CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 764,102	$ 1,182,981
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	625,625	691,149
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(44,467)	(116,070)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	20,619	10,530
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	558,423	289,309
Other, net	17,976	85,592
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	284,805	47,971
Net cash flows from operating activities	2,227,083	2,191,462
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(282,919)	(328,198)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	107,768	679,428
Settlement of derivative financial instruments		562,234
Purchases of property and equipment	(324,105)	(469,673)
Capitalized interest related to FCC authorizations (Note 2)	(769,046)	(563,698)
Purchases of FCC authorizations (Note 10)	(4,711,154)	(1,500,000)
Purchase of strategic investments	(90,381)
Other, net	22,944	12,746
Net cash flows from investing activities	(6,046,893)	(1,607,161)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		2,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes (Note 9)	1,000,000	3,000,000
Purchases of convertible note hedges (Note 9)		(635,100)
Proceeds from issuance of warrants (Note 9)		375,600
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes	(900,000)	(1,500,000)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(32,409)	(32,428)
Payments made to parent of transferred businesses	(7,098)	(46,476)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	24,171	12,186
Debt issuance costs	(6,158)	(26,622)
Other, net	(349)	(500)
Net cash flows from financing activities	78,157	3,146,660
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3,741,653)	3,730,961
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	5,324,503	1,053,983
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 1,582,850	$ 4,784,944