Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
NOL for federal income tax purposes	$ 0
NOL benefit for state income tax purposes	27,000
Tax benefit related to credit carryforwards	57,000
Current benefit (provision):
Federal	290,378	$ 144,990	$ 180,282
State	29,512	18,811	(44,565)
Foreign	10,187	(3,517)	6,588
Total from continuing operations	330,077	160,284	142,305
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal	469,851	165,294	310,977
State	35,618	30,059	15,776
Foreign			(190,253)
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	1,463	11,039	(1,965)
Total from continuing operations	506,932	206,392	134,535
Total (benefit) provision	837,009	366,676	276,840
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,306,463	$ 1,135,952	$ 1,205,742
Portion of Income (loss) before income taxes related to foreign operations	$ 8,000
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefits (as a percent)	2.50%	3.30%	1.10%
Reversal of uncertain tax positions (as a percent)	(0.80%)	(1.00%)	(3.50%)
Foreign tax planning strategies, net of Federal benefit (as a percent)			(9.80%)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(5.50%)
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	0.10%	1.00%	(0.20%)
Other (as a percent)	(0.50%)	(0.50%)	0.40%
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes (as a percent)	36.30%	32.30%	23.00%
Tax planning strategies impact on effective tax rate	$ (118,000)
Tax credit	63,000
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards	56,498	$ 69,558
Accrued expenses	57,418	41,081
Stock-based compensation	16,606	15,753
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments	10,827
Deferred revenue	19,064	27,980
Total deferred tax assets	160,413	154,372
Valuation allowance	(22,606)	(21,143)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Total	137,807	133,229
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(914,487)	(994,026)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization	(1,379,735)	(975,725)
Unrealized gains on investments		(82,535)
Bases difference in partnerships and cost method investments	(366,937)	(138,160)
Convertible debt	(47,908)
Other liabilities	(24,221)	(27,572)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(2,733,288)	(2,218,018)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(2,595,481)	(2,084,789)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance as of beginning of period	335,933	207,675	$ 151,353
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	40,492	135,937	69,643
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	21,797	22,483	55,761
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(34,106)	(22,697)	(18,646)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities	(3,628)	(2,648)	(42,023)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations	(3,118)	(4,817)	(8,413)
Balance as of end of period	$ 357,370	$ 335,933	$ 207,675