CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net loss	$ (460,018)	$ (240,050)	$ (737,634)
Reconciling items:
Impairment charges	10,199	8,000	21,631
Depreciation and amortization	601,295	635,227	673,991
Deferred taxes	(488,217)	(98,127)	27,848
Provision for doubtful accounts	38,944	27,390	30,579
Amortization of deferred financing charges and note discounts, net	57,474	69,951	63,838
Share-based compensation	12,078	13,133	11,067
Gain on disposal of operating and other assets	(44,461)	(365,710)	(107,186)
Loss on investments	4,872	12,907	4,421
Equity in loss of nonconsolidated affiliates	2,855	16,733	902
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,271)	(157,556)	2,201
Barter and trade income	(42,210)	(38,323)	(14,372)
Other reconciling items, net	(28,448)	71,443	(14,118)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Increase in accounts receivable	(149,347)	(14,469)	(121,574)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(28,433)	(2,753)	(20,631)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses	4,133	(2,862)	(15,841)
Increase in accounts payable	15,736	3,065	27,385
Increase in accrued interest	41,006	20,809	59,608
Increase (decrease) in deferred income	(26,533)	23,661	23,516
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	(23,394)	3,549	7,065
Net cash used for operating activities	(503,740)	(13,982)	(77,304)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of other investments	(26,890)	(29,031)	(29,006)
Proceeds from sale of other investments	5,071	5,367	579
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(291,966)	(314,717)	(296,380)
Proceeds from disposal of assets	82,987	856,981	414,278
Purchases of other operating assets	(1,213)	(4,414)	(29,159)
Change in other, net	(4,060)	(3,271)	(30,078)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(236,071)	510,915	30,234
Cash flows from financing activities:
Draws on credit facilities	100,000	100,000	350,000
Payments on credit facilities	(25,909)	(2,100)	(123,849)
Proceeds from long-term debt	156,000	6,856	1,172,777
Payments on long-term debt	(9,946)	(421,263)	(931,420)
Payments to repurchase noncontrolling interests	(1,227)	0	(42,797)
Dividends and other payments to noncontrolling interests	(46,477)	(89,631)	(30,871)
Change in other, net	(21,106)	(12,093)	(16,430)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	151,335	(418,231)	377,410
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	10,555	(6,350)	(14,686)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(577,921)	72,352	315,654
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	845,030	772,678	457,024
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	267,109	845,030	772,678
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Cash paid during the year for interest	1,772,405	1,764,776	1,686,988
Cash paid during the year for taxes	$ 35,505	$ 44,844	$ 52,169