Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations - Long term debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 11,948,978	$ 13,037,370
Fair Value	11,180,696	13,309,474
Unamortized deferred financing costs and debt discount, net	(26,953)	(31,041)
Capital lease obligations (3)	85,890	104,318
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations (including current portion)	12,007,915	13,110,647
Principal balance of debt redeemed	$ 1,088,392
4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018
Long-term debt
Carrying Value		1,025,861
Fair Value		$ 1,031,596
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.25%	4.25%
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 1,337,469	$ 1,400,000
Fair Value	$ 1,391,596	$ 1,501,206
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.875%	7.875%
Debt repurchased	$ 62,000
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	1,100,000	$ 1,100,000
Fair Value	$ 1,093,081	$ 1,127,588
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	$ 2,008,440	$ 2,120,480
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	$ 1,887,200	$ 2,014,140
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	$ 1,312,710	$ 1,432,335
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	$ 1,710,580	$ 1,952,220
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	$ 1,765,580	$ 2,118,400
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%	7.75%
Other notes payable
Long-term debt
Carrying Value	$ 11,509	$ 11,509
Fair Value	$ 11,509	$ 11,509

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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