) 449 (35 ) (8 ) 193 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 116 410 — — (526 ) — Interest expense (2 ) (160 ) (2 ) (85 ) 12 (237 ) Other income (expense) 2 3 (35 ) 5 (1 ) (26 ) Total other income (expense) 116 253 (37 ) (80 ) (515 ) (263 ) Income tax benefit 31 33 3 21 — 88 Net income (loss) 4 216 415 (94 ) (523 ) 18 Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests — — — (11 ) — (11 ) Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (3 ) — (3 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 4 $ 216 $ 415 $ (108 ) $ (523 ) $ 4 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 4 $ 216 $ 415 $ (94 ) $ (523 ) $ 18 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 2,020 $ 207 $ (65 ) $ 2,162 Media programming and production expenses — — 849 101 (56 ) 894 Selling, general and administrative 8 80 440 14 (1 ) 541 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses — 4 168 163 (5 ) 330 Total operating expenses 8 84 1,457 278 (62 ) 1,765 Operating (loss) income (8 ) (84 ) 563 (71 ) (3 ) 397 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 140 454 — — (594 ) — Interest expense — (233 ) (3 ) (14 ) 12 (238 ) Other income (expense) 1 — (43 ) — — (42 ) Total other income (expense) 141 221 (46 ) (14 ) (582 ) (280 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 2 65 (58 ) 12 — 21 Net income (loss) 135 202 459 (73 ) (585 ) 138 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (3 ) — (3 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 135 $ 202 $ 459 $ (76 ) $ (585 ) $ 135 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 135 $ 202 $ 459 $ (73 ) $ (585 ) $ 138 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (4 ) $ (188 ) $ 538 $ 157 $ (9 ) $ 494 CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment — (2 ) (99 ) (4 ) 9 (96 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired — — — (9,006 ) — (9,006 ) Purchases of investments (2 ) (32 ) (42 ) (351 ) — (427 ) Distributions from investments — — — 4 — 4 Spectrum repack reimbursements — — 50 — — 50 Other, net — (2 ) — — — (2 ) Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities (2 ) (36 ) (91 ) (9,357 ) 9 (9,477 ) CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing — 1,294 — 8,159 — 9,453 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and finance leases — (706 ) (3 ) (26 ) 20 (715 ) Debt issuance costs — (15 ) — (167 ) — (182 ) Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net — — — 985 — 985 Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (55 ) — — — — (55 ) Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity — — — (10 ) — (10 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (125 ) — — — — (125 ) Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — (30 ) — (30 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables 186 (1,074 ) (454 ) 1,362 (20 ) — Other, net — 1 — — — 1 Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities 6 (500 ) (457 ) 10,273 — 9,322 NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH — (724 ) (10 ) 1,073 — 339 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period — 962 19 79 — 1,060 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period $ — $ 238 $ 9 $ 1,152 $ — $ 1,399 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (8 ) $ (232 ) $ 622 $ (19 ) $ 10 $ 373 CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment — (5 ) (73 ) (3 ) 3 (78 ) Purchases of investments (2 ) (5 ) (21 ) (2 ) — (30 ) Distributions from investments 6 — — 17 — 23 Spectrum repack reimbursements — — 2 — — 2 Other, net — (4 ) — — — (4 ) Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities 4 (14 ) (92 ) 12 3 (87 ) CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing — — — 3 — 3 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and finance leases — (140 ) (3 ) (11 ) — (154 ) Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (55 ) — — — — (55 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (46 ) — — — — (46 ) Proceeds from the issuance of subsidiary equity — — — — — — Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — (7 ) — (7 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables 103 688 (839 ) 61 (13 ) — Other, net 2 — — (1 ) — 1 Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities 4 548 (842 ) 45 (13 ) (258 ) NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH — 302 (312 ) 38 — 28 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period — 645 324 27 — 996 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period $ — $ 947 $ 12 $ 65 $ — $ 1,024

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM_2

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (the Company) is a diversified television media company with national reach and a strong focus on providing high-quality content on our local television stations, regional sports networks, and digital platforms. The content, distributed through our broadcast platform and third-party platforms, consists of programming provided by third-party networks and syndicators, local news, college and professional sports, and other original programming produced by us. 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, 2019 , we had two reportable segments for accounting purposes, local news and sports . The local news segment consists primarily of our 191 broadcast television stations in 89 markets, 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)). These stations broadcast 605 channels as of September 30, 2019 . For the purpose of this report, these 191 stations and 605 channels are referred to as "our" stations and channels. The sports segment consists primarily of 23 regional sports network brands (the RSNs), including 21 regional sports network brands acquired during the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Marquee Sports Network (Marquee), and a 20% equity interest in the Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network, LLC ( YES Network ). The RSNs own the exclusive rights to air, among other sporting events, the games of 45 professional sports teams.
Principles of Consolidation and Interim Financial Statements	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, including the operating results of the regional sports networks acquired on August 23, 2019, as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets , and variable interest entities (VIEs) for which we are the primary beneficiary. Noncontrolling interests represent a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities. Noncontrolling interests which may be redeemed by the holder, and the redemption is outside of our control, are presented as redeemable noncontrolling interests. All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation. We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary. We are the primary beneficiary of a VIE when we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE. See Note 9. Variable Interest Entities for more information on our VIEs. Investments in entities over which we have significant influence but not control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Income from equity method investments represents our proportionate share of net income generated by equity method investees.
Equity Investments	Equity Investments
Use of Estimates	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	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new guidance related to accounting for leases, Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 (ASC 842). We adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and the optional transition method. Under this adoption method, comparative prior periods were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historical accounting policy. We elected to apply the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which, among other things, allowed us to carryforward our historical assessments of whether contracts are, or contain, leases and lease classification. The primary impact of adopting this standard was the recognition of $215 million of operating lease liabilities and $196 million of operating lease assets. The adoption did not have a material impact on how we account for finance leases. See Note 5. Leases for more information regarding our leasing arrangements. In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software, with the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract expensed over the term of the hosting arrangement. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. In October 2018, the FASB issued guidance for determining whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest. The amendments require organizations to consider indirect interests held through related parties under common control on a proportional basis rather than as the equivalent of a direct interest in its entirety (as currently required in generally accepted accounting principles). The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2019, the FASB issued guidance which requires that an entity test a film or license agreement within the scope of Subtopic 920-350 for impairment at the film group level, when the film or license agreement is predominantly monetized with other films and/or license agreements. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition	Distribution Revenue. We generate distribution revenue through fees received from multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and virtual MVPDs for cable network programming and the right to distribute our stations and other properties on their respective distribution platforms. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 , one MVPD included within the local news, sports, and other segments accounted for $297 million of our total revenues. Advertising Revenue. We generate advertising revenue primarily from the sale of advertising spots/impressions on our television and digital platforms. In accordance with ASC 606, we do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) distribution arrangements which are accounted for as a sales/usage based royalty. Deferred Revenue.
Programming Rights	Programming Rights The Company has rights agreements covering the broadcast of regular season games that expire on various dates during the fiscal years ended 2019 through 2035 . A prepaid asset is recorded for the rights acquired to broadcast future games or events over a specified season upon payment of the contracted fee. The assets recorded for the rights acquired are classified as current or non-current based on the period when the games are expected to be aired. The program rights for a specified season are amortized over that season on a straight-line basis under the contractual cash flows method, which provides for a reasonable basis to match program rights amortization expense with revenues over the contract term. Assets are recorded for any program rights that have been prepaid. Liabilities are recorded for any program rights obligations that have been incurred for a given season but not yet paid at period end. Recorded programming assets are held at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value.
Income Taxes	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, 2019 and 2018 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 months ended September 30, 2019 was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to a $34 million benefit related to a change in the treatment of the gain from the sale of certain broadcast spectrum in connection with the Broadcast Incentive Auction and a $16 million benefit related to a release of valuation allowance on certain state net operating losses. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to a $34 million benefit related to a change in the treatment of the gain from the sale of certain broadcast spectrum in connection with the Broadcast Incentive Auction, $18 million in federal tax credits related to investments in sustainability initiatives, and a $16 million benefit related to a release of valuation allowance on certain state net operating losses. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to $15 million in federal tax credits related to investments in sustainability initiatives. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was less than the statutory rate primarily due to an $18 million permanent tax benefit recognized from an IRS tax ruling on the treatment of the gain from the sale of certain broadcast spectrum in connection with the Broadcast Incentive Auction and $21 million
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years' consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year's presentation.
Fair Value Measurement	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 SUMM_3

