Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 01, 2018
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Non-amortizing intangibles	$ 64,475	$ 64,475
Gross carrying amount	496,776	448,988
Accumulated amortization and other	(195,222)	(132,484)
Total	301,554	316,504		$ 52,000
Total intangible assets, gross carrying amount	561,251	513,463
Intangible assets, net	366,029	380,979
Amortization expense	24,600	27,500	$ 34,900
Affiliate contract expansion
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	455,305	410,157
Accumulated amortization and other	(167,830)	(105,964)
Total	287,475	304,193		45,148
Favorable leases - Wireless
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	15,743	13,103
Accumulated amortization and other	(1,919)	(1,222)
Total	13,824	11,881		$ 3,665
Acquired subscribers - Cable
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	25,265	25,265
Accumulated amortization and other	(25,250)	(25,100)
Total	15	165
Other intangibles
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	463	463
Accumulated amortization and other	(223)	(198)
Total	240	265
Cable franchise rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Non-amortizing intangibles	64,334	64,334
Railroad crossing rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Non-amortizing intangibles	$ 141	$ 141