Programming Rights (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Programming Rights
Programming rights, at cost	$ 673,091,000		$ 631,041,000
Accumulated amortization	(351,693,000)		(325,046,000)
Programming rights available for broadcast	321,398,000		305,995,000
Owned programming in development	6,712,000		1,619,000
Programming rights, net	328,110,000		307,614,000
Shortened estimated remaining life of programming rights	0 years
Additional amortization of programming rights	0	7,000
Programming rights, included in prepaid programming rights	37,500,000		39,800,000
Programming rights payable
Total programming rights payable	117,772,000		112,402,000
Less current maturities	(72,453,000)		(66,726,000)
Long-term programming rights payable	45,319,000		45,676,000
Hallmark Cards affiliates
Programming Rights
Licensed for less than 12 years	25,694,000		25,694,000
Programming rights payable
Total programming rights payable	13,000,000		13,623,000
Non-Affiliates | Acquired programming
Programming Rights
Licensed for less than 12 years	309,583,000		298,731,000
Programming rights payable
Total programming rights payable	92,290,000		88,856,000
Non-Affiliates | Original programming
Programming Rights
Licensed for less than 12 years	213,509,000		200,760,000
Licensed for 12 years or longer	75,470,000		62,585,000
Owned	48,835,000		43,271,000
Programming rights payable
Total programming rights payable	$ 12,482,000		$ 9,923,000