CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

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,
	2021		2020		2019
	(amounts in thousands)
Operating lease cost	$	48,999	$	49,061	$	50,169
Variable lease cost	11,517		10,575		9,691
Short-term lease cost	—		—		182
Total lease cost	$	60,516	$	59,636	$	60,042

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

	Years Ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
	(amounts in thousands)
Rent expense	$	59,571	$	58,656	$	58,947

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,
2022	$	50,721	$	2,412	$	82,530	$	135,663
2023	47,474		2,485		69,580		119,539
2024	42,288		2,196		42,541		87,025
2025	36,157		2,229		31,110		69,496
2026	29,804		2,295		14,935		47,034
Thereafter	79,047		5,935		—		84,982
	$	285,491	$	17,552	$	240,696	$	543,739