SEGMENT DATA - Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment data
Revenue		$ 578,889	$ 504,775
Depreciation of property and equipment		24,035	25,189
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		43,765	39,980
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		33,460	30,391
General and administrative overhead expenses		21,341	16,038
Research and development expenses		1,101	2,515
Operating income (loss)		86,339	84,547
Interest expense		49,415	46,648
Income from equity and cost method investments		423	3,146
Assets	[1]	5,747,198		$ 5,432,315
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Revenue		546,833	485,052
Depreciation of property and equipment		22,748	24,177
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		39,770	37,891
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		33,460	30,391
General and administrative overhead expenses		20,447	14,907
Research and development expenses		0	0
Operating income (loss)		98,041	92,042
Interest expense		1,482	0
Income from equity and cost method investments		0	0
Assets		4,807,977
Operating segments | Other Operating Divisions
Segment data
Revenue		32,056	19,723
Depreciation of property and equipment		1,021	733
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		3,995	2,089
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses		545	279
Research and development expenses		1,101	2,515
Operating income (loss)		(11,087)	(6,364)
Interest expense		1,476	1,075
Income from equity and cost method investments		423	3,146
Assets		754,875
Corporate
Segment data
Revenue		0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment		266	279
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		0	0
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses		349	852
Research and development expenses		0	0
Operating income (loss)		(615)	(1,131)
Interest expense		46,457	45,573
Income from equity and cost method investments		0	$ 0
Assets		$ 184,346

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $148.0 million and $152.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $34.0 million and $35.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.