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue	The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by type and segment (in millions): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Local News Sports Other Total Local News Sports Other Total Distribution revenue $ 340 $ 306 $ 33 $ 679 $ 303 $ — $ 28 $ 331 Advertising revenue 301 43 32 376 366 — 19 385 Other media and non-media revenues 10 3 57 70 10 — 40 50 Total revenues $ 651 $ 352 $ 122 $ 1,125 $ 679 $ — $ 87 $ 766 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 Local News Sports Other Total Local News Sports Other Total Distribution revenue $ 995 $ 306 $ 97 $ 1,398 $ 882 $ — $ 83 $ 965 Advertising revenue 904 43 77 1,024 1,003 — 58 1,061 Other media and non-media revenues 31 3 162 196 32 — 104 136 Total revenues $ 1,930 $ 352 $ 336 $ 2,618 $ 1,917 $ — $ 245 $ 2,162

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS_2

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Allocated Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Liabilities Assumed	The following table summarizes the preliminary allocated fair value of acquired assets, assumed liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of the Acquired RSNs (in millions): Cash and cash equivalents $ 823 Accounts receivable, net 604 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 176 Property and equipment, net 25 Definite-lived intangible assets, net 7,676 Other assets 52 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (261 ) Other long-term liabilities (579 ) Goodwill 1,924 Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired $ 10,440 Redeemable noncontrolling interests (380 ) Noncontrolling interests (231 ) Gross purchase price $ 9,829 Purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 9,006
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information	The table below sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations, assuming that the RSN Acquisition, along with transactions necessary to finance the acquisition, occurred at the beginning of the year preceding the year of the acquisition (in millions, expect per share data): Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 2019 2018 Total revenue $ 1,632 $ 1,732 $ 5,067 $ 5,058 Net income $ 1 $ 248 $ 319 $ 475 Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ (48 ) $ 199 $ 166 $ 330 Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ (0.52 ) $ 1.95 $ 1.80 $ 3.24 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ (0.51 ) $ 1.94 $ 1.78 $ 3.21

LEASES (Tables)

LEASES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Components of Lease Expense	The following table presents other information related to leases for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (in millions): Nine Months Ended Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 25 Operating cash flows from finance leases 3 Financing cash flows from finance leases 3 Leased assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities 10 The following table presents lease expense we have recorded on our consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 (in millions): Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Finance lease expense: Amortization of finance lease asset $ 1 $ 2 Interest on lease liabilities 1 3 Total finance lease expense 2 5 Operating lease expense (a) 12 32 Total lease expense $ 14 $ 37 (a) Includes variable and short-term lease expense of $1 million and $0.4 million , respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and $4 million and $1 million , respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 .
Maturity of Operating Leases	The following table summarizes our outstanding operating and finance lease obligations as of September 30, 2019 (in millions): Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (remainder) $ 13 $ 2 $ 15 2020 49 8 57 2021 41 8 49 2022 31 7 38 2023 28 7 35 2024 and thereafter 173 21 194 Total undiscounted obligations 335 53 388 Less imputed interest (84 ) (14 ) (98 ) Present value of lease obligations $ 251 $ 39 $ 290
Maturity of Finance Leases	The following table summarizes our outstanding operating and finance lease obligations as of September 30, 2019 (in millions): Operating Leases Finance Leases Total 2019 (remainder) $ 13 $ 2 $ 15 2020 49 8 57 2021 41 8 49 2022 31 7 38 2023 28 7 35 2024 and thereafter 173 21 194 Total undiscounted obligations 335 53 388 Less imputed interest (84 ) (14 ) (98 ) Present value of lease obligations $ 251 $ 39 $ 290
Future minimum payments under operating leases	Future minimum payments under operating leases as of December 31, 2018 were as follows (in millions): 2019 $ 32 2020 31 2021 30 2022 27 2023 24 2024 and thereafter 158 Total $ 302
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information	The following table summarizes supplemental balance sheet information related to leases as of September 30, 2019 (in millions, except lease term and discount rate): Operating Leases Finance Leases Lease assets, non-current $ 222 $ 16 (a) Lease liabilities, current $ 38 $ 5 Lease liabilities, non-current 213 34 Total lease liabilities $ 251 $ 39 Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) 9.63 7.37 Weighted average discount rate 5.6 % 9.0 % (a) Finance lease assets are reflected in property and equipment, net on our consolidated balance sheets .

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Non-Cancellable Commitments Relating to Sports Rights Agreement	The following table presents our annual non-cancellable commitments relating to our sports programming rights agreement as of September 30, 2019 (in millions): 2019 (remainder) $ 466 2020 1,834 2021 1,783 2022 1,529 2023 1,478 2024 and thereafter 9,626 Total $ 16,716

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
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 millions, except share amounts which are reflected in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2019 2018 2019 2018 Income (Numerator) Net (loss) income $ (49 ) $ 65 $ 18 $ 138 Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests (11 ) — (11 ) — Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — (1 ) (3 ) (3 ) Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders $ (60 ) $ 64 $ 4 $ 135 Shares (Denominator) Weighted-average common shares outstanding 92,086 102,083 92,050 102,069 Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options 1,349 706 1,221 829 Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 93,435 102,789 93,271 102,898
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 2019 2018 2019 2018 Weighted-average stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options excluded — 1,600 317 1,233

SEGMENT DATA (Tables)

SEGMENT DATA (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of segment financial information	Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in millions): As of September 30, 2019 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Assets $ 4,868 $ 11,815 $ 706 $ 390 $ 17,779 For the three months ended September 30, 2019 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 651 $ 352 $ 122 $ — $ 1,125 Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets 60 54 6 — 120 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 22 — — — 22 Corporate general and administrative expenses 23 92 — 122 237 Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment (28 ) — — (7 ) (35 ) Operating income (loss) 146 (47 ) 9 (114 ) (6 ) Interest expense 1 73 — 55 129 Income (loss) from equity method investments — 1 (13 ) — (12 ) For the three months ended September 30, 2018 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 679 $ — $ 87 $ — $ 766 Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets 62 — 8 — 70 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 24 — — — 24 Corporate general and administrative expenses 32 — — 2 34 Gain on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment (11 ) — — — (11 ) Operating income (loss) 170 — (9 ) (3 ) 158 Interest expense 2 — — 74 76 Loss from equity method investments — — (14 ) — (14 ) For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 1,930 $ 352 $ 336 $ — $ 2,618 Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets 182 54 16 — 252 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 68 — — — 68 Corporate general and administrative expenses 82 92 1 142 317 (Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment (51 ) — 1 (7 ) (57 ) Operating income (loss) 376 (47 ) (1 ) (135 ) 193 Interest expense 4 73 1 159 237 Income (loss) income from equity method investments — 1 (39 ) — (38 ) For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 Local News Sports Other Corporate Consolidated Revenue $ 1,917 $ — $ 245 $ — $ 2,162 Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets 184 — 22 — 206 Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 76 — — — 76 Corporate general and administrative expenses 80 — 1 8 89 (Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment (97 ) (b) — 60 (a) — (37 ) Operating income (loss) 487 (b) — (82 ) (a) (8 ) 397 Interest expense 4 — 1 233 238 (Loss) income from equity method investments — — (45 ) 1 (44 ) (a) Includes a $60 million impairment to the carrying value of a consolidated real estate venture. (b) Includes a gain of $83 million related to the auction proceeds. See Note 2. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets .

