Operating Segments (Adjusted for EBITDA) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 102,793,000		$ 16,737,000
Asset write-down charges	2,733,000		3,715,000
Acquisition and integration costs	5,659,000		1,602,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	250,191,000		186,459,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	3,895,000		3,863,000
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	146,400,000		164,369,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		35,909,000
Interest income	(173,000)		(297,000)
Other income (expense)	2,736,000		629,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(188,000)		17,708,000
Stock-based compensation expense	12,937,000		10,097,000
Adjusted EBITDA	526,983,000	[1]	440,791,000	[1]
CCUSA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	96,909,000		10,926,000
Asset write-down charges	2,636,000		3,603,000
Acquisition and integration costs	5,659,000		1,602,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	245,176,000		179,126,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	3,895,000		3,863,000
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	146,400,000		164,369,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		35,909,000
Interest income	(114,000)		(203,000)
Other income (expense)	(947,000)		(3,819,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(3,040,000)		15,613,000
Stock-based compensation expense	11,956,000		10,029,000
Adjusted EBITDA	508,530,000	[1]	421,018,000	[1]
CCAL [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	5,884,000		5,811,000
Asset write-down charges	97,000		112,000
Acquisition and integration costs	0		0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	5,015,000		7,333,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0		0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	3,683,000		4,445,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		0
Interest income	(59,000)		(94,000)
Other income (expense)	0		3,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	2,852,000		2,095,000
Stock-based compensation expense	981,000		68,000
Adjusted EBITDA	18,453,000	[1]	19,773,000	[1]
Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	0		0
Asset write-down charges	0		0
Acquisition and integration costs	0		0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	0		0
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0		0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	(3,683,000)		(4,445,000)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		0
Interest income	0		0
Other income (expense)	3,683,000		4,445,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	0		0
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]

[1] The above reconciliation excludes line items included in our Adjusted EBITDA definition for which there is no activity for the periods shown.