SEGMENT INFORMATION, Reportable Segments (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Segment	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable business segments | Segment										3
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations		$ 1,628,978	$ 1,612,601	$ 1,653,393	$ 1,614,771	$ 1,631,036	$ 1,626,187	$ 1,628,137	$ 1,575,586	$ 6,509,743	$ 6,460,946	$ 6,232,152
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit) from continuing operations										1,777,360	1,834,224	1,684,636
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments) included in continuing operations										(865,252)	(866,502)	(909,147)
Share-based compensation expense included in continuing operations										(65,286)	(43,984)	(52,715)
Restructuring credits (expense) included in continuing operations										1,649	(2,480)	(23,550)
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations		$ 197,140	$ 183,116	$ 244,464	$ 223,751	$ 205,836	$ 252,446	$ 255,893	$ 207,083	848,471	921,258	699,224
Cable
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations										5,836,188	5,784,945	5,576,011
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations										848,471	921,258	699,224
Reportable Segments | Cable
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations										5,836,188	5,784,945	5,576,011
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit) from continuing operations										1,767,500	1,833,577	1,739,529
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments) included in continuing operations	[1]									(737,354)	(739,559)	(743,431)
Share-based compensation expense included in continuing operations										(44,702)	(29,895)	(32,353)
Restructuring credits (expense) included in continuing operations										4	19	(11,283)
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations										985,448	1,064,142	952,462
Reportable Segments | Lightpath
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations										364,439	352,964	332,609
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit) from continuing operations										173,022	157,516	146,208
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments) included in continuing operations	[1]									(88,857)	(83,589)	(82,208)
Share-based compensation expense included in continuing operations										(7,528)	(5,347)	(6,757)
Restructuring credits (expense) included in continuing operations										0	(285)	(1,558)
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations										76,637	68,295	55,685
Reportable Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations										347,805	361,305	362,020
Adjusted operating cash flow (deficit) from continuing operations										(163,162)	(156,869)	(201,101)
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments) included in continuing operations	[2]									(39,041)	(43,354)	(83,508)
Share-based compensation expense included in continuing operations										(13,056)	(8,742)	(13,605)
Restructuring credits (expense) included in continuing operations										1,645	(2,214)	(10,709)
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations										(213,614)	(211,179)	(308,923)
Reduction in depreciation expense related to prior years												10,690
Inter-segment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations	[3]									38,689	38,268	38,488
Inter-segment Eliminations | Cable
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations										1,897	1,883	1,788
Inter-segment Eliminations | Lightpath
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations										18,308	17,818	18,014
Inter-segment Eliminations | Other
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues, net from continuing operations										$ 18,484	$ 18,567	$ 18,686

[1] The Cable and Lightpath segments share portions of each other's network infrastructure. Depreciation charges are recorded by the segment that acquired the respective asset.

[2] The 2013 amount includes a reduction of depreciation expense related to prior years of $10,690.

[3] Inter-segment eliminations relate primarily to revenues recognized from the sale of local programming services and voice services to the Company's Cable segment.