Organization and Business Activities - Reduction of operating leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 10, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Other current assets	$ 244,583				$ 289,800
Property and equipment, net	2,758,024				1,928,180
FCC authorizations	25,544,863				24,736,961
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset	152,178	$ 495,000
Other noncurrent assets, net	364,542				446,077
Total assets	31,771,440				30,587,012
Current Liabilities:
Accrued interest	195,161				268,479
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	777,865				802,388
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	1,173,427				1,341,993
Total current liabilities	4,566,654				4,776,132
Long-Term Obligations, Net of Current Portion:
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations, net of current portion	12,960,779				13,810,784
Deferred tax liabilities	2,817,260				2,474,907
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent	92,796
Total long-term obligations, net of current portion	16,507,553				16,756,623
Total liabilities	21,074,207				21,532,755
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):
Additional paid-in capital	3,942,174				3,379,093
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	10,169,028		$ 9,330,511	$ 8,951,217	8,594,189	$ 8,243,038	$ 7,806,127	$ 7,325,263	$ 6,937,906
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	31,771,440				30,587,012
Class A common stock
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):
Common stock	2,546				2,295
Class B common stock
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):
Common stock	2,384				$ 2,384
Scenario, Adjustment [Member] | Master Transaction Agreement
Assets
Other current assets	3,430
Property and equipment, net	825,302
FCC authorizations	65,615
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset	(494,839)
Other noncurrent assets, net	13,158
Total assets	412,666
Current Liabilities:
Accrued interest	1,239
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	(157,216)
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	50,056
Total current liabilities	(105,921)
Long-Term Obligations, Net of Current Portion:
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations, net of current portion	194,183
Deferred tax liabilities	166,161
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent	(338,902)
Total long-term obligations, net of current portion	21,442
Total liabilities	(84,479)
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):
Additional paid-in capital	496,916
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	497,145
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	412,666
Scenario, Adjustment [Member] | Class A common stock | Master Transaction Agreement
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):
Common stock	$ 229