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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill by business segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		$ 1,101,330	$ 1,023,266	$ 813,694	$ 782,701
Accumulated impairment losses		(267,317)	(267,317)	(237,914)	(237,914)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		755,949	575,780	544,787
Impairment charge	$ (29,400)
Balance, end of period		834,013	755,949	575,780
Local Media
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		708,133	708,133	708,133	708,133
Accumulated impairment losses		(216,914)	(216,914)	(216,914)	(216,914)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		491,219	491,219	491,219
Balance, end of period		491,219	491,219	491,219
National Media
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		393,197	315,133	105,561	74,568
Accumulated impairment losses		(50,403)	(50,403)	(21,000)	$ (21,000)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		264,730	84,561	53,568
Balance, end of period		342,794	264,730	84,561
Cracked acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				29,403
Impairment charge			(29,403)
Cracked acquisition \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				0
Impairment charge			0
Cracked acquisition \| National Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				29,403
Impairment charge			(29,403)
Stitcher acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				1,590
Stitcher acquisition \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				0
Stitcher acquisition \| National Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				$ 1,590
Katz Broadcasting Group
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			209,572
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments		(5,812)
Katz Broadcasting Group \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			0
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments		0
Katz Broadcasting Group \| National Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			$ 209,572
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments		(5,812)
Triton Digital Canada, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		83,876
Triton Digital Canada, Inc. \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		0
Triton Digital Canada, Inc. \| National Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		$ 83,876