Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 256,988	$ 407,716	$ 463,967
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	104,606	101,098	91,281
Impairment charges	122,227	106,603	4,486
Share-based compensation expense related to equity classified awards	52,908	64,133	60,979
Non-cash restructuring and other related charges	5,359	14,098	7,440
Amortization and write-off of program rights	923,886	974,835	961,134
Amortization of deferred carriage fees	28,231	21,587	17,342
Unrealized foreign currency transaction (gain) loss	3,099	(16,325)	2,057
Unrealized (gain) on derivative contracts, net	0	0	(43,476)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts on indebtedness	8,005	8,007	7,715
Loss on extinguishment of debt	2,908	0	0
Bad debt (recoveries) expense	(2,843)	12,641	7,399
Deferred income taxes	23,159	(38,916)	33,367
Gains on investments	(97,617)	0	0
Write-down of non-marketable equity securities and note receivable	20,000	20,206	0
Other, net	(594)	(2,832)	5,311
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade (including amounts due from related parties, net)	63,337	(43,345)	(52,106)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	64,060	(142,303)	(2,789)
Program rights and obligations, net	(850,013)	(969,900)	(978,763)
Income taxes payable	6,703	1,219	(17,006)
Deferred revenue	7,202	8,667	(6,392)
Deferred carriage fees, net	(8,833)	(15,033)	(4,250)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	15,958	(28,408)	48,851
Net cash provided by operating activities	748,736	483,748	606,547
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Capital expenditures	(46,595)	(91,604)	(89,802)
Return of capital from investees	1,872	5,380	4,088
Investments in and loans to investees	(5,440)	(3,483)	(90,081)
Principal payments received on loans to investees	5,000	0	0
Payments for acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired	0	0	(84,389)
Proceeds from sale of investments	10,000	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(35,163)	(89,707)	(260,184)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	6,000	1,521	289
Principal payments on long-term debt	(262,250)	(22,988)	0
Deemed repurchase of restricted stock units	(15,967)	(23,018)	(16,836)
Purchase of treasury stock	(356,701)	(70,598)	(283,143)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	0	4,630	4,317
Principal payments on finance lease obligations	(3,261)	(5,115)
Principal payments on finance lease obligations			(4,938)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(15,819)	(15,558)	(14,296)
Net cash used in financing activities	(647,998)	(131,126)	(314,607)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents from operations	65,575	262,915	31,756
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	6,781	(1,631)	(35,653)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	816,170	554,886	558,783
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 888,526	$ 816,170	$ 554,886