Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 1,141,400	$ 1,168,679	$ 1,263,423
Operating expenses:
Content costs	427,780	396,426	433,596
Selling, general & administrative expenses	472,900	477,327	470,441
Depreciation and amortization	87,267	102,105	115,275
LMA fees	12,824	10,129	7,195
Corporate expenses (including stock-based compensation expense of $2,948, $21,033, and $17,638, respectively)	40,148	73,403	76,428
(Gain) loss on sale of assets or stations	(95,695)	2,856	(1,342)
Impairment of intangible assets and goodwill	604,965	565,584	0
Impairment charges - equity interest in Pulser Media Inc.	0	19,364	0
Total operating expenses	1,550,189	1,647,194	1,101,593
Operating (loss) income	(408,789)	(478,515)	161,830
Non-operating expense:
Interest expense	(138,634)	(141,679)	(145,533)
Interest income	493	433	1,388
Gain on early extinguishment of debt	8,017	13,222	0
Other income, net	2,039	14,205	4,338
Total non-operating expense, net	(128,085)	(113,819)	(139,807)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(536,874)	(592,334)	22,023
Income tax benefit (expense)	26,154	45,840	(10,254)
Net (loss) income	$ (510,720)	$ (546,494)	$ 11,769
Basic and diluted (loss) income per common share (see Note 11, “Earnings (Loss) Per Share”):
Basic: (Loss) income per share (in USD per share)	$ (17.45)	$ (18.72)	$ 0.40
Diluted: (Loss) income per share (in USD per share)	$ (17.45)	$ (18.72)	$ 0.40
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	29,270,455	29,176,930	28,267,807
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	29,270,455	29,176,930	28,620,395