CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 476,347	$ 631,198	$ 478,197
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow from operating activities:
Depreciation	59,769	61,195	64,841
Amortization of intangible assets	53,467	59,882	63,011
Employee awards stock-based compensation	24,497	30,481	31,515
Company stock 401(k) match contributions	18,629	18,661	17,142
Amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discounts and premiums	7,058	6,919	8,323
Gains on assets	(25,809)	(18,308)	0
Provision for deferred income taxes	19,737	17,476	9,916
Merger termination fee	(136,000)	0	0
Equity loss in unconsolidated investments, net	877	4,473	9,713
Pension expense (contributions), net of contributions (expense)	5,559	(3,487)	(19,139)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	34,726	(15,365)	(88,687)
Increase in accounts payable	38,739	3,216	14,947
(Decrease) increase in interest and taxes payable	(14,977)	15,330	(53,303)
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue	2,810	(2,151)	1,589
Changes in other assets and liabilities, net	21,820	2,631	(36,453)
Net cash flow from operating activities	587,249	812,151	501,612
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(54,694)	(51,333)	(63,076)
Reimbursement from spectrum repacking	0	323	4,942
Payments for acquisitions of businesses and other assets	(1,150)	0	(13,335)
Payments for investments	(370)	(5,691)	(1,791)
Proceeds from investments	28,105	4,997	3,701
Proceeds from sale of assets	120	472	303
Net cash flow used for investing activities	(27,989)	(51,232)	(69,256)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of borrowings under revolving credit facilities, net	0	(166,000)	(189,000)
Dividends paid	(83,534)	(84,756)	(78,465)
Repurchase of Common Stock	(652,914)	0	0
Debt repayments	0	0	(137,000)
Payments for debt issuance and premiums for early redemption costs	0	0	(1,256)
Other, net	(13,457)	(15,471)	(10,614)
Net cash flow used for financing activities	(749,905)	(266,227)	(416,335)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(190,645)	494,692	16,021
Balance of cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	551,681	56,989	40,968
Balance of cash and cash equivalents at end of year	361,036	551,681	56,989
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	126,138	171,095	179,164
Cash paid for interest	$ 166,132	$ 167,533	$ 179,803