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Tab

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Schedule of Variable Interest Entities	The carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above, which have been included on our consolidated balance sheets as of the dates presented, were as follows (in millions): As of September 30, As of December 31, ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 36 $ — Accounts receivable, net 32 28 Other current assets 8 7 Total current assets 76 35 Program contract costs, less current portion 1 2 Property and equipment, net 11 5 Operating lease assets 3 — Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets 15 15 Definite-lived intangible assets, net 191 68 Other assets 2 3 Total assets $ 299 $ 128 LIABILITIES Current liabilities: Other current liabilities $ 22 $ 18 Notes payable, finance leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion 16 19 Operating lease liabilities, less current portion 2 — Program contracts payable, less current portion 7 9 Other long-term liabilities 1 1 Total liabilities $ 48 $ 47

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of carrying value and fair value of notes and debentures	The following table sets forth the face value and fair value of our notes and debentures for the periods presented (in millions): As of September 30, 2019 As of December 31, 2018 Face Value (a) Fair Value Face Value (a) Fair Value Level 2: STG: 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 $ 500 $ 510 $ 500 $ 504 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 350 366 350 326 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 550 566 550 516 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 (b) — — 600 599 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 400 402 400 353 Term Loan A (c) — — 96 92 Term Loan B 1,332 1,334 1,343 1,275 Term Loan B-2 (d) 1,300 1,303 — — DSG: 5.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (d) 3,050 3,164 — — 6.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 (d) 1,825 1,893 — — Term Loan (d) 3,300 3,321 — — Debt of variable interest entities 22 22 25 25 Debt of non-media subsidiaries 18 18 20 20 (a) Amounts are carried on our consolidated balance sheets net of debt discount and deferred financing cost, which are excluded in the above table, of $223 million and $33 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. (b) The STG 5.375% Notes were redeemed, in full, in August 2019. For additional information, see Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing . (c) The STG Term Loan A debt was repaid in April 2019. For additional information, see Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing . (d) The STG Term Loan B-2, DSG Senior Notes , and DSG Term Loan were issued in August 2019. For additional information, see Note 3. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing .

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN_2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019
Condensed Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of condensed consolidating balance sheet	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ 238 $ 9 $ 1,152 $ — $ 1,399 Accounts receivable, net — — 530 607 — 1,137 Other current assets 6 19 178 190 (26 ) 367 Total current assets 6 257 717 1,949 (26 ) 2,903 Property and equipment, net 1 31 631 97 (20 ) 740 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 2,263 3,601 — — (5,864 ) — Goodwill — — 2,120 1,928 — 4,048 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 144 14 — 158 Definite-lived intangible assets, net — — 1,481 7,671 (48 ) 9,104 Other long-term assets 75 1,601 289 601 (1,740 ) 826 Total assets $ 2,345 $ 5,490 $ 5,382 $ 12,260 $ (7,698 ) $ 17,779 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 136 $ 73 $ 233 $ 214 $ (26 ) $ 630 Current portion of long-term debt — 27 4 41 (1 ) 71 Other current liabilities 1 4 147 240 — 392 Total current liabilities 137 104 384 495 (27 ) 1,093 Long-term debt 700 4,360 33 8,333 (1,034 ) 12,392 Other long-term liabilities 13 49 1,364 749 (918 ) 1,257 Total liabilities 850 4,513 1,781 9,577 (1,979 ) 14,742 Redeemable noncontrolling interests — — — 1,362 — 1,362 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 1,495 977 3,601 1,145 (5,723 ) 1,495 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — 176 4 180 Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 2,345 $ 5,490 $ 5,382 $ 12,260 $ (7,698 ) $ 17,779 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 (in millions) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ 962 $ 19 $ 79 $ — $ 1,060 Accounts receivable, net — — 531 68 — 599 Other current assets 3 6 103 37 (24 ) 125 Total current assets 3 968 653 184 (24 ) 1,784 Property and equipment, net 1 32 594 70 (14 ) 683 Investment in consolidated subsidiaries 1,604 3,654 4 — (5,262 ) — Goodwill — — 2,120 4 — 2,124 Indefinite-lived intangible assets — — 144 14 — 158 Definite-lived intangible assets, net — — 1,609 70 (52 ) 1,627 Other long-term assets 31 851 119 166 (971 ) 196 Total assets $ 1,639 $ 5,505 $ 5,243 $ 508 $ (6,323 ) $ 6,572 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ — $ 78 $ 236 $ 40 $ (24 ) $ 330 Current portion of long-term debt — 31 4 8 — 43 Other current liabilities — 1 144 55 — 200 Total current liabilities — 110 384 103 (24 ) 573 Long-term debt — 3,776 37 383 (346 ) 3,850 Other long-term liabilities — 40 1,169 173 (833 ) 549 Total liabilities — 3,926 1,590 659 (1,203 ) 4,972 Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit) 1,639 1,579 3,653 (108 ) (5,124 ) 1,639 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries — — — (43 ) 4 (39 ) Total liabilities and equity (deficit) $ 1,639 $ 5,505 $ 5,243 $ 508 $ (6,323 ) $ 6,572
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, 2019 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ 9 $ 702 $ 445 $ (31 ) $ 1,125 Media programming and production expenses — — 312 262 (14 ) 560 Selling, general and administrative 122 24 162 124 (10 ) 422 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses — (6 ) 55 104 (4 ) 149 Total operating expenses 122 18 529 490 (28 ) 1,131 Operating (loss) income (122 ) (9 ) 173 (45 ) (3 ) (6 ) Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 35 202 — — (237 ) — Interest expense (1 ) (55 ) (1 ) (76 ) 4 (129 ) Other income (expense) 1 (2 ) (12 ) 6 (2 ) (9 ) Total other income (expense) 35 145 (13 ) (70 ) (235 ) (138 ) Income tax benefit 27 4 43 21 — 95 Net (loss) income (60 ) 140 203 (94 ) (238 ) (49 ) Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests — — — (11 ) — (11 ) Net (loss) income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ (60 ) $ 140 $ 203 $ (105 ) $ (238 ) $ (60 ) Comprehensive (loss) income $ (60 ) $ 140 $ 203 $ (94 ) $ (238 ) $ (49 ) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 714 $ 77 $ (25 ) $ 766 Media programming and production expenses — — 289 36 (21 ) 304 Selling, general and administrative 3 32 150 5 (1 ) 189 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses — 1 77 39 (2 ) 115 Total operating expenses 3 33 516 80 (24 ) 608 Operating (loss) income (3 ) (33 ) 198 (3 ) (1 ) 158 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 65 155 — — (220 ) — Interest expense — (74 ) (1 ) (5 ) 4 (76 ) Other income (expense) 1 (6 ) (16 ) 1 — (20 ) Total other income (expense) 66 75 (17 ) (4 ) (216 ) (96 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 1 28 (25 ) (1 ) — 3 Net income (loss) 64 70 156 (8 ) (217 ) 65 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (1 ) — (1 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 64 $ 70 $ 156 $ (9 ) $ (217 ) $ 64 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 64 $ 70 $ 156 $ (8 ) $ (217 ) $ 65 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ 9 $ 2,064 $ 616 $ (71 ) $ 2,618 Media programming and production expenses — — 931 325 (41 ) 1,215 Selling, general and administrative 143 82 481 133 (12 ) 827 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses — (3 ) 203 193 (10 ) 383 Total operating expenses 143 79 1,615 651 (63 ) 2,425 Operating (loss) income (143 ) (70 ) 449 (35 ) (8 ) 193 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 116 410 — — (526 ) — Interest expense (2 ) (160 ) (2 ) (85 ) 12 (237 ) Other income (expense) 2 3 (35 ) 5 (1 ) (26 ) Total other income (expense) 116 253 (37 ) (80 ) (515 ) (263 ) Income tax benefit 31 33 3 21 — 88 Net income (loss) 4 216 415 (94 ) (523 ) 18 Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests — — — (11 ) — (11 ) Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (3 ) — (3 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 4 $ 216 $ 415 $ (108 ) $ (523 ) $ 4 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 4 $ 216 $ 415 $ (94 ) $ (523 ) $ 18 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair Net revenue $ — $ — $ 2,020 $ 207 $ (65 ) $ 2,162 Media programming and production expenses — — 849 101 (56 ) 894 Selling, general and administrative 8 80 440 14 (1 ) 541 Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses — 4 168 163 (5 ) 330 Total operating expenses 8 84 1,457 278 (62 ) 1,765 Operating (loss) income (8 ) (84 ) 563 (71 ) (3 ) 397 Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 140 454 — — (594 ) — Interest expense — (233 ) (3 ) (14 ) 12 (238 ) Other income (expense) 1 — (43 ) — — (42 ) Total other income (expense) 141 221 (46 ) (14 ) (582 ) (280 ) Income tax benefit (provision) 2 65 (58 ) 12 — 21 Net income (loss) 135 202 459 (73 ) (585 ) 138 Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests — — — (3 ) — (3 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group $ 135 $ 202 $ 459 $ (76 ) $ (585 ) $ 135 Comprehensive income (loss) $ 135 $ 202 $ 459 $ (73 ) $ (585 ) $ 138
Schedule of condensed consolidating statement of cash flows	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (4 ) $ (188 ) $ 538 $ 157 $ (9 ) $ 494 CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment — (2 ) (99 ) (4 ) 9 (96 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired — — — (9,006 ) — (9,006 ) Purchases of investments (2 ) (32 ) (42 ) (351 ) — (427 ) Distributions from investments — — — 4 — 4 Spectrum repack reimbursements — — 50 — — 50 Other, net — (2 ) — — — (2 ) Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities (2 ) (36 ) (91 ) (9,357 ) 9 (9,477 ) CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing — 1,294 — 8,159 — 9,453 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and finance leases — (706 ) (3 ) (26 ) 20 (715 ) Debt issuance costs — (15 ) — (167 ) — (182 ) Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net — — — 985 — 985 Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (55 ) — — — — (55 ) Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity — — — (10 ) — (10 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (125 ) — — — — (125 ) Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — (30 ) — (30 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables 186 (1,074 ) (454 ) 1,362 (20 ) — Other, net — 1 — — — 1 Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities 6 (500 ) (457 ) 10,273 — 9,322 NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH — (724 ) (10 ) 1,073 — 339 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period — 962 19 79 — 1,060 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period $ — $ 238 $ 9 $ 1,152 $ — $ 1,399 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 (in millions) (unaudited) Sinclair Sinclair Guarantor Non- Eliminations Sinclair NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ (8 ) $ (232 ) $ 622 $ (19 ) $ 10 $ 373 CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of property and equipment — (5 ) (73 ) (3 ) 3 (78 ) Purchases of investments (2 ) (5 ) (21 ) (2 ) — (30 ) Distributions from investments 6 — — 17 — 23 Spectrum repack reimbursements — — 2 — — 2 Other, net — (4 ) — — — (4 ) Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities 4 (14 ) (92 ) 12 3 (87 ) CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing — — — 3 — 3 Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and finance leases — (140 ) (3 ) (11 ) — (154 ) Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock (55 ) — — — — (55 ) Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock (46 ) — — — — (46 ) Proceeds from the issuance of subsidiary equity — — — — — — Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — (7 ) — (7 ) Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables 103 688 (839 ) 61 (13 ) — Other, net 2 — — (1 ) — 1 Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities 4 548 (842 ) 45 (13 ) (258 ) NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH — 302 (312 ) 38 — 28 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period — 645 324 27 — 996 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period $ — $ 947 $ 12 $ 65 $ — $ 1,024

