Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
NOL for federal income tax purposes		$ 0
NOL benefit for state income tax purposes		32,000
Tax benefit related to credit carryforwards		71,000
Income tax benefit as result of Tax Reform Act		1,200,000
Current (benefit) provision:
Federal		(71,141)	$ 317,010	$ 147,771
State		38,058	31,160	20,045
Foreign		3,736	10,840	(3,089)
Total current (benefit) provision		(29,347)	359,010	164,727
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal		(547,575)	469,927	197,441
State		69,076	35,418	19,963
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance		(7,474)	1,463	11,039
Total deferred (benefit) provision		(485,973)	506,808	228,443
Total (benefit) provision		(515,320)	865,818	393,170
Income (loss) before income taxes		1,650,087	$ 2,416,603	$ 1,235,196
Portion of Income (loss) before income taxes related to foreign operations		$ 1,000
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)		35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefits (as a percent)		3.00%	2.50%	3.50%
Reversal of uncertain tax positions (as a percent)			(0.80%)	(0.30%)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (as a percent)				(5.10%)
Tax Reform Act (as a percent)		(72.60%)
Nondeductible/Nontaxable items (as a percent)		5.90%
Other (as a percent)		(2.50%)	(0.90%)	(1.30%)
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes (as a percent)		(31.20%)	35.80%	31.80%
Tax credit		$ 63,000
Litigation expense (Note 14)		295,695	$ 21,148	$ 20,900
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards		55,505	60,840
Accrued expenses		41,439	58,701
Stock-based compensation		14,904	17,705
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments		5,001	10,827
Deferred revenue		15,236	19,064
Total deferred tax assets		132,085	167,137
Valuation allowance		(18,642)	(26,116)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Total		113,443	141,021
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation		(496,873)	(854,317)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization		(1,220,421)	(1,361,742)
Bases difference in partnerships and cost method investments		(328,735)	(241,193)
Discount on convertible notes and convertible note hedge transaction, net		(81,346)	(47,908)
Other liabilities		(5,606)	(21,386)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(2,132,981)	(2,526,546)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)		(2,019,538)	(2,385,525)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance as of beginning of period	$ 393,916	358,023	336,586	208,328
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		12,798	40,492	135,937
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years		30,596	21,797	22,483
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years		(2,754)	(34,106)	(22,697)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities		(1,634)	(3,628)	(2,648)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations		(3,113)	(3,118)	(4,817)
Balance as of end of period		393,916	$ 358,023	$ 336,586
Forecast
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%
FTC Action [Member]
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Litigation expense (Note 14)		$ 255,000