Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill, Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, and Amortizable Intangible Assets

The following table displays goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, and amortizable intangible assets as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands).

	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Dec. 31, 2018
Goodwill	$	2,596,863	$	—		$	2,596,863
Indefinite-lived intangibles:
Television station FCC licenses	1,384,186		—			1,384,186
Amortizable intangible assets:
Retransmission agreements	121,594		(79,274		)	42,320
Network affiliation agreements	110,390		(30,802		)	79,588
Other	28,865		(8,882		)	19,983
Total	$	4,241,898	$	(118,958	)	$	4,122,940
Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill	$	2,579,417	$	—		$	2,579,417
Indefinite-lived intangibles:
Television station FCC licenses	1,191,950		—			1,191,950
Amortizable intangible assets:
Retransmission agreements	110,191		(62,355		)	47,836
Network affiliation agreements	43,485		(19,371		)	24,114
Other	15,763		(6,394		)	9,369
Total	$	3,940,806	$	(88,120	)	$	3,852,686

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense

The following table shows the projected annual amortization expense related to amortizable intangible assets existing as of December 31, 2018 (in thousands):

2019	$	30,803
2020	27,106
2021	21,129
2022	18,005
2023	11,455
Thereafter	33,393
Total	$	141,891