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM_4

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Nature of Operations (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019channelregional_sport_networksegmentstationprofessional_teammarket	Aug. 29, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Number of television stations owned | station	191
Number of markets | market	89
Number of channels | channel	605
Number of regional sports networks acquired | regional_sport_network	21
Number of professional sports team with exclusive regional distribution rights | professional_team	45
YES Network
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity interest percentage	20.00%	20.00%

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM_5

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Equity Investments (Details) - USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity investments, net of cumulative impairment		$ 33,000,000		$ 33,000,000		$ 25,000,000
Cumulative impairment		2,000,000		2,000,000
Impairment recorded		0	$ 10,000,000	2,000,000	$ 10,000,000
Income (loss) from equity method investments		$ (12,000,000)	$ (14,000,000)	$ (38,000,000)	$ (44,000,000)
YES Network
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity interest percentage	20.00%	20.00%		20.00%
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments	$ 346,000,000
Income (loss) from equity method investments		$ 1,000,000		$ 1,000,000

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM_6

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease liabilities	$ 251
Operating lease assets	$ 222
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease liabilities		$ 215
Operating lease assets		$ 196

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM_7

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Revenue Recognition, Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,125	$ 766	$ 2,618	$ 2,162
Local News
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	651	679	1,930	1,917
Sports
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	352	0	352	0
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	122	87	336	245
Distribution revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	679	331	1,398	965
Distribution revenue | Local News
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	340	303	995	882
Distribution revenue | Sports
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	306	0	306	0
Distribution revenue | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	33	28	97	83
Advertising revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	376	385	1,024	1,061
Advertising revenue | Local News
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	301	366	904	1,003
Advertising revenue | Sports
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	43	0	43	0
Advertising revenue | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	32	19	77	58
Other media and non-media revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	70	50	196	136
Other media and non-media revenues | Local News
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	10	10	31	32
Other media and non-media revenues | Sports
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	3	0	3	0
Other media and non-media revenues | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 57	$ 40	$ 162	$ 104

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM_8

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Revenue Recognition, Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,125	$ 766	$ 2,618	$ 2,162
Deferred revenue	61		61		$ 83
Deferred revenue, revenue recognized			65	29
Distribution revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 679	$ 331	1,398	$ 965
One Customer | Distribution revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues			$ 297

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMM_9

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Tax benefit from sale of spectrum	$ 34		$ 34	$ 18
State benefit related to change in apportionment estimates	$ 16		16
Federal tax credits related to investments in sustainability initiatives		$ 15	$ 18	$ 21

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUM_10

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Share Repurchase Program (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Aug. 09, 2018	Sep. 06, 2016
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount				$ 150,000,000
Stock repurchase program, additional authorized repurchase amount			$ 1,000,000,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount	$ 743,000,000	$ 743,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock, shares acquired (in shares)	0	4,000,000
Treasury stock, value acquired		$ 125,000,000

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUM_11

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Subsequent Events (Details)	Nov. 06, 2019$ / shares
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.20

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS_3

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 23, 2019USD ($)national_basketball_association_teammajor_league_baseball_teamnational_hockey_league_teamprofessional_team	May 31, 2019USD ($)brand	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)station	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on asset dispositions, net of impairment			$ 35	$ 11	$ 57	$ 37
Number of stations assigned new channels | station					100
Broadcast incentive auction, total legislation funds to reimburse stations					$ 3,000
Broadcast incentive auction, gain recognized on sale			28	1	50	3
Broadcast incentive auction, total capital expenditure			16	9	41	21
Spectrum Auction
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on asset dispositions, net of impairment						83
RSNs
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of brands | brand		21
Purchase price, unadjusted initial consideration expected to be transferred		$ 9,600
Purchase price	$ 9,829
Number of professional teams | professional_team	42
Definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 7,676
Goodwill estimated to be deductible for tax purposes	1,800
Acquisition related costs			85		94
Net revenue from acquiree			352		352
Operating income from acquiree			$ 46		$ 46
RSNs | Customer Relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 6,220
Amortization period, weighted average useful life	10 years
RSNs | Favorable/Unfavorable Contracts With Sports Teams
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 1,440
Amortization period, weighted average useful life	12 years
RSNs | Tradenames/Trademarks
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 16
Amortization period, weighted average useful life	2 years
Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related costs				34		100
Tribune Media Company | General and Administrative Expense
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related costs				11		21
Tribune Media Company | Interest Expense
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related costs				$ 22		$ 79
Major League Baseball | RSNs
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of professional teams | major_league_baseball_team	14
National Basketball Association | RSNs
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of professional teams | national_basketball_association_team	16
National Hockey League | RSNs
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of professional teams | national_hockey_league_team	12

