SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
SEGMENT DATA
Intercompany loans	$ 171,700,000		$ 171,200,000	$ 171,700,000		$ 171,200,000
Intercompany interest expense	5,000,000		5,000,000	15,000,000		14,900,000
Segment data
Revenue	338,644,000		258,714,000	935,416,000		732,162,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	17,408,000		12,626,000	47,108,000		34,031,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	17,168,000		10,562,000	48,727,000		26,375,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	19,229,000		14,296,000	56,746,000		43,565,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	16,109,000		8,286,000	38,806,000		25,166,000
Operating income (loss)	72,848,000		78,398,000	220,784,000		210,181,000
Interest expense	39,867,000		35,294,000	123,029,000		92,001,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	1,571,000		1,919,000	115,000		8,343,000
Assets	3,617,673,000	[1]		3,617,673,000	[1]		2,729,697,000	[1]
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets				58
Revenue	323,681,000		246,202,000	896,153,000		693,553,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	16,579,000		11,864,000	44,739,000		31,768,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	15,851,000		9,556,000	45,089,000		23,021,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	19,229,000		14,296,000	56,746,000		43,565,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,633,000		7,325,000	34,991,000		21,932,000
Operating income (loss)	74,210,000		78,988,000	224,652,000		213,618,000
Assets	3,303,838,000			3,303,838,000
Operating segments | Other Operating Divisions
Segment data
Revenue	14,963,000		12,512,000	39,263,000		38,609,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	481,000		380,000	1,330,000		1,115,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	1,317,000		1,006,000	3,638,000		3,354,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	576,000		215,000	1,136,000		1,130,000
Operating income (loss)	(113,000)		538,000	(150,000)		(172,000)
Interest expense	846,000		962,000	2,385,000		2,517,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	1,571,000		1,919,000	115,000		8,343,000
Assets	306,204,000			306,204,000
Corporate
Segment data
Depreciation of property and equipment	348,000		382,000	1,039,000		1,148,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	900,000		746,000	2,679,000		2,104,000
Operating income (loss)	(1,249,000)		(1,128,000)	(3,718,000)		(3,265,000)
Interest expense	39,021,000		34,332,000	120,644,000		89,484,000
Assets	$ 7,631,000			$ 7,631,000

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $148.9 million and $107.9 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $16.4 million and $7.9 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us.