Organization and Business Activities - Reduction of operating leases (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 10, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Other current assets	$ 243,497		$ 289,800
Property and equipment, net	2,706,182		1,928,180
FCC authorizations	25,779,503		24,736,961
Operating lease assets	144,330	$ 495,000
Other noncurrent assets, net	364,679		446,077
Total assets	33,230,935		30,587,012
Current Liabilities:
Accrued interest	236,087		268,479
Other accrued expenses	817,978		802,388
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	1,171,366		1,341,993
Total current liabilities	4,496,091		4,776,132
Long-Term Obligations, Net of Current Portion:
Deferred tax liabilities	2,870,655		2,474,907
Operating lease liabilities	84,795
Total long-term obligations, net of current portion	16,618,697		16,756,623
Total liabilities	21,114,788		21,532,755
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):
Additional paid-in capital	4,947,007		3,379,093
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	11,564,072		8,594,189	$ 6,937,906	$ 4,611,323
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ 33,230,935		$ 30,587,012
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)	$ 86.08
Scenario, Adjustment | Master Transaction Agreement
Assets
Other current assets	$ 3,430
Property and equipment, net	825,302
FCC authorizations	65,615
Operating lease assets	(494,839)
Other noncurrent assets, net	13,158
Total assets	412,666
Current Liabilities:
Accrued interest	1,239
Other accrued expenses	(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 liabilities	(338,902)
Total long-term obligations, net of current portion	21,442
Total liabilities	(84,479)
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):
Class A common stock, $.01 par value	229
Additional paid-in capital	496,916
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	497,145
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ 412,666
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01