Business Segments (Summarized Financial Information Concerning the Company's Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	$ 1,038,188		$ 807,880		$ 3,053,734		$ 2,419,438
Segment operating expenses	283,757	[1]	200,482	[2]	815,844	[3]	607,113	[4]
Segment gross margin	757,092		610,942		2,245,808		1,822,998
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	67,416	[1]	58,131	[2]	191,682	[3]	172,522	[4]
Segment operating profit	689,676		552,811		2,054,126		1,650,476
Stock-based compensation expense	18,269		15,058		61,708		53,155
Other selling, general, administrative and development expense	23,669		24,939		65,449		74,251
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	249,066		184,922		740,256		555,334
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expenses)	181,616		149,084		515,234		536,092
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	217,056		178,808		671,479		431,644
Total assets	20,596,615		18,181,320		20,596,615		18,181,320		20,275,924
Operating Expense
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	400		300		1,400		1,200
Selling General Administrative And Development Expense
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	17,800		14,700		60,306		52,000
Operating Segments | Rental And Management
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	1,011,119		796,575		2,977,000		2,363,207
Segment operating expenses	272,011	[1]	195,705	[2]	785,315	[3]	584,714	[4]
Segment gross margin	741,769		604,414		2,199,603		1,789,166
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	64,396	[1]	56,251	[2]	183,806	[3]	165,417	[4]
Segment operating profit	677,373		548,163		2,015,797		1,623,749
Total assets	20,392,560		17,464,734		20,392,560		17,464,734
Operating Segments | Rental And Management | Domestic
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	663,570		529,941		1,959,092		1,566,660
Segment operating expenses	133,951	[1]	95,232	[2]	381,800	[3]	282,273	[4]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	0		0		0		0
Segment gross margin	529,619		434,709		1,577,292		1,284,387
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	30,955	[1]	24,523	[2]	86,677	[3]	71,664	[4]
Segment operating profit	498,664		410,186		1,490,615		1,212,723
Total assets	14,202,456		12,037,318		14,202,456		12,037,318
Operating Segments | Rental And Management | International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	347,549		266,634		1,017,908		796,547
Segment operating expenses	138,060	[1]	100,473	[2]	403,515	[3]	302,441	[4]
Segment gross margin	212,150		169,705		622,311		504,779
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	33,441	[1]	31,728	[2]	97,129	[3]	93,753	[4]
Segment operating profit	178,709		137,977		525,182		411,026
Total assets	6,190,104		5,427,416		6,190,104		5,427,416
Operating Segments | Network Development Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	27,069		11,305		76,734		56,231
Segment operating expenses	11,746	[1]	4,777	[2]	30,529	[3]	22,399	[4]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	0		0		0		0
Segment gross margin	15,323		6,528		46,205		33,832
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	3,020	[1]	1,880	[2]	7,876	[3]	7,105	[4]
Segment operating profit	12,303		4,648		38,329		26,727
Total assets	40,903		49,973		40,903		49,973
Operating Segments | All Other Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	18,269		15,058		61,708		53,155
Other selling, general, administrative and development expense	23,669		24,939		65,449		74,251
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	249,066		184,922		740,256		555,334
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expenses)	181,616		149,084		515,234		536,092
Total assets	163,152		666,613		163,152		666,613
TV Azteca
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	2,661		3,544		7,918		10,673
TV Azteca | Operating Segments | Rental And Management
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	2,661		3,544		7,918		10,673
TV Azteca | Operating Segments | Rental And Management | International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	$ 2,661		$ 3,544		$ 7,918		$ 10,673

[1] Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $0.4 million and $17.8 million, respectively.

[2] Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $0.3 million and $14.7 million, respectively.

[3] Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $1.4 million and $60.3 million, respectively.

[4] Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million and $52.0 million, respectively.