v3.26.3
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2026
Dec. 31, 2025
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 446 $ 280
Accounts receivable, net 1,550 1,075
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 111 57
Total current assets 2,192 1,473
Property and equipment, net 1,830 1,158
Goodwill 5,034 2,910
FCC licenses 5,112 2,949
Network affiliation agreements, net 2,773 1,587
Other noncurrent assets, net 451 373
Total assets [1] 17,777 10,846
Current liabilities:    
Current portion of debt 556 111
Interest payable 100 55
Other current liabilities 40 40
Total current liabilities 1,744 711
Debt 10,853 6,222
Deferred tax liabilities 2,144 1,354
Other noncurrent liabilities 560 497
Total liabilities [1] 15,301 8,784
Network affiliation agreements, net [Member]    
Current assets:    
Network affiliation agreements, net 2,483 1,305
Consolidated VIEs [Member]    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents 5 5
Accounts receivable, net 22 23
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3 4
Total current assets 30 32
Property and equipment, net 43 48
Goodwill 151 151
FCC licenses 200 200
Network affiliation agreements, net 45  
Other noncurrent assets, net 60 56
Total assets 529 538
Current liabilities:    
Current portion of debt 3 3
Other current liabilities 39 36
Total current liabilities 42 39
Debt 343 345
Deferred tax liabilities 44 41
Other noncurrent liabilities 66 64
Total liabilities 495 489
Consolidated VIEs [Member] | Network affiliation agreements, net [Member]    
Current assets:    
Network affiliation agreements, net   51
Non Guarantor VIEs [Member]    
Current assets:    
Total current assets 3 3
Property and equipment, net 8 9
Goodwill 62 62
FCC licenses 200 200
Other noncurrent assets, net 3 2
Total assets 290 292
Current liabilities:    
Total current liabilities 37 34
Noncurrent liabilities 110 105
Total liabilities 147 139
Non Guarantor VIEs [Member] | Network affiliation agreements, net [Member]    
Current assets:    
Network affiliation agreements, net $ 14 $ 16
[1] The condensed consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 include certain assets held by consolidated VIEs of $290 million and $292 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of Nexstar. The condensed consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $147 million and $139 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of Nexstar. See Note 2 for additional information.