CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ 233,849,000	$ 38,065,000	$ 29,184,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	15,546,000	9,793,000	8,419,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,371,000	2,897,000	3,203,000
Net deferred taxes (benefit) and other	(263,551,000)	14,688,000	18,322,000
Tax benefit on exercise of options	0	0	0
Provision for bad debts	3,715,000	1,330,000	1,553,000
Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets	11,853,000	(1,621,000)	(2,364,000)
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	9,567,000	6,539,000	5,524,000
Net (gain) loss on investments	0	0	0
Net (gain) loss on derivatives	0	0	0
Deferred rent	324,000	138,000	1,017,000
Unearned revenue - long-term	746,000	0	(10,000)
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	4,135,000	10,858,000	0
Deferred compensation	4,247,000	1,683,000	584,000
Tax benefit for vesting of restricted stock unit awards	0	0	0
Impairment loss	952,000	254,000	0
Net accretion expense for asset retirement obligations	37,000	27,000	13,000
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(14,127,000)	(4,202,000)	(4,027,000)
Prepaid expenses and deposits	14,267,000	(1,368,000)	642,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	8,370,000	(739,000)	700,000
Accrued interest expense	4,169,000	40,000	769,000
Accrued liabilities - long-term	(3,484,000)	(1,894,000)	146,000
Prepaid expenses - long-term	(2,874,000)	(4,458,000)	1,115,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	29,112,000	72,030,000	64,790,000
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to property and equipment	(20,530,000)	(7,336,000)	(7,043,000)
Proceeds from sale of property, equipment, intangibles and other assets	60,505,000	7,974,000	427,000
Purchases of radio station assets	(24,000,000)	(92,000)	(83,553,000)
Payments To Acquire non-amortizable intangible assets	0	(112,000)	(100,000)
Purchases of investments	(9,700,000)	0	(9,000)
Proceeds from investments and capital projects	0	0	9,000
Consolidation of a VIE	(302,000)	302,000	0
Payments to Acquire amortizable intangible assets	(663,000)	(241,000)	(1,475,000)
Proceeds from Sale of radio stations	12,000,000	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	17,310,000	495,000	(91,744,000)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	500,000,000	480,000,000	0
Proceeds from the financing method of lease obligations	0	102,000	0
Payments of long-term debt	(669,750,000)	(293,266,000)	(51,250,000)
Retirement of senior subordinated notes	0	(220,000,000)	0
Purchase of the Company's common stock	(10,042,000)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of employee stock plan	182,000	379,000	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	42,000	265,000	35,000
Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units	(2,565,000)	(2,268,000)	(1,562,000)
Payment of dividend equivalents on vested restricted stock units	(1,556,000)	(94,000)	(7,000)
Payment of dividends on common stock	(29,296,000)	(8,666,000)	0
Payment of fees associated with the issuance of preferred stock	0	0	(220,000)
Payments of dividends on preferred stock	(2,574,000)	(1,788,000)	(413,000)
ProceedsFromShortTermDebt	200,500,000	24,500,000	58,000,000
PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	(16,302,000)	(8,038,000)	0
PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts	0	(5,977,000)	0
Payments for early retirement of Preferred	(27,737,000)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(59,098,000)	(34,851,000)	4,583,000
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(12,676,000)	37,674,000	(22,371,000)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR	46,843,000	9,169,000	31,540,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	34,167,000	46,843,000	9,169,000
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	24,813,000	34,568,000	34,822,000
Income taxes	2,030,000	381,000	81,000
Dividends on common stock	29,296,000	8,666,000	0
Dividends on preferred stock	$ 2,574,000	$ 1,788,000	$ 413,000