NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING: (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended						3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 11, 2013	Apr. 09, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 23, 2014	Jan. 24, 2014	Jun. 28, 2013	Apr. 02, 2013	Oct. 12, 2012	Oct. 15, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 12, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Letters of credit outstanding	$ 3,100,000													$ 3,100,000
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	14,553,000	58,421,000	335,000
Redemption of the equity component recorded as reduction in additional paid-in capital, net of taxes		5,100,000
Gross amount of debt	3,913,774,000	3,018,695,000												3,913,774,000	3,018,695,000
Less: Discount	(3,992,000)													(3,992,000)
Less: Current portion	(113,116,000)	(46,346,000)												(113,116,000)	(46,346,000)
Long term debt, non-current	3,796,666,000	2,966,402,000												3,796,666,000	2,966,402,000
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
2015	116,535,000													116,535,000
2016	82,733,000													82,733,000
2017	80,741,000													80,741,000
2018	582,795,000													582,795,000
2019	16,331,000													16,331,000
2020 and thereafter	3,061,029,000													3,061,029,000
Total minimum payments	3,940,164,000													3,940,164,000
Less: Discount	(3,992,000)													(3,992,000)
Less: Amount representing future interest	(26,390,000)
Net carrying value of debt	3,909,782,000													3,909,782,000
Redemption price	582,764,000	1,509,760,000	179,356,000
4.875% Convertible Debentures converted into Class A Common Stock, net of taxes		8,602,000
Tower leases
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Capital leases , term	17 years
equipment lease
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Capital leases , term	4 years
Broadcast
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Number of capital leases	27													27
Broadcast | Tower leases
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Number of capital leases	25													25
Corporate
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Number of capital leases	1													1
Operating segments
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Number of capital leases	4													4
Minimum | Capital leased assets
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Term of renewal options	5 years
Maximum | Capital leased assets
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Term of renewal options	10 years
Period on or prior to November 1, 2016
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Redemption price of the debt instrument (as a percent)				100.00%
Bank Credit Agreement
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Aggregate borrowings outstanding	1,725,900,000													1,725,900,000
Interest and amortization expense	38,700,000	27,300,000	35,700,000
Debt refinancing costs	3,800,000	2,400,000	6,300,000
Deferred financing costs related to amendment	3,800,000	14,900,000	2,300,000											3,800,000	14,900,000
Threshold percentage of aggregate broadcast cash flows used for defining material third-party licensees	10.00%
Notes and Bank Credit Agreement
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
2015	110,980,000													110,980,000
2016	77,574,000													77,574,000
2017	75,544,000													75,544,000
2018	577,545,000													577,545,000
2019	10,987,000													10,987,000
2020 and thereafter	3,022,308,000													3,022,308,000
Total minimum payments	3,874,938,000													3,874,938,000
Net carrying value of debt	3,870,946,000													3,870,946,000
Term Loan B
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)	3.27%	3.29%												3.27%	3.29%
Gross amount of debt	1,039,876,000	646,375,000												1,039,876,000	646,375,000
Less: Discount	(3,992,000)	(3,642,000)												(3,992,000)	(3,642,000)
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Less: Discount	(3,992,000)	(3,642,000)												(3,992,000)	(3,642,000)
Term Loan B | Bank Credit Agreement
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Debt instrument face amount					400,000,000		650,000,000
LIBOR floor (as a percent)					0.75%
Outstanding loan amount	1,035,900,000	642,700,000												1,035,900,000	642,700,000
Percentage of par value at which debt was issued						99.75%
Less: Discount						1,000,000
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Less: Discount						1,000,000
Term Loan B | Bank Credit Agreement | LIBOR
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Variable rate basis					LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					2.25%	2.75%
LIBOR floor (as a percent)						0.75%
Term Loan B | Notes and Bank Credit Agreement
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Less: Discount	(3,992,000)													(3,992,000)
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Less: Discount	(3,992,000)													(3,992,000)
Term Loan A
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)	2.34%	2.51%												2.34%	2.51%
Gross amount of debt	348,073,000	500,000,000												348,073,000	500,000,000
Term Loan A | Bank Credit Agreement
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Amount of debt issued							200,000,000
Debt instrument face amount		500,000,000													500,000,000
Amount of debt converted into revolving commitments						327,700,000
Outstanding loan amount	348,100,000													348,100,000
Term Loan A | Bank Credit Agreement | LIBOR
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Variable rate basis					LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					2.25%
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2024
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Amount of debt issued								550,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate payable (as a percent)	5.625%													5.625%
Interest and amortization expense	13,600,000
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)	5.625%													5.625%
Percentage of par value at which debt was issued								100.00%
Gross amount of debt	550,000,000													550,000,000
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2024 | Period prior to August 1, 2019
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Percentage of par value at which debt was issued								100.00%
5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2024 | Period prior to August 1, 2019 | Maximum
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Redemption price of the debt instrument (as a percent)								35.00%
6.375% Senior Notes, due 2021
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Amount of debt issued				350,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate payable (as a percent)	6.375%	6.375%		6.375%										6.375%	6.375%
Interest and amortization expense	22,400,000
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)	6.375%													6.375%
Percentage of par value at which debt was issued				100.00%
Gross amount of debt	350,000,000	350,000,000												350,000,000	350,000,000
6.375% Senior Notes, due 2021 | Scenario forecast
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Purchase price offer as percentage of face amount plus accrued and unpaid interest									99.70%
6.375% Senior Notes, due 2021 | Period on or prior to November 1, 2016
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Maximum percentage of the principal amount of the debt instrument which the entity may redeem with the proceeds from certain equity offerings				35.00%
