SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
SEGMENT DATA
Intersegment Loans	$ 171,200,000		$ 170,000,000	$ 171,200,000		$ 170,000,000
Intercompany Interest expense	5,000,000		5,000,000	14,900,000		14,700,000
Segment data
Revenue	260,489,000		181,042,000	736,817,000		552,511,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	12,846,000		7,602,000	34,684,000		23,523,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	10,669,000		4,393,000	26,694,000		14,201,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	14,495,000		12,833,000	44,197,000		38,117,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	8,286,000		5,789,000	25,166,000		21,526,000
Operating income (loss)	78,557,000		52,407,000	210,243,000		162,119,000
Interest expense	35,294,000		24,463,000	92,001,000		78,564,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	1,919,000		2,080,000	8,343,000		2,906,000
Assets	2,245,536,000	[1]		2,245,536,000	[1]		1,571,417,000	[1]
Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets				45
Revenue	247,977,000		169,387,000	698,208,000		520,438,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	12,084,000		6,874,000	32,421,000		21,357,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	9,663,000		3,474,000	23,340,000		11,568,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	14,495,000		12,833,000	44,197,000		38,117,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	7,325,000		5,019,000	21,932,000		18,837,000
Operating income (loss)	79,147,000		52,581,000	213,680,000		163,702,000
Assets	1,956,754,000			1,956,754,000
Other operating Division
Segment data
Revenue	12,512,000		11,655,000	38,609,000		32,073,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	380,000		331,000	1,115,000		961,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	1,006,000		919,000	3,354,000		2,633,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	215,000		265,000	1,130,000		863,000
Operating income (loss)	538,000		728,000	(172,000)		1,452,000
Interest expense	962,000		634,000	2,517,000		1,893,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	1,919,000		2,080,000	8,343,000		2,906,000
Assets	279,027,000			279,027,000
Corporate
Segment data
Depreciation of property and equipment	382,000		397,000	1,148,000		1,205,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	746,000		505,000	2,104,000		1,826,000
Operating income (loss)	(1,128,000)		(902,000)	(3,265,000)		(3,035,000)
Interest expense	34,332,000		23,829,000	89,484,000		76,671,000
Assets	$ 9,755,000			$ 9,755,000

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $44.5 million and $33.5 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $8.5 million and $14.4 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.