Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 387,528	$ 341,092
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	64,034	65,037
Impairment and related charges	4,486	17,112
Share-based compensation expense related to equity classified awards	52,006	41,412
Amortization and write-off of program rights	684,289	667,060
Amortization of deferred carriage fees	13,107	13,204
Unrealized foreign currency transaction gain	(712)	(14,658)
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts, net	(40,848)	(27,598)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts on indebtedness	5,746	6,530
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	3,004
Bad debt expense	6,155	3,638
Deferred income taxes	39,404	9,325
Other, net	(887)	(4,617)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade (including amounts due from related parties, net)	(2,333)	(13,316)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(27,769)	(69,463)
Program rights and obligations, net	(671,108)	(720,243)
Income taxes payable	(5,005)	(24,538)
Deferred revenue	3,531	(6,529)
Deferred carriage fees, net	(3,200)	(4,246)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	(36,612)	(8,633)
Net cash provided by operating activities	471,812	273,573
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(60,774)	(61,794)
Return of capital from investees	523	0
Investment in and loans to investees	(90,080)	(43,000)
Payments for acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired	(35,554)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(185,885)	(104,794)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	0	1,536,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	0	(1,257,965)
Payments for financing costs	0	(10,405)
Deemed repurchases of restricted stock units	(15,734)	(13,373)
Purchase of treasury stock	(267,400)	(347,334)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	4,317	0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	(3,878)	(3,428)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(9,333)	(16,110)
Net cash used in financing activities	(292,028)	(112,615)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from operations	(6,101)	56,164
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	12,035	14,736
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	558,783	481,389
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 564,717	$ 552,289