CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 475,327	$ 93,100	$ 76,383
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for bad debt	10,263	3,057	3,180
Amortization of broadcast rights, excluding barter	62,908	22,461	22,154
Depreciation of property and equipment	100,658	51,300	47,222
Amortization of intangible assets	159,500	46,572	48,475
Gain on asset disposal, net	(55,982)	1,553	2,109
Amortization of debt financing costs and debt discounts	10,483	5,649	3,752
Loss on extinguishment of debt	34,882
Goodwill and intangible assets impairment	19,985	15,262
Stock-based compensation expense	24,068	11,390	11,400
Deferred income taxes	(463,185)	54,591	43,675
Income from escrow deposit		(1,080)
Payments for broadcast rights	(62,531)	(23,004)	(22,473)
Other noncash credits, net	(1,617)	(1,612)	(90)
Change in the fair value of contingent consideration		4,044
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable	(55,819)	(27,290)	(30,310)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	22,825	(28,628)	(1,324)
Other noncurrent assets	(278)	244	293
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(62,496)	1,628	16,903
Taxes payable	(42,638)	(75)	(22,790)
Interest payable	(17,421)	33,251	6,338
Other noncurrent liabilities	(22,211)	(896)	411
Net cash provided by operating activities	136,721	261,517	205,308
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(72,461)	(31,870)	(29,021)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(2,975,254)	(103,970)	(475,949)
Withdrawal of interest previously deposited in escrow	5,063
Proceeds from sale of stations	481,946		27,005
Proceeds received to relinquish spectrum asset	478,608
Refund of prepaid interest previously deposited in escrow		(5,063)
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment	20,026	718	3,624
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,062,072)	(140,185)	(474,341)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt, net of debt discounts	4,433,981	58,000	421,950
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,922,329)	(80,140)	(166,290)
Premium paid on debt extinguishment	(18,050)
Payments for debt financing costs	(52,039)	(20,707)	(3,225)
Contribution from (distributions to) a noncontrolling interest, net	247	(643)	100
Purchase of treasury stock	(99,008)		(48,660)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	8,155	1,225	3,357
Common stock dividends paid	(55,892)	(29,445)	(23,686)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(66,901)	(100)
Payments for contingent consideration in connection with acquisitions	(263,647)	(2,000)
Cash paid for shares withheld for taxes	(4,099)
Payments for capital lease obligations	(7,095)	(3,258)	(3,009)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,953,323	(77,068)	180,537
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	27,972	44,264	(88,496)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	87,680	43,416	131,912
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	115,652	87,680	43,416
Supplemental information:
Interest paid	213,683	99,917	70,430
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	272,689	29,391	29,060
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Accrued purchases of property and equipment	4,107	2,339	2,371
Noncash purchases of property and equipment	20,723	706	4,025
Accrued debt financing costs		1,019
Proceeds from the issuance of debt directly deposited into escrow		900,000
Consolidation of variable interest entities		$ 108,694	$ 2,956
Debt assumed in connection with a merger	434,269
Issuance/reissuance of Class A Common Stock in connection with a merger	1,031,443
Stock option replacement awards in connection with a merger	10,702
Relinquishment of spectrum asset and derecognition of liability to surrender spectrum asset	34,558
Contingent consideration payable in connection with a merger	$ 12,361