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS_4

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS - Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 23, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Goodwill		$ 4,048		$ 2,124
Purchase price, net of cash acquired		$ 9,006	$ 0
RSNs
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 823
Accounts receivable, net	604
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	176
Property and equipment, net	25
Definite-lived intangible assets, net	7,676
Other assets	52
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(261)
Other long-term liabilities	(579)
Goodwill	1,924
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired	10,440
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	(380)
Noncontrolling interests	(231)
Gross purchase price	9,829
Purchase price, net of cash acquired	$ 9,006

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS_5

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS - Pro Forma Information (Details) - RSNs - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 1,632	$ 1,732	$ 5,067	$ 5,058
Net income	1	248	319	475
Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group	$ (48)	$ 199	$ 166	$ 330
Basic earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group (USD per share)	$ (0.52)	$ 1.95	$ 1.80	$ 3.24
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group (USD per share)	$ (0.51)	$ 1.94	$ 1.78	$ 3.21

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL _2

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING - STG Bank Credit Agreement (Details) - USD ($)	Aug. 23, 2019	Aug. 13, 2019	Apr. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt				$ 2,000,000
Balance, net				12,463,000,000
Term Loan | Term Loan B-2
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Prepayment premium, percent	1.00%
Quarterly payment, percent	1.00%
Balance, net				1,279,000,000
Term Loan | Term Loan B-2b
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term		7 years
Debt issued		$ 600,000,000
Debt discount		3,000,000
Term Loan | Term Loan B-2a
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term	7 years
Debt issued	$ 700,000,000
Debt discount	$ 4,000,000
Term Loan | Term Loan A-2
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of remaining principal balance			$ 92,000,000
Senior Notes | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt		$ 600,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)		5.375%			5.375%
STG Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term	5 years
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 650,000,000
Borrowings outstanding				0
Letters of credit				1,000,000
Available borrowing capacity				$ 649,000,000
Percent of borrowings exceeding total commitments	35.00%
STG Letters Of Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 50,000,000
STG Swingline Loans Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 50,000,000
LIBOR | Term Loan | Term Loan B-2b
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.50%
LIBOR | Term Loan | Term Loan B-2a
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%
LIBOR | STG Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.00%

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL _3

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING - DSG Bank Credit Agreement and Senior Notes (Details) - USD ($)	Aug. 23, 2019	Aug. 02, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance, net			$ 12,463,000,000
Debt discount and deferred financing costs			223,000,000	$ 33,000,000
DSG Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term	5 years
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 650,000,000
Borrowings outstanding			0
Available borrowing capacity			650,000,000
Percent of borrowings exceeding total commitments	35.00%
DSG Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.00%
DSG Letters Of Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 50,000,000
DSG Swingline Loans Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 50,000,000
Term Loan | DSG Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term	7 years
Debt issued	$ 3,300,000,000
Debt discount	$ 17,000,000
Prepayment premium, percent	1.00%
Quarterly payment, percent	1.00%
Balance, net			3,222,000,000
Term Loan | DSG Term Loan | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.25%
Senior Notes | DSG Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance, net			$ 4,777,000,000
Senior Notes | DSG Notes | Prior to August 15, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent		100.00%
Redemption price, percentage of principal amount redeemed		40.00%
Senior Notes | DSG 5.375% Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issued		$ 3,050,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)		5.375%	5.375%
Senior Notes | DSG 5.375% Secured Notes | August 15, 2022 to August 14, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent		102.688%
Senior Notes | DSG 5.375% Secured Notes | August 15, 2023 to August 14, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent		101.344%
Senior Notes | DSG 5.375% Secured Notes | August 15, 2024 and Thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent		100.00%
Senior Notes | DSG 6.625% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issued		$ 1,825,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)		6.625%	6.625%
Senior Notes | DSG 6.625% Notes | August 15, 2022 to August 14, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent		103.313%
Senior Notes | DSG 6.625% Notes | August 15, 2023 to August 14, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent		101.656%
Senior Notes | DSG 6.625% Notes | August 15, 2024 and Thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent		100.00%
Greater than 3.75 | Term Loan | DSG Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Required prepayment, percent of excess cash flow	50.00%
Greater than 3.75 | Minimum | Term Loan | DSG Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Required prepayment, first lien leverage ratio	3.75
Between 3.25 and 3.75 | Term Loan | DSG Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Required prepayment, percent of excess cash flow	25.00%
Between 3.25 and 3.75 | Minimum | Term Loan | DSG Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Required prepayment, first lien leverage ratio	3.25
Between 3.25 and 3.75 | Maximum | Term Loan | DSG Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Required prepayment, first lien leverage ratio	3.75
Less than 3.25 | Term Loan | DSG Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Required prepayment, percent of excess cash flow	0.00%
Less than 3.25 | Maximum | Term Loan | DSG Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Required prepayment, first lien leverage ratio	3.25

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL _4

NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING - Notes Payable and Finance Leases to Affiliates, and Debt of VIEs and Guarantees of Third-Party Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current portion of notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing	$ 71	$ 43
Notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing, less current portion	12,392	3,850
Consolidated total debt	12,463
Affiliated Entity
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current portion of notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing	2	2
Notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing, less current portion	9	11
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing, less current portion	16	19
Consolidated total debt	21	24
Guarantee Obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unconditional and irrevocably guaranteed debt	$ 59	$ 77

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INT_2

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Aug. 23, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net of issuance costs	$ 1,025	$ 985	$ 985
Liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000
Redemption price, percent	100.00%
Aggregate liquidation preference	$ 1,025
Percent of dividend required to redeem	75.00%
Dividends accrued during the period		10	10	$ 0
Redeemable subsidiary preferred equity		985	985
Right to purchase the interest, fair market sale value	$ 376	376	376
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		377	377
Undistributed NCI income		$ 1	$ 1
November 22, 2019 to February 19, 2020
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent	100.00%
February 20, 2020 to August 22, 2020
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent	102.00%
August 23, 2020 to August 22, 2021
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent	103.00%
August 23, 2021 to August 22, 2022
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent	103.00%
August 23, 2022 to August 22, 2023
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent	101.00%
August 23, 2023 and Thereafter
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Redemption price, percent	100.00%
August 23, 2022 to February 22, 2028
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Dividend rate step-ups per annum	0.50%
February 23, 2028
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Dividend rate increase	1.50%
Dividend rate increase each six months thereafter	0.50%
Dividend rate increase if no redemption occurs	2.00%
30-Day Period Following January 2, 2020
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Non-controlling equity holder right to sell, fair market sale value	$ 376
Term of redemption period	30 days
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), Floor
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.75%
LIBOR
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	7.50%
LIBOR | August 23, 2022 to February 22, 2028
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Basis spread cap on variable rate	10.50%
LIBOR | February 23, 2028
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Basis spread cap on variable rate	14.00%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), Paid Quarterly In Cash
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	8.00%

LEASES - Schedule of Lease Expe

LEASES - Schedule of Lease Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Amortization of finance lease asset	$ 1	$ 2
Interest on lease liabilities	1	3
Total finance lease expense	2	5
Operating lease expense	12	32
Total lease expense	14	37
Variable lease expense	1	4
Short term lease expense	$ 0.4	$ 1

LEASES - Schedule of Outstandin

LEASES - Schedule of Outstanding Operating and Finance Obligations (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Operating Leases
2019 (remainder)	$ 13
2020	49
2021	41
2022	31
2023	28
2024 and thereafter	173
Total undiscounted obligations	335
Less imputed interest	(84)
Present value of lease obligations	251
Finance Leases
2019 (remainder)	2
2020	8
2021	8
2022	7
2023	7
2024 and thereafter	21
Total undiscounted obligations	53
Less imputed interest	(14)
Present value of lease obligations	39
Total
2019 (remainder)	15
2020	57
2021	49
2022	38
2023	35
2024 and thereafter	194
Total undiscounted obligations	388
Less imputed interest	(98)
Present value of lease obligations	$ 290

