Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 1,135,662	$ 1,141,400	$ 1,168,679
Operating expenses:
Content costs	402,978	427,780	396,426
Selling, general & administrative expenses	477,535	472,900	477,327
Depreciation and amortization	62,239	87,267	102,105
LMA fees	10,884	12,824	10,129
Corporate expenses (including stock-based compensation expense of $1,614, $2,948, and $21,033, respectively)	59,062	40,148	73,403
(Gain) loss on sale of assets or stations	(2,499)	(95,695)	2,856
Impairment of intangible assets and goodwill	335,909	604,965	565,584
Impairment charges - equity interest in Pulser Media Inc.	0	0	19,364
Total operating expenses	1,346,108	1,550,189	1,647,194
Operating loss	(210,446)	(408,789)	(478,515)
Non-operating expense:
Reorganization items, net	(31,603)	0	0
Interest expense	(126,952)	(138,634)	(141,679)
Interest income	136	493	433
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt	(1,063)	8,017	13,222
Other (expense) income, net	(363)	2,039	14,205
Total non-operating expense, net	(159,845)	(128,085)	(113,819)
Loss before income taxes	(370,291)	(536,874)	(592,334)
Income tax benefit	163,726	26,154	45,840
Net loss	$ (206,565)	$ (510,720)	$ (546,494)
Basic and diluted loss per common share (see Note 13, “Loss Per Share”):
Basic: (Loss) income per share (in USD per share)	$ (7.05)	$ (17.45)	$ (18.72)
Diluted: (Loss) income per share (in USD per share)	$ (7.05)	$ (17.45)	$ (18.72)
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	29,306,374	29,270,455	29,176,930
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	29,306,374	29,270,455	29,176,930