Condensed Combined Debtor-In-Possession Financial Information (Income Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net revenue	$ 293,861	$ 287,240	$ 290,531	$ 264,030	$ 299,541	$ 286,136	$ 287,193	$ 268,530	$ 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)									59,062	40,148	73,403
(Gain) loss on sale of assets or stations									(2,499)	(95,695)	2,856
Total operating expenses									1,346,108	1,550,189	1,647,194
Operating loss	(321,225)	42,931	47,326	20,522	(568,585)	113,017	36,665	10,114	(210,446)	(408,789)	(478,515)
Non-operating expense:
Reorganization items, net									(31,603)	0	0
Interest expense									(126,952)	(138,634)	(141,679)
(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	(376,307)	6,531	12,906	(13,421)	(594,736)	79,109	2,315	(23,562)	(370,291)	(536,874)	(592,334)
Income tax benefit									163,726	26,154	45,840
Net income	$ (206,116)	$ 1,274	$ 5,672	$ (7,395)	$ (543,677)	$ 46,321	$ 1,066	$ (14,429)	(206,565)	$ (510,720)	$ (546,494)
Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
Net revenue									1,135,662
Operating expenses:
Content costs									402,978
Selling, general & administrative expenses									475,116
Depreciation and amortization									62,239
LMA fees									10,884
Corporate expenses (including stock-based compensation expense of $1,614)									59,062
(Gain) loss on sale of assets or stations									2,499
Total operating expenses									1,007,780
Operating loss									127,882
Non-operating expense:
Reorganization items, net									31,603
Interest expense									126,816
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt									(1,063)
Other (expense) income, net									(363)
Total non-operating expense, net									(159,845)
Loss before income taxes									(31,963)
Income tax benefit									(66,288)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments									(240,890)
Net income									$ (206,565)