Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
NOL for federal income tax purposes	$ 2,000
NOL benefit for state income tax purposes	162,000
Tax benefit related to credit carryforwards	57,000
Current (benefit) provision:
Federal	126,435	$ (230,935)	$ 173,326
State	31,944	22,566	43,579
Foreign	2,387	7,471	6,203
Total current (benefit) provision	160,766	(200,898)	223,108
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal	509,405	610,528	204,403
State	86,822	243,216	21,732
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	5,817	45,429	2,115
Total deferred (benefit) provision	602,044	899,173	228,250
Total (benefit) provision	762,810	698,275	451,358
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,218,756	$ 2,572,211	$ 1,943,927
Portion of Income (loss) before income taxes related to foreign operations	$ 11,000
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefits (as a percent)	3.10%	4.60%	3.20%
State apportionment changes (as a percent)		5.40%
Cares Act NOL Carryback (as a percent)		(2.30%)
Other, net (as a percent)	(0.40%)	(1.60%)	(1.00%)
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes (as a percent)	23.70%	27.10%	23.20%
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards	$ 144,742	$ 128,968
Accrued and prepaid expenses	282,711
Stock-based compensation	15,847	17,962
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments	12,825	9,862
Discount on convertible notes and convertible note hedge transaction, net	79,644
Deferred revenue	7,025	26,977
Total deferred tax assets	542,794	183,769
Valuation allowance	(79,605)	(73,788)
Deferred tax asset after valuation allowance	463,189	109,981
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(858,707)	(467,922)
Accrued and prepaid expenses		(72,314)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization	(2,933,660)	(2,542,887)
Bases difference in partnerships and cost method investments (1)	(897,088)	(744,911)
Discount on convertible notes and convertible note hedge transaction, net		(151,517)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(4,689,455)	(3,979,551)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(4,226,266)	(3,869,570)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance as of beginning of period	378,467	674,207	$ 385,394
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	303	233	244,257
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	12,095	1,999	61,909
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(1,400)	(296,265)	(13,028)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities		(831)	(2,362)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations	(628)	(876)	(1,963)
Balance as of end of period	$ 388,837	$ 378,467	$ 674,207