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Long-Term Debt - Long term debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 13, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 14,113,686			$ 13,613,686
Fair Value	14,247,344			13,249,506
Unamortized deferred financing costs and debt discount, net	(44,779)			(41,563)
Capital lease obligations (3)	151,891			166,492
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations (including current portion)	14,220,798			13,738,615
Principal balance of debt redeemed	$ 1,500,000	$ 650,001
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	$ 914,211			$ 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	$ 1,235,172			$ 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	$ 1,550,500			$ 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	$ 1,133,000			$ 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	$ 2,086,240			$ 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	$ 1,962,500			$ 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	$ 1,376,775			$ 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	$ 1,909,000			$ 1,765,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%			5.875%
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000		$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 2,066,260
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%			7.75%
Other notes payable
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 13,686			$ 13,686
Fair Value	$ 13,686			$ 13,686