SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
SEGMENT DATA
Intercompany loans	$ 171,500,000	$ 170,800,000
Intercompany interest expense	4,900,000	5,000,000
Segment data
Revenue	282,618,000	222,374,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	14,595,000	9,271,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	16,002,000	5,819,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	18,861,000	14,100,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	11,250,000	9,367,000
Operating income (loss)	63,656,000	59,894,000
Interest expense	37,697,000	27,387,000
(Loss) from equity and cost method investments	(1,052,000)	1,276,000
Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets	45
Revenue	271,155,000	208,426,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	13,784,000	8,481,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	14,867,000	4,487,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	18,861,000	14,100,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	10,129,000	7,903,000
Operating income (loss)	65,132,000	61,802,000
Other Operating Divisions
Segment data
Revenue	11,463,000	13,948,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	469,000	407,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	1,135,000	1,332,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	297,000	611,000
Operating income (loss)	(309,000)	(672,000)
Interest expense	730,000	854,000
(Loss) from equity and cost method investments	(1,052,000)	1,276,000
Corporate
Segment data
Depreciation of property and equipment	342,000	383,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	824,000	853,000
Operating income (loss)	(1,167,000)	(1,236,000)
Interest expense	$ 36,967,000	$ 26,533,000