Programming Rights (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Programming Rights
Programming rights, at cost	$ 824,785,000		$ 773,370,000
Accumulated amortization	(435,398,000)		(398,582,000)
Programming rights available for broadcast	389,387,000		374,788,000
Owned programming in development	5,457,000		5,228,000
Programming rights, net	$ 394,844,000		380,016,000
Shortened estimated remaining life of programming rights	0 years
Additional amortization of programming rights	$ 0	$ 0
Programming rights, included in prepaid programming rights	22,200,000		24,000,000
Programming rights payable
Total programming rights payable	129,947,000		122,563,000
Less current maturities	(71,260,000)		(73,654,000)
Long-term programming rights payable	58,687,000		48,909,000
Hallmark Cards affiliates
Programming Rights
Licensed	28,334,000		28,334,000
Programming rights payable
Total programming rights payable	12,954,000		13,643,000
Non-Affiliates | Acquired programming
Programming Rights
Acquired programming licensed for less than 12 years	317,248,000		292,990,000
Programming rights payable
Total programming rights payable	105,071,000		94,201,000
Non-Affiliates | Original programming
Programming Rights
Original programming licensed for less than 12 years	249,668,000		250,189,000
Original programming licensed for 12 years or longer	136,547,000		118,717,000
Owned	92,988,000		83,140,000
Programming rights payable
Total programming rights payable	$ 11,922,000		$ 14,719,000