Long-Term Debt - Long term debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 12,113,684	$ 13,613,686
Fair Value	11,943,491	13,249,506
Unamortized deferred financing costs and debt discount, net	(39,317)	(41,563)
Capital lease obligations (3)	159,976	166,492
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations (including current portion)	12,234,343	13,738,615
Principal balance of debt redeemed	$ 1,500,000
7 1/8% Senior Notes due 2016
Long-term debt
Carrying Value		1,500,000
Fair Value		$ 1,506,750
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.125%	7.125%
4 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 900,000	$ 900,000
Fair Value	$ 916,200	$ 922,770
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.625%	4.625%
4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,200,000
Fair Value	$ 1,205,964	$ 1,207,560
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.25%	4.25%
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 1,400,000	$ 1,400,000
Fair Value	$ 1,547,000	$ 1,525,440
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.875%	7.875%
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,100,000
Fair Value	$ 1,119,338	$ 1,100,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%	5.125%
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 2,080,000	$ 2,021,020
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.75%	6.75%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,905,000	$ 1,889,780
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%	5.875%
5% Senior Notes due 2023
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 1,500,000	$ 1,500,000
Fair Value	$ 1,321,305	$ 1,297,500
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,835,000	$ 1,765,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%	5.875%
Other notes payable
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 13,684	$ 13,686
Fair Value	$ 13,684	$ 13,686

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

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