LEASES - Schedule of Future Min

LEASES - Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Operating Leases (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
2019	$ 32
2020	31
2021	30
2022	27
2023	24
2024 and thereafter	158
Total	$ 302

LEASES - Supplemental Balance S

LEASES - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Operating Leases
Lease assets, non-current	$ 222
Lease liabilities, current	38
Lease liabilities, non-current	213
Total lease liabilities	$ 251
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)	9 years 7 months 17 days
Weighted average discount rate	5.60%
Finance Leases
Lease assets, non-current	$ 16
Lease liabilities, current	5
Lease liabilities, non-current	34
Total lease liabilities	$ 39
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)	7 years 4 months 13 days
Weighted average discount rate	9.00%

LEASES - Cash Flow Information

LEASES - Cash Flow Information Related to Lease (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$ 25
Operating cash flows from finance leases	3
Financing cash flows from finance leases	3
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities	$ 10

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES_2

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Schedule of Non-Cancellable Commitments Relating to Sports Rights Agreement) (Details) - Sports Programming Rights $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
2019 (remainder)	$ 466
2020	1,834
2021	1,783
2022	1,529
2023	1,478
2024 and thereafter	9,626
Total	$ 16,716

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES_3

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Nov. 12, 2019lawsuit	Aug. 09, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 21, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Aug. 23, 2019regional_sport_network	Oct. 03, 2018lawsuit
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Interest expense				$ 129	$ 76	$ 237	$ 238
Various Cases Alleging Violation Of Sherman Antitrust Act
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Loss contingency, number of other broadcasters | lawsuit									13
Breach Of Merger Agreement
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Proposed fine		$ 1,000
Estimated liability recorded				120		135
Unfavorable Regulatory Action
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Proposed fine			$ 13
Subsequent Event | Various Cases Alleging Violation Of Sherman Antitrust Act
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Loss contingency, new claims filed, number (lawsuit) | lawsuit	22
Deferred Purchase Price | RSNs
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingent consideration liability, current				8		8
Contingent consideration liability, noncurrent				92		92
Interest expense				0.5		0.5
Profit Participation Interest | RSNs
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingent consideration liability, current				8		8
Contingent consideration liability, noncurrent				44		44
Interest expense				0.3		0.3
Percent obligated to pay of excess cash flow								7.00%
Number of regional sports networks | regional_sport_network								2
Equity Redemption Liability | RSNs
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingent consideration liability, current				37		37
Contingent consideration liability, noncurrent				245		245
Interest expense				$ 3		$ 3

EARNINGS PER SHARE - Schedule o

EARNINGS PER SHARE - Schedule of Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income (Numerator)
Net (loss) income	$ (49)	$ 65	$ 18	$ 138
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(11)	0	(11)	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	(1)	(3)	(3)
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share available to common shareholders	$ (60)	$ 64	$ 4	$ 135
Shares (Denominator)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (shares)	92,086	102,083	92,050	102,069
Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options (shares)	1,349	706	1,221	829
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (shares)	93,435	102,789	93,271	102,898

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, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Weighted-average stock-settled appreciation rights and outstanding stock options excluded (in shares)	0	1,600	317	1,233

SEGMENT DATA (Narrative) (Detai

SEGMENT DATA (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)regional_sport_networkmarket	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)regional_sport_networksegmentmarket	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Segment data
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Number of markets | market	89		89
Intercompany revenues | $	$ 9		$ 9
Intercompany interest expense | $	$ 3	$ 4	$ 10	$ 12
Local News | Operating segments
Segment data
Number of markets | market	89		89
Sports | Operating segments
Segment data
Number of regional sports networks | regional_sport_network	23		23

SEGMENT DATA (Schedule of Segme

SEGMENT DATA (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment data
Assets	[1]	$ 17,779		$ 17,779		$ 6,572
Revenue		1,125	$ 766	2,618	$ 2,162
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		120	70	252	206
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		22	24	68	76
Corporate general and administrative expenses		237	34	317	89
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		(35)	(11)	(57)	(37)
Operating income (loss)		(6)	158	193	397
Interest expense		129	76	237	238
Income (loss) from equity method investments		(12)	(14)	(38)	(44)
Local News
Segment data
Revenue		651	679	1,930	1,917
Sports
Segment data
Revenue		352	0	352	0
Other
Segment data
Revenue		122	87	336	245
Operating segments | Local News
Segment data
Assets		4,868		4,868
Revenue		651	679	1,930	1,917
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		60	62	182	184
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		22	24	68	76
Corporate general and administrative expenses		23	32	82	80
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		(28)	(11)	(51)	(97)
Operating income (loss)		146	170	376	487
Interest expense		1	2	4	4
Income (loss) from equity method investments		0	0	0	0
Operating segments | Sports
Segment data
Assets		11,815		11,815
Revenue		352	0	352	0
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		54	0	54	0
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
Corporate general and administrative expenses		92	0	92	0
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)		(47)	0	(47)	0
Interest expense		73	0	73	0
Income (loss) from equity method investments		1	0	1	0
Operating segments | Other
Segment data
Assets		706		706
Revenue		122	87	336	245
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		6	8	16	22
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
Corporate general and administrative expenses		0	0	1	1
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		0	0	1	60
Operating income (loss)		9	(9)	(1)	(82)
Interest expense		0	0	1	1
Income (loss) from equity method investments		(13)	(14)	(39)	(45)
Corporate
Segment data
Assets		390		390
Revenue		0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		0	0	0	0
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
Corporate general and administrative expenses		122	2	142	8
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment		(7)	0	(7)	0
Operating income (loss)		(114)	(3)	(135)	(8)
Interest expense		55	74	159	233
Income (loss) from equity method investments		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	1
Spectrum Auction
Segment data
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net of impairment					(83)
Consolidated Real Estate Development Project
Segment data
Asset impairment charges					$ 60
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $299 million and $128 million , respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total liabilities of VIEs of $26 million and $22 million , respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 9. Variable Interest Entities .

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Na

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entities outsourcing agreement initial term			5 years
VIEs which are not primary beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying amount	$ 71		$ 71		$ 71
(Loss) income from equity method investments	(13)	$ (10)	(38)	$ (34)
Eliminations | Consolidated VIEs
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Liabilities associated with the certain outsourcing agreements and purchase options	$ 126		126		$ 125
Sustainable Energy Company
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Net revenues			1	2
Operating loss			(35)	(35)
Net loss			$ (35)	$ (35)

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Sc

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Schedule of Variable Interest Entities Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 1,399	$ 1,060
Accounts receivable, net		1,137	599
Other current assets		237	61
Total current assets		2,903	1,784
Program contract costs, less current portion		6	11
Property and equipment, net		740	683
Lease assets, non-current		222
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		9,104	1,627
Total assets	[1]	17,779	6,572
Current liabilities:
Other current liabilities		247	84
Notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing, less current portion		12,392	3,850
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion		213
Program contracts payable, less current portion		43	50
Other long-term liabilities		640	86
Total liabilities	[1]	14,742	4,972
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		36	0
Accounts receivable, net		32	28
Other current assets		8	7
Total current assets		76	35
Program contract costs, less current portion		1	2
Property and equipment, net		11	5
Lease assets, non-current		3
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets		15	15
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		191	68
Other assets		2	3
Total assets		299	128
Current liabilities:
Other current liabilities		22	18
Notes payable, finance leases, and commercial bank financing, less current portion		16	19
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion		2
Program contracts payable, less current portion		7	9
Other long-term liabilities		1	1
Total liabilities		$ 48	$ 47
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $299 million and $128 million , respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total liabilities of VIEs of $26 million and $22 million , respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 9. Variable Interest Entities .

