SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
SEGMENT DATA
Intercompany loans	$ 207,000,000	$ 172,000,000
Intercompany interest expense	5,200,000	4,900,000
Segment data
Revenue	504,775,000	412,648,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	25,189,000	24,378,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	39,980,000	24,728,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391,000	23,941,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	16,016,000	15,835,000
Operating income (loss)	84,547,000	81,000,000
Interest expense	46,648,000	39,538,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	3,146,000	98,000
Assets	5,417,479,000		5,452,172,000
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets	79
Revenue	485,122,000	397,906,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,185,000	23,517,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	37,891,000	23,163,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	30,391,000	23,941,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,905,000	14,730,000
Operating income (loss)	87,449,000	82,121,000
Assets	4,865,380,000
Operating segments | Other operating divisions segment
Segment data
Revenue	19,653,000	14,742,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	725,000	594,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	2,089,000	1,565,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	259,000	251,000
Operating income (loss)	744,000	1,000
Interest expense	1,075,000	919,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	3,146,000	98,000
Assets	366,307,000
Corporate
Segment data
Depreciation of property and equipment	279,000	267,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	852,000	854,000
Operating income (loss)	(3,646,000)	(1,122,000)
Interest expense	45,573,000	38,619,000
Assets	$ 185,792,000