Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
NOL for federal income tax purposes	$ 267,000
NOL benefit for state income tax purposes	286,000
Tax benefit related to credit carryforwards	83,000
Current (benefit) provision:
Federal	(29,307)	$ (23,571)	$ 126,435
State	29,254	59,690	31,944
Foreign	3,301	(7,118)	2,387
Total current (benefit) provision	3,248	29,001	160,766
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal	(293,666)	615,323	509,405
State	(152,725)	85,045	86,822
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	71,481	2,367	5,817
Total deferred (benefit) provision	(374,910)	702,735	602,044
Total (benefit) provision	(371,662)	731,736	762,810
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,500,084)	$ 3,104,643	$ 3,218,756
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 benefit (as a percent)	5.00%	3.10%	2.90%
Rates different than statutory	0.10%
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	4.80%		0.20%
Tax credits	(2.70%)	(0.50%)	(0.30%)
Impairments	0.70%
Other, net (as a percent)	1.70%		(0.10%)
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes (as a percent)	24.80%	23.60%	23.70%
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards	$ 1,054,749	$ 445,389
Accrued and prepaid expenses	866,277	672,854
Stock-based compensation	20,934	23,738
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments	198,587
Discount on convertible notes and convertible note hedge transaction, net	46,636	64,643
Deferred revenue	13,197	6,903
Total deferred tax assets	2,200,380	1,213,527
Valuation allowance	(153,453)	(81,972)
Deferred tax asset after valuation allowance	2,046,927	1,131,555
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(1,554,517)	(1,374,276)
Unrealized (gains) losses on available for sale and other investments		(244,397)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization	(3,869,784)	(3,400,772)
Bases differences in partnerships and cost method investments	(1,179,888)	(1,042,245)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(6,604,189)	(6,061,690)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(4,557,262)	(4,930,135)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance as of beginning of period	431,640	388,837	$ 378,467
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	3,601	35,180	303
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	9,292	14,723	12,095
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(7,219)	(7,100)	(1,400)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities	(834)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations	(352)		(628)
Balance as of end of period	$ 436,128	$ 431,640	$ 388,837