Segment Information (Summary Of Continuing Operations By Reportable Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Advertising	$ 129,538	$ 114,218	$ 258,775	$ 213,846
Affilliation fee and other	198,032	177,747	395,034	351,022
Consolidated revenues, net	327,570	291,965	653,809	564,868
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit)	127,244	112,031	252,914	211,579
Depreciation and amortization	(24,067)	(25,259)	(49,118)	(50,185)
Share-based compensation expense	(4,901)	(4,513)	(8,484)	(8,490)
Restructuring credit		15	3	49
Operating income	98,276	82,274	195,315	152,953
Capital Expenditures			6,619	4,340
National Networks [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Advertising	129,528	114,213	258,765	213,836
Affilliation fee and other	175,656	152,515	350,642	304,737
Consolidated revenues, net	305,184	266,728	609,407	518,573
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit)	135,623	116,892	268,995	223,248
Depreciation and amortization	(20,527)	(21,741)	(41,832)	(43,052)
Share-based compensation expense	(3,799)	(3,635)	(6,648)	(6,785)
Restructuring credit
Operating income	111,297	91,516	220,515	173,411
Capital Expenditures			860	1,850
International And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Advertising	10	5	10	10
Affilliation fee and other	26,259	30,221	52,605	55,597
Consolidated revenues, net	26,269	30,226	52,615	55,607
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit)	(9,414)	(4,758)	(17,621)	(11,862)
Depreciation and amortization	(3,540)	(3,518)	(7,286)	(7,133)
Share-based compensation expense	(1,102)	(878)	(1,836)	(1,705)
Restructuring credit		15	3	49
Operating income	(14,056)	(9,139)	(26,740)	(20,651)
Capital Expenditures			5,759	2,490
Inter-segment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Advertising
Affilliation fee and other	(3,883)	(4,989)	(8,213)	(9,312)
Consolidated revenues, net	(3,883)	(4,989)	(8,213)	(9,312)
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit)	1,035	(103)	1,540	193
Depreciation and amortization
Share-based compensation expense
Restructuring credit
Operating income	1,035	(103)	1,540	193
Capital Expenditures