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - T

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Transactions with our Controlling Shareholders (Details) - Entities owned by the controlling shareholders - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease payments made to entities	$ 1	$ 1	$ 4	$ 4
Charter Aircraft | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aircraft expenses	$ 1	$ 1	$ 2	$ 1

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - C

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)renewal	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Consolidated total debt			$ 12,463		$ 12,463
Total revenues			$ 1,125	$ 766	2,618	$ 2,162
Repayments of debt					$ 715	154
Affiliated Entity | Cunningham
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Right to acquire capital stock			100.00%		100.00%
Total payments made under the LMA excluded from liabilities			$ 50		$ 50		$ 47
Remaining purchase price			54		54		54
Purchase options, broadcast stations			0.2		$ 0.2
Proceeds from sale of master control equipment		$ 1
Annual revenue from master control services		$ 0.2
Annual revenue for share service	$ 1
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	2	$ 6	7
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			$ 5		$ 5
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
Total revenues			$ 38	$ 43	$ 111	$ 120
Guarantee Obligations
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unconditional and irrevocably guaranteed debt			59		59		$ 77
Guarantee Obligations | Affiliated Entity | Cunningham
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unconditional and irrevocably guaranteed debt			47		47
Consolidated VIEs | Affiliated Entity | Cunningham
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Consolidated total debt			9		9
Deferred financing costs			$ 1		$ 1

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - A

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Atlantic Automotive Corporation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Maximum | Atlantic Automotive Corporation | Advertising time | Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount received (less than)	$ 0.2	$ 0.2	$ 0.2	$ 0.2

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - L

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Leased Property by Real Estate Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Entities owned by the controlling shareholders | Lease Services
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount received	$ 0.3	$ 0.2	$ 0.7	$ 0.4

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - E

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Equity Method Investees (Details) $ in Millions	Aug. 23, 2019company	Aug. 31, 2019renewal	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)
YES Network
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of renewal terms | renewal		2
Renewal period		2 years
Management service fee			$ 0.4	$ 0.4
Mobile Trucks
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of companies | company	4
Equity method investment			4	4
120 Sports Holding, LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Note receivable			$ 6	$ 6
Fixed interest rate				12.00%

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - P

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Programming Rights (Details) - Sports Teams Affiliates - RSNs $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Aug. 23, 2019professional_team
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of sports rights agreements assumed | professional_team			5
Program rights expense | $	$ 38	$ 38

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Detail

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Aug. 13, 2019	Aug. 02, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt discount and deferred financing costs	$ 223			$ 33
Level 2 | Carrying Value | Debt of variable interest entities
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	22			25
Level 2 | Carrying Value | Debt of non-media subsidiaries
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	18			20
Level 2 | Fair Value | Debt of variable interest entities
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	22			25
Level 2 | Fair Value | Debt of non-media subsidiaries
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 18			$ 20
Senior Notes | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%
Senior Notes | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%
Senior Notes | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.625%
Senior Notes | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)		5.375%		5.375%
Senior Notes | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
Senior Notes | 5.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.375%		5.375%
Senior Notes | 6.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.625%		6.625%
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 500			$ 500
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	350			350
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	550			550
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	0			600
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	400			400
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 5.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	3,050			0
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Carrying Value | 6.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	1,825			0
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	510			504
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	366			326
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	566			516
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	0			599
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	402			353
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 5.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2026
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	3,164			0
Senior Notes | Level 2 | Fair Value | 6.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	1,893			0
Term Loan | Level 2 | Carrying Value | Term Loan A
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	0			96
Term Loan | Level 2 | Carrying Value | Term Loan B
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	1,332			1,343
Term Loan | Level 2 | Carrying Value | Term Loan B-2
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	1,300			0
Term Loan | Level 2 | Carrying Value | Term Loan
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	3,300			0
Term Loan | Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan A
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	0			92
Term Loan | Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan B
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	1,334			1,275
Term Loan | Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan B-2
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	1,303			0
Term Loan | Level 2 | Fair Value | Term Loan
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
Debt fair value disclosure	$ 3,321			$ 0

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN_3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Aug. 13, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated total debt	$ 12,463
Subsidiary Issuer
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated total debt	4,447
Amount of debt guaranteed by parent	$ 4,408
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)		5.375%	5.375%
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2021 | Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.625%
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 | Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%
5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%
5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 | Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%
5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%
5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 | Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.625%
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.625%

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN_4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 1,399,000	$ 1,060,000
Accounts receivable, net		1,137,000	599,000
Other current assets		367,000	125,000
Total current assets		2,903,000	1,784,000
Property and equipment, net		740,000	683,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		4,048,000	2,124,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		158,000	158,000
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		9,104,000	1,627,000
Other long-term assets		826,000	196,000
Total assets	[1]	17,779,000	6,572,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		630,000	330,000
Current portion of long-term debt		71,000	43,000
Other current liabilities		392,000	200,000
Total current liabilities		1,093,000	573,000
Long-term debt		12,392,000	3,850,000
Other long-term liabilities		1,257,000	549,000
Total liabilities	[1]	14,742,000	4,972,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		1,362,000	0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,495,000	1,639,000
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		180,000	(39,000)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		17,779,000	6,572,000
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		6,000	3,000
Total current assets		6,000	3,000
Property and equipment, net		1,000	1,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		2,263,000	1,604,000
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		0	0
Other long-term assets		75,000	31,000
Total assets		2,345,000	1,639,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		136,000	0
Current portion of long-term debt		0	0
Other current liabilities		1,000	0
Total current liabilities		137,000	0
Long-term debt		700,000	0
Other long-term liabilities		13,000	0
Total liabilities		850,000	0
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,495,000	1,639,000
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		2,345,000	1,639,000
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		238,000	962,000
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		19,000	6,000
Total current assets		257,000	968,000
Property and equipment, net		31,000	32,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		3,601,000	3,654,000
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		0	0
Other long-term assets		1,601,000	851,000
Total assets		5,490,000	5,505,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		73,000	78,000
Current portion of long-term debt		27,000	31,000
Other current liabilities		4,000	1,000
Total current liabilities		104,000	110,000
Long-term debt		4,360,000	3,776,000
Other long-term liabilities		49,000	40,000
Total liabilities		4,513,000	3,926,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		977,000	1,579,000
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		5,490,000	5,505,000
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		9,000	19,000
Accounts receivable, net		530,000	531,000
Other current assets		178,000	103,000
Total current assets		717,000	653,000
Property and equipment, net		631,000	594,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	4,000
Goodwill		2,120,000	2,120,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		144,000	144,000
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		1,481,000	1,609,000
Other long-term assets		289,000	119,000
Total assets		5,382,000	5,243,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		233,000	236,000
Current portion of long-term debt		4,000	4,000
Other current liabilities		147,000	144,000
Total current liabilities		384,000	384,000
Long-term debt		33,000	37,000
Other long-term liabilities		1,364,000	1,169,000
Total liabilities		1,781,000	1,590,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		3,601,000	3,653,000
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		5,382,000	5,243,000
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		1,152,000	79,000
Accounts receivable, net		607,000	68,000
Other current assets		190,000	37,000
Total current assets		1,949,000	184,000
Property and equipment, net		97,000	70,000
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		0	0
Goodwill		1,928,000	4,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		14,000	14,000
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		7,671,000	70,000
Other long-term assets		601,000	166,000
Total assets		12,260,000	508,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		214,000	40,000
Current portion of long-term debt		41,000	8,000
Other current liabilities		240,000	55,000
Total current liabilities		495,000	103,000
Long-term debt		8,333,000	383,000
Other long-term liabilities		749,000	173,000
Total liabilities		9,577,000	659,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		1,362,000
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		1,145,000	(108,000)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		176,000	(43,000)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		12,260,000	508,000
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Accounts receivable, net		0	0
Other current assets		(26,000)	(24,000)
Total current assets		(26,000)	(24,000)
Property and equipment, net		(20,000)	(14,000)
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries		(5,864,000)	(5,262,000)
Goodwill		0	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		0	0
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		(48,000)	(52,000)
Other long-term assets		(1,740,000)	(971,000)
Total assets		(7,698,000)	(6,323,000)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(26,000)	(24,000)
Current portion of long-term debt		(1,000)	0
Other current liabilities		0	0
Total current liabilities		(27,000)	(24,000)
Long-term debt		(1,034,000)	(346,000)
Other long-term liabilities		(918,000)	(833,000)
Total liabilities		(1,979,000)	(1,203,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		0
Total Sinclair Broadcast Group equity (deficit)		(5,723,000)	(5,124,000)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		4,000	4,000
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity		$ (7,698,000)	$ (6,323,000)
[1]	Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $299 million and $128 million , respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total liabilities of VIEs of $26 million and $22 million , respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 9. Variable Interest Entities .

