Investments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in hundredths)	35.00%
Equity-method investments	$ 483,195,000	$ 473,018,000
Cost-method investments	18,347,000	15,180,000
Total investments	501,542,000	488,198,000
Estimated amortization that will reduce UKTV's equity in earnings [Abstract]
Future amortization, year one	13,600,000
Future amortization, year two	17,600,000
Future amortization, year three	15,300,000
Future amortization, year four	15,300,000
Future amortization, year five	15,300,000
UKTV [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in hundredths)	50.00%
UKTV loan balance	124,000,000	122,000,000
Equity-method investments	$ 424,000,000	$ 413,000,000
HGTV Canada [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in hundredths)	33.00%
Food Canada [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in hundredths)	29.00%
Fox-BRV Southern Sports Holdings [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in hundredths)	7.25%
Food Network Magazine JV [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in hundredths)	50.00%
HGTV Magazine JV [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in hundredths)	50.00%