Goodwill and other intangible assets - Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 2,981,587	$ 2,981,587
Accumulated Amortization	0	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated Amortization	(313,593)	(298,593)
Total indefinite-lived and amortizable intangible assets	2,740,081	2,740,081
Television and radio station FCC broadcast licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangibles	2,123,898	2,123,898
Retransmission agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets, gross	235,215	235,215
Accumulated Amortization	(175,153)	(168,439)
Network affiliation agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets, gross	309,503	309,503
Accumulated Amortization	(103,312)	(97,195)
Other
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets, gross	71,465	71,465
Accumulated Amortization	$ (35,128)	$ (32,959)