QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,721,118	$ 1,570,418	$ 1,618,532	$ 1,363,505	$ 1,717,579	$ 1,579,514	$ 1,599,859	$ 1,344,564	$ 6,273,573	$ 6,241,516	$ 6,318,533
Operating expenses:
Direct operating expenses	631,094	595,576	617,246	568,371	651,108	627,150	615,163	577,692	2,412,287	2,471,113	2,540,035
Selling, general and administrative expenses	444,050	421,700	434,581	425,568	433,483	429,426	424,562	416,881	1,725,899	1,704,352	1,680,938
Corporate expenses	88,717	86,779	87,650	77,879	82,507	74,775	80,295	77,422	341,025	314,999	320,931
Depreciation and amortization	159,174	158,453	162,144	155,456	168,824	166,320	168,394	170,453	635,227	673,991	710,898
Impairment charges	0	8,000	0	0	0	21,631	0	0	8,000	21,631	24,176
Other operating income, net	133,788	(505)	(64,190)	284,463	(4,693)	6,914	100,754	(8,974)	353,556	94,001	40,031
Operating income (loss)	531,871	299,405	252,721	420,694	376,964	267,126	412,199	93,142	1,504,691	1,149,431	1,081,586
Interest expense	460,189	459,852	465,991	463,950	456,847	453,921	452,957	441,771	1,849,982	1,805,496	1,741,596
Gain (loss) on investments, net	860	(13,767)	0	0	0	(5,000)	0	579	(12,907)	(4,421)	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates	(15,807)	1,117	(1,610)	(433)	314	(857)	(690)	331	(16,733)	(902)	(9,416)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	0	157,556	0	0	0	0	0	(2,201)	157,556	(2,201)	(43,347)
Other income (expense), net	(26,048)	(7,323)	(34,019)	(5,712)	(5,070)	(17,976)	16,211	19,891	(73,102)	13,056	9,104
Income (loss) before income taxes	30,687	(22,864)	(248,899)	(49,401)	(84,639)	(210,628)	(25,237)	(330,029)	(290,477)	(650,533)	(703,669)
Income tax benefit (expense)	92,717	(5,613)	(27,137)	(9,493)	(5,434)	(2,841)	(22,077)	(56,605)	50,474	(86,957)	(58,489)
Consolidated net income (loss)	123,404	(28,477)	(276,036)	(58,894)	(90,073)	(213,469)	(47,314)	(386,634)	(240,003)	(737,490)	(762,158)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest	17,362	6,474	2,858	29,621	3,199	8,448	7,152	(1,668)	56,315	17,131	31,603
Net income (loss)attributable to the Company	$ 106,042	$ (34,951)	$ (278,894)	$ (88,515)	$ (93,272)	$ (221,917)	$ (54,466)	$ (384,966)	$ (296,318)	$ (754,621)	$ (793,761)
Net income (loss) to the Company per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.25	$ (0.41)	$ (3.30)	$ (1.05)	$ (1.11)	$ (2.63)	$ (0.65)	$ (4.58)	$ (3.50)	$ (8.95)	$ (9.46)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.24	$ (0.41)	$ (3.30)	$ (1.05)	$ (1.11)	$ (2.63)	$ (0.65)	$ (4.58)	$ (3.50)	$ (8.95)	$ (9.46)