CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Rent Expense

The components of lease expense were as follows:

	Lease Cost
	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
	(amounts in thousands)
Operating lease cost	$	49,061	$	50,169
Variable lease cost	10,575		9,691
Short-term lease cost	—		182
Total lease cost	$	59,636	$	60,042

The following table provides the Company’s rent expense for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
	(amounts in thousands)
Rent expense	$	58,656	$	58,947	$	53,948

Schedule of Contracts and Commitments

The Company also has various commitments under the following types of contracts:

	Future Minimum Annual Commitments
	Rent Under Operating Leases		Sale Leaseback Operating Leases		Programming and Related Contracts		Total
	(amounts in thousands)
Years ending December 31,
2021	$	50,379	$	2,342	$	82,066	$	134,787
2022	47,688		2,412		65,174		115,274
2023	43,190		2,485		49,894		95,569
2024	37,589		2,196		25,675		65,460
2025	30,713		2,229		16,500		49,442
Thereafter	94,891		8,230		—		103,121
	$	304,450	$	19,894	$	239,309	$	563,653