Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
NOL for federal income tax purposes	$ 40,000
NOL benefit for state income tax purposes	181,000
Tax benefit related to credit carryforwards	59,000
Current (benefit) provision:
Federal	(23,571)	$ 126,435	$ (230,935)
State	59,690	31,944	22,566
Foreign	(7,118)	2,387	7,471
Total current (benefit) provision	29,001	160,766	(200,898)
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal	615,323	509,405	610,528
State	85,045	86,822	243,216
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	2,367	5,817	45,429
Total deferred (benefit) provision	702,735	602,044	899,173
Total (benefit) provision	731,736	762,810	698,275
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,104,643	$ 3,218,756	$ 2,572,211
Portion of Income (loss) before income taxes related to foreign operations	$ 2,000
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefits (as a percent)	3.60%	3.10%	4.60%
State apportionment changes (as a percent)			5.40%
Cares Act NOL Carryback (as a percent)			(2.30%)
Other, net (as a percent)	(1.00%)	(0.40%)	(1.60%)
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes (as a percent)	23.60%	23.70%	27.10%
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards	$ 445,389	$ 144,742
Accrued and prepaid expenses	672,854	282,711
Stock-based compensation	23,738	15,847
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments		12,825
Discount on convertible notes and convertible note hedge transaction, net	64,643	79,644
Deferred revenue	6,903	7,025
Total deferred tax assets	1,213,527	542,794
Valuation allowance	(81,972)	(79,605)
Deferred tax asset after valuation allowance	1,131,555	463,189
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(1,374,276)	(858,707)
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments	(244,397)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization	(3,400,772)	(2,933,660)
Bases differences in partnerships and cost method investments	(1,042,245)	(897,088)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(6,061,690)	(4,689,455)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(4,930,135)	(4,226,266)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance as of beginning of period	388,837	378,467	$ 674,207
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	35,180	303	233
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	14,723	12,095	1,999
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(7,100)	(1,400)	(296,265)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities			(831)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations		(628)	(876)
Balance as of end of period	$ 431,640	$ 388,837	$ 378,467