Business Segments (Summarized Financial Information Concerning the Company's Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	$ 802,728		$ 696,517
Segment operating expenses	201,328	[1]	170,524	[2]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	3,543		3,543
Segment gross margin	604,943		529,536
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	55,334	[1]	43,653	[2]
Segment Operating Profit	549,609		485,883
Stock-based compensation expense	21,042		13,045
Other selling, general, administrative and development expense	25,215		23,347
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	185,804		149,655
Other expense (principally interest expense and other (expense) income)	137,378		62,248
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INCOME ON EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS	180,170		237,588
Total Assets	14,463,740				14,089,653
Rental And Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	777,433		683,990
Segment operating expenses	191,049	[1]	163,527	[2]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	3,543		3,543
Segment gross margin	589,927		524,006
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	52,433	[1]	43,295	[2]
Segment Operating Profit	537,494		480,711
Total Assets	14,042,115
Rental And Management [Member] | International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	261,757		196,928
Segment operating expenses	99,216	[1]	70,524	[2]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	3,543		3,543
Segment gross margin	166,084		129,947
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	29,535	[1]	23,895	[2]
Segment Operating Profit	136,549		106,052
Total Assets	5,564,160
Rental And Management [Member] | Domestic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	515,676		487,062
Segment operating expenses	91,833	[1]	93,003	[2]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	0		0
Segment gross margin	423,843		394,059
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	22,898	[1]	19,400	[2]
Segment Operating Profit	400,945		374,659
Total Assets	8,477,955
Network Development Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	25,295		12,527
Segment operating expenses	10,279	[1]	6,997	[2]
Interest income, TV Azteca, net	0		0
Segment gross margin	15,016		5,530
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense	2,901	[1]	358	[2]
Segment Operating Profit	12,115		5,172
Total Assets	66,857
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	21,042		13,045
Other selling, general, administrative and development expense	25,215		23,347
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	185,804		149,655
Other expense (principally interest expense and other (expense) income)	137,378		62,248
Total Assets	354,768
Operating Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	400		500
Selling General Administrative And Development Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 20,604		$ 12,584

[1] Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $0.4 million and $20.6 million, respectively.

[2] Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $0.5 million and $12.6 million, respectively.