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2021
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Amount of debt issued											600,000,000
Debt instrument face amount										600,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate payable (as a percent)	5.375%	5.375%												5.375%	5.375%
Interest and amortization expense	32,300,000
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)	5.375%													5.375%
Gross amount of debt	600,000,000	600,000,000												600,000,000	600,000,000
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Percent of outstanding debt converted											100
Purchase price in tender offers commenced as a percentage of face value										100.00%
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2021 | Period prior to April 1, 2016
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Redemption price of the debt instrument (as a percent)											100.00%
5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2021 | Period on or prior to April 1, 2016
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Maximum percentage of the principal amount of the debt instrument which the entity may redeem with the proceeds from certain equity offerings											35.00%
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2022
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Amount of debt issued												500,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate payable (as a percent)	6.125%	6.125%										6.125%		6.125%	6.125%		6.125%
Interest and amortization expense	30,600,000
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%													6.125%
Percentage of par value at which debt was issued			100.00%
Gross amount of debt	500,000,000	500,000,000												500,000,000	500,000,000
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Purchase price in tender offers commenced as a percentage of face value										100.00%
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2022 | Period prior to October 1, 2017
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Redemption price of the debt instrument (as a percent)			100.00%
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2022 | Period prior to August 1, 2019
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Maximum percentage of the principal amount of the debt instrument which the entity may redeem with the proceeds from certain equity offerings			35.00%
8.375% Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2018
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Debt instrument, stated interest rate payable (as a percent)	8.375%													8.375%
Interest and amortization expense	16,000,000	20,300,000	20,200,000
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)		8.375%													8.375%
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		8.65%
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt														14,600,000
Gross amount of debt		237,530,000													237,530,000
Less: Discount		(2,305,000)													(2,305,000)
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Less: Discount		(2,305,000)													(2,305,000)
Redemption price													257,400,000
Face amount of debt redeemed													237,500,000
Accrued and unpaid interest and make-whole premium													9,900,000
9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2017
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Debt instrument, stated interest rate payable (as a percent)																		9.25%
Interest and amortization expense		37,300,000	47,700,000
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)		9.25%	9.74%												9.25%
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt															(43,100,000)
Write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs															9,500,000
Write-off of unamortized debt discount															8,200,000
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Redemption price												546,100,000
Face amount of debt redeemed												500,000,000
Accrued and unpaid interest and make-whole premium												25,400,000
4.875% Notes
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Debt instrument, stated interest rate payable (as a percent)	4.875%	4.875%												4.875%	4.875%	4.875%
Outstanding loan amount																5,700,000
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion (in shares)																388,632
Increase in additional paid-in capital																8,600,000
3.0% Notes
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Debt instrument, stated interest rate payable (as a percent)		3.00%					3.00%								3.00%
Outstanding loan amount							5,400,000
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt							(1,000,000)
Redemption of the equity component recorded as reduction in additional paid-in capital, net of taxes							5,100,000
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
Percent of outstanding debt converted							100.00
4.875% Convertible Debentures converted into Class A Common Stock, net of taxes							10,500,000
Revolving line of credit
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Weighted average effective interest rate (as a percent)	2.47%													2.47%
Gross amount of debt	338,000,000													338,000,000
Revolving line of credit | Bank Credit Agreement
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Aggregate borrowings outstanding	338,000,000													338,000,000
Total revolver capacity remaining	144,100,000	157,500,000				485,200,000								144,100,000	157,500,000
Undrawn commitments fees (as a percent)	0.50%
Letters of credit outstanding	3,100,000													3,100,000
Revolving line of credit | Bank Credit Agreement | LIBOR
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Variable rate basis					LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					2.25%
Debt of variable interest entities
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	2.50%
Outstanding loan amount	30,200,000													30,200,000
Interest and amortization expense	2,200,000	1,200,000
Other operating divisions debt
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)	6.50%													6.50%
Interest and amortization expense	3,100,000	3,200,000	3,100,000
Gross amount of debt	118,822,000	86,263,000												118,822,000	86,263,000
Other operating divisions debt | LIBOR
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Variable rate basis			LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	2.50%
Capital Leases
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Gross amount of debt	38,836,000	42,946,000												38,836,000	42,946,000
Maturity of indebtedness under the notes payable, capital leases and the Bank Credit Agreement
2015	5,555,000													5,555,000
2016	5,159,000													5,159,000
2017	5,197,000													5,197,000
2018	5,250,000													5,250,000
2019	5,344,000													5,344,000
2020 and thereafter	38,721,000													38,721,000
Total minimum payments	65,226,000													65,226,000
Less: Amount representing future interest	(26,390,000)
Net carrying value of debt	38,836,000													38,836,000
Debt of variable interest entities
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Variable rate basis	LIBOR
Gross amount of debt	30,167,000	55,581,000												30,167,000	55,581,000
Debt of variable interest entities (non-recourse)
Notes Payable And Commercial Bank Financing
Interest and amortization expense			$ 300,000