Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
NOL for federal income tax purposes	$ 0
NOL benefit for state income tax purposes	32,000
Tax benefit related to credit carryforwards	71,000
Income tax benefit as result of Tax Reform Act	1,200,000
Current (benefit) provision:
Federal	44,451	$ (71,141)	$ 317,010
State	29,918	38,058	31,160
Foreign	4,616	3,736	10,840
Total current (benefit) provision	78,985	(29,347)	359,010
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal	383,096	(547,575)	469,927
State	64,000	69,076	35,418
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	7,603	(7,474)	1,463
Total deferred (benefit) provision	454,699	(485,973)	506,808
Total (benefit) provision	533,684	(515,320)	865,818
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,189,175	$ 1,650,087	$ 2,416,603
Portion of Income (loss) before income taxes related to foreign operations	$ 14,000
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefits (as a percent)	4.60%	3.00%	2.50%
Tax Reform Act (as a percent)		(72.60%)
Nondeductible/Nontaxable items (as a percent)		5.90%
Other (as a percent)	(1.20%)	(2.50%)	(1.70%)
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes (as a percent)	24.40%	(31.20%)	35.80%
Litigation expense (Note 14)		$ 295,695	$ 21,148
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards	$ 114,227	55,505
Accrued expenses		41,439
Stock-based compensation	21,323	14,904
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments	4,918	5,001
Deferred revenue	18,361	15,236
Total deferred tax assets	158,829	132,085
Valuation allowance	(26,244)	(18,642)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Total	132,585	113,443
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(443,128)	(496,873)
Accrued and prepaid expenses	(8,662)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization	(1,635,385)	(1,220,421)
Bases difference in partnerships and cost method investments	(447,585)	(328,735)
Discount on convertible notes and convertible note hedge transaction, net	(72,732)	(81,346)
Other liabilities		(5,606)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(2,607,492)	(2,132,981)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(2,474,907)	(2,019,538)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance as of beginning of period	393,916	358,023	336,586
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	10,350	12,798	40,492
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	1,670	30,596	21,797
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(6,291)	(2,754)	(34,106)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities	(8,328)	(1,634)	(3,628)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations	(5,923)	(3,113)	(3,118)
Balance as of end of period	385,394	$ 393,916	$ 358,023
FTC Action [Member]
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Litigation expense (Note 14)	$ 255,000