Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
NOL for federal income tax purposes	$ 28,000
NOL benefit for state income tax purposes	43,000
Tax benefit related to credit carryforwards	114,000
Income tax benefit as result of Tax Reform Act			$ 1,200,000
Current (benefit) provision:
Federal	173,326	$ 44,451	(71,141)
State	43,579	29,918	38,058
Foreign	6,203	4,616	3,736
Total current (benefit) provision	223,108	78,985	(29,347)
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal	204,403	383,096	(547,575)
State	21,732	64,000	69,076
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	2,115	7,603	(7,474)
Total deferred (benefit) provision	228,250	454,699	(485,973)
Total (benefit) provision	451,358	533,684	(515,320)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,943,927	$ 2,189,175	$ 1,650,087
Portion of Income (loss) before income taxes related to foreign operations	$ 13,000
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefits (as a percent)	3.20%	4.60%	3.00%
Tax Reform Act			(72.60%)
Nondeductible/Nontaxable items (as a percent)			5.90%
Other (as a percent)	(1.00%)	(1.20%)	(2.50%)
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes (as a percent)	23.20%	24.40%	(31.20%)
Litigation expense (Note 15)			$ 295,695
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards	$ 368,545	$ 114,227
Accrued expenses	8,488
Stock-based compensation	19,821	21,323
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments	4,137	4,918
Deferred revenue	17,238	18,361
Total deferred tax assets	418,229	158,829
Valuation allowance	(28,359)	(26,244)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Total	389,870	132,585
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(583,374)	(443,128)
Accrued and prepaid expenses		(8,662)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization	(2,040,885)	(1,635,385)
Bases difference in partnerships and cost method investments	(573,548)	(447,585)
Discount on convertible notes and convertible note hedge transaction, net	(62,718)	(72,732)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(3,260,525)	(2,607,492)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(2,870,655)	(2,474,907)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance as of beginning of period	385,394	393,916	358,023
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	244,257	10,350	12,798
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	61,909	1,670	30,596
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(13,028)	(6,291)	(2,754)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities	(2,362)	(8,328)	(1,634)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations	(1,963)	(5,923)	(3,113)
Balance as of end of period	674,207	$ 385,394	393,916
Additional uncertain tax benefits	$ 274,000
FTC Action [Member]
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Litigation expense (Note 15)			$ 255,000