Segment Information (Summary Of Continuing Operations By Reportable Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Advertising	$ 107,458	$ 98,487	$ 366,233	$ 312,333
Affilliation fee and other	224,598	185,427	619,632	536,449
Consolidated revenues, net	332,056	283,914	985,865	848,782
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit)	109,589	122,962	362,503	334,541
Depreciation and amortization	(18,368)	(25,012)	(67,486)	(75,197)
Share-based compensation expense	(4,362)	(3,697)	(12,846)	(12,187)
Restructuring credit	0	191	3	240
Operating income	86,859	94,444	282,174	247,397
Capital Expenditures			13,673	7,129
National Networks [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Advertising	107,453	98,482	366,218	312,318
Affilliation fee and other	198,775	159,865	549,417	464,602
Consolidated revenues, net	306,228	258,347	915,635	776,920
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit)	116,440	123,228	385,435	346,476
Depreciation and amortization	(14,449)	(21,453)	(56,281)	(64,505)
Share-based compensation expense	(3,463)	(3,053)	(10,111)	(9,838)
Restructuring credit		0	0	0
Operating income	98,528	98,722	319,043	272,133
Capital Expenditures			4,271	2,256
International And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Advertising	5	5	15	15
Affilliation fee and other	29,302	30,715	81,907	86,312
Consolidated revenues, net	29,307	30,720	81,922	86,327
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit)	(8,117)	(21)	(25,738)	(11,883)
Depreciation and amortization	(3,919)	(3,559)	(11,205)	(10,692)
Share-based compensation expense	(899)	(644)	(2,735)	(2,349)
Restructuring credit		191	3	240
Operating income	(12,935)	(4,033)	(39,675)	(24,684)
Capital Expenditures			9,402	4,873
Inter-segment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Advertising	0	0	0	0
Affilliation fee and other	(3,479)	(5,153)	(11,692)	(14,465)
Consolidated revenues, net	(3,479)	(5,153)	(11,692)	(14,465)
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit)	1,266	(245)	2,806	(52)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	0	0	0	0
Restructuring credit		0	0	0
Operating income	1,266	(245)	2,806	(52)
Capital Expenditures			$ 0	$ 0