CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 215,115	$ 75,817	$ 144,953
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment	103,291	70,554	48,871
Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets	125,496	70,820	38,671
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	106,629	80,925	61,943
Loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash portion	4,605	33,049	335
Stock-based compensation	14,296	10,573	5,836
Deferred tax (benefit) provision	(818)	22,518	8,313
(Gain) loss on the sale of assets	(37,160)	3,392	(7)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
(Increase) in accounts receivable, net	(44,253)	(90,635)	(23,225)
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable	(8,253)	4,937	(9,150)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(2,215)	8,295	(8,360)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	53,312	7,954	35,885
Payments on program contracts payable	(93,682)	(90,080)	(70,061)
Original debt issuance discount paid	(3,583)	(23,766)
Real estate held for development and sale	(20,683)	(10,768)	(1,042)
Other, net	1,851	(3,134)	(13,787)
Net cash flows from operating activities	430,454	160,577	237,475
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(81,458)	(43,388)	(43,986)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations, net of cash acquired	(1,485,039)	(1,006,144)	(1,135,348)
Proceeds from sale of broadcast assets	176,675	49,738
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(27,701)	(23,721)	(12,454)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	11,616	(11,522)	58,501
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(8,104)	(10,767)	(24,052)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies	17,042		42
Other, net	(387)	(5,437)	8,013
Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities	(1,397,356)	(1,051,241)	(1,149,284)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,500,720	2,278,293	1,247,255
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(582,764)	(1,509,760)	(179,356)
Redemption of 3% convertible notes		(10,500)
Proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock		472,913
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(133,157)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(61,103)	(56,767)	(123,852)
Payments for deferred financing costs	(16,590)	(27,724)	(18,707)
Proceeds from Class A Common Stock sold by variable interest entity		10,908
Noncontrolling interests (contributions) distributions	(8,184)	(10,256)	(1,142)
Other, net	5,558	796	(2,491)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	704,480	1,147,903	921,707
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(262,422)	257,239	9,898
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	280,104	22,865	12,967
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 17,682	$ 280,104	$ 22,865