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN_5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	$ 1,125	$ 766	$ 2,618	$ 2,162
Media program and production expenses	560	304	1,215	894
Selling, general and administrative	422	189	827	541
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	149	115	383	330
Total operating expenses	1,131	608	2,425	1,765
Operating (loss) income	(6)	158	193	397
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(129)	(76)	(237)	(238)
Other income (expense)	(9)	(20)	(26)	(42)
Total other expense, net	(138)	(96)	(263)	(280)
Income tax benefit (provision)	95	3	88	21
NET (LOSS) INCOME	(49)	65	18	138
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(11)	0	(11)	0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	(1)	(3)	(3)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(60)	64	4	135
Comprehensive (loss) income	(49)	65	18	138
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Media program and production expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	122	3	143	8
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	122	3	143	8
Operating (loss) income	(122)	(3)	(143)	(8)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	35	65	116	140
Interest expense	(1)	0	(2)	0
Other income (expense)	1	1	2	1
Total other expense, net	35	66	116	141
Income tax benefit (provision)	27	1	31	2
NET (LOSS) INCOME	(60)	64	4	135
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(60)	64	4	135
Comprehensive (loss) income	(60)	64	4	135
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	9	0	9	0
Media program and production expenses	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	24	32	82	80
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	(6)	1	(3)	4
Total operating expenses	18	33	79	84
Operating (loss) income	(9)	(33)	(70)	(84)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	202	155	410	454
Interest expense	(55)	(74)	(160)	(233)
Other income (expense)	(2)	(6)	3	0
Total other expense, net	145	75	253	221
Income tax benefit (provision)	4	28	33	65
NET (LOSS) INCOME	140	70	216	202
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	140	70	216	202
Comprehensive (loss) income	140	70	216	202
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	702	714	2,064	2,020
Media program and production expenses	312	289	931	849
Selling, general and administrative	162	150	481	440
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	55	77	203	168
Total operating expenses	529	516	1,615	1,457
Operating (loss) income	173	198	449	563
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(1)	(1)	(2)	(3)
Other income (expense)	(12)	(16)	(35)	(43)
Total other expense, net	(13)	(17)	(37)	(46)
Income tax benefit (provision)	43	(25)	3	(58)
NET (LOSS) INCOME	203	156	415	459
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	203	156	415	459
Comprehensive (loss) income	203	156	415	459
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	445	77	616	207
Media program and production expenses	262	36	325	101
Selling, general and administrative	124	5	133	14
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	104	39	193	163
Total operating expenses	490	80	651	278
Operating (loss) income	(45)	(3)	(35)	(71)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(76)	(5)	(85)	(14)
Other income (expense)	6	1	5	0
Total other expense, net	(70)	(4)	(80)	(14)
Income tax benefit (provision)	21	(1)	21	12
NET (LOSS) INCOME	(94)	(8)	(94)	(73)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(11)		(11)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		(1)	(3)	(3)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(105)	(9)	(108)	(76)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(94)	(8)	(94)	(73)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Total revenues	(31)	(25)	(71)	(65)
Media program and production expenses	(14)	(21)	(41)	(56)
Selling, general and administrative	(10)	(1)	(12)	(1)
Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses	(4)	(2)	(10)	(5)
Total operating expenses	(28)	(24)	(63)	(62)
Operating (loss) income	(3)	(1)	(8)	(3)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(237)	(220)	(526)	(594)
Interest expense	4	4	12	12
Other income (expense)	(2)	0	(1)	0
Total other expense, net	(235)	(216)	(515)	(582)
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME	(238)	(217)	(523)	(585)
Net income attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP	(238)	(217)	(523)	(585)
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ (238)	$ (217)	$ (523)	$ (585)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINAN_6

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES		$ 494	$ 373
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		(96)	(78)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(9,006)	0
Purchases of investments		(427)	(30)
Distributions from investments		4	23
Spectrum repack reimbursements		50	2
Other, net		(2)	(4)
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(9,477)	(87)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing		9,453	3
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and finance leases		(715)	(154)
Debt issuance costs		(182)	0
Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net		985	0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock		(55)	(55)
Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity	$ (10)	(10)	0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock		(125)	(46)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(30)	(7)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		0	0
Other, net		1	1
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities		9,322	(258)
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH		339	28
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period		1,060	996
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period	1,399	1,399	1,024
Reportable legal entities | Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES		(4)	(8)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		0	0
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		0
Purchases of investments		(2)	(2)
Distributions from investments		0	6
Spectrum repack reimbursements		0	0
Other, net		0	0
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(2)	4
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 finance leases		0	0
Debt issuance costs		0
Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net		0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock		(55)	(55)
Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity		0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock		(125)	(46)
Proceeds from the issuance of subsidiary equity			0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		186	103
Other, net		0	2
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities		6	4
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH		0	0
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period		0	0
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period	0	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		(188)	(232)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		(2)	(5)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		0
Purchases of investments		(32)	(5)
Distributions from investments		0	0
Spectrum repack reimbursements		0	0
Other, net		(2)	(4)
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(36)	(14)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing		1,294	0
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and finance leases		(706)	(140)
Debt issuance costs		(15)
Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net		0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock		0	0
Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity		0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock		0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of subsidiary equity			0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		(1,074)	688
Other, net		1	0
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities		(500)	548
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH		(724)	302
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period		962	645
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period	238	238	947
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries and KDSM, LLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES		538	622
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		(99)	(73)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		0
Purchases of investments		(42)	(21)
Distributions from investments		0	0
Spectrum repack reimbursements		50	2
Other, net		0	0
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(91)	(92)
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 finance leases		(3)	(3)
Debt issuance costs		0
Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net		0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock		0	0
Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity		0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock		0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of subsidiary equity			0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		(454)	(839)
Other, net		0	0
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities		(457)	(842)
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH		(10)	(312)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period		19	324
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period	9	9	12
Reportable legal entities | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES		157	(19)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		(4)	(3)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(9,006)
Purchases of investments		(351)	(2)
Distributions from investments		4	17
Spectrum repack reimbursements		0	0
Other, net		0	0
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(9,357)	12
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable and commercial bank financing		8,159	3
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and finance leases		(26)	(11)
Debt issuance costs		(167)
Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net		985
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock		0	0
Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity		(10)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock		0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of subsidiary equity			0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(30)	(7)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		1,362	61
Other, net		0	(1)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities		10,273	45
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH		1,073	38
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period		79	27
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period	1,152	1,152	65
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES		(9)	10
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		9	3
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		0
Purchases of investments		0	0
Distributions from investments		0	0
Spectrum repack reimbursements		0	0
Other, net		0	0
Net cash flows used in investing activities		9	3
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 finance leases		20	0
Debt issuance costs		0
Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable subsidiary preferred equity, net		0
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock		0	0
Dividends paid on redeemable subsidiary preferred equity		0
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock		0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of subsidiary equity			0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		(20)	(13)
Other, net		0	0
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities		0	(13)
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH		0	0
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of period		0	0
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0