Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	$ 169,458	$ (99,220)	$ 1,293,260
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment	92,894	428,437	249,457
Net pension benefit	(67,097)	(65,433)	(69,406)
Early retirement and special separation benefit program expense	0	4,606	8,374
Stock-based compensation expense, net	13,418	48,033	17,577
Foreign exchange loss	39,890	15,564	11,129
Net (gain) loss on sales and disposition of businesses	(22,163)	18,095	(351,133)
Net loss (gain) on dispositions, sales or write-downs of marketable equity securities and cost method investments	30,449	1,378	(263,595)
Gain on sale of an equity affiliate	0	(4,827)	(396,553)
Equity in losses (earnings) of affiliates, net of distributions	8,859	1,118	(96,517)
Provision for deferred income taxes	10,070	4,060	49,143
Net (gain) loss on sales or write-downs of property, plant and equipment	(32,362)	(18,265)	(119,399)
Net gain on sale of intangible assets	0	0	(75,249)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(47,892)	(87,165)	(96,844)
Inventories	(2,422)	(1,778)	(2,413)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	58,147	62,901	(39,199)
Deferred revenue	16,552	(51,825)	37,291
Income taxes receivable/payable	5,115	(174,326)	146,692
Other assets and other liabilities, net	(12,265)	(11,972)	8,791
Other	605	1,270	2,093
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	261,256	70,651	313,499
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Investments in certain businesses, net of cash acquired	(245,084)	(159,320)	(206,035)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(66,612)	(136,859)	(237,292)
Net proceeds from sales of businesses, property, plant and equipment and other assets	69,192	41,683	644,342
Purchases of marketable equity securities	(48,265)	(145,807)	(49,998)
Investments in equity affiliates and cost method investments	(6,273)	(25,340)	(10,283)
Investments in commercial paper	0	0	(249,795)
Proceeds from maturities of commercial paper	0	0	249,795
Net distribution from equity affiliate	0	0	93,481
Disbursement of loan to affiliate	(14,244)	0	0
Other	0	73	(5,200)
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities	(311,286)	(425,570)	229,015
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Common shares repurchased, including the Berkshire Exchange transaction	(108,948)	(22,979)	(327,718)
Issuance of borrowings	98,610	550,000	0
Cash distributed to Cable ONE in spin-off	0	(94,115)	0
Dividends paid	(27,325)	(53,721)	(68,114)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(21,000)	0	0
Repayments of borrowings	0	(44,815)	(1,538)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,247	15,312	7,462
Excess tax benefit on share-based payment awards	558	11,828	1,901
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock	0	(10,510)	0
Payments of financing costs	(648)	(9,944)	0
Other	14,429	1,095	(609)
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	(43,077)	342,151	(388,616)
Effect of Currency Exchange Rate Change	(11,029)	(11,164)	(8,502)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	(104,136)	(23,932)	145,396
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year	774,952		653,488
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year, Including Discontinued Operations		798,884
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Year	670,816	774,952
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Year, Including Discontinued Operations			798,884
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	65,000	209,000	188,000
Interest	$ 30,000	$ 33,000	$ 35,000