Segment Information - Information Regarding Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment operating revenues [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 776,122	$ 644,423	$ 2,166,474	$ 1,996,304
Segment profit (loss) [Abstract]
Total segment profit	312,327	269,963	927,760	859,982
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets	41,291	31,617	96,319	97,084
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	40	(448)	2,600	1,047
Operating income	270,996	238,794	828,841	761,851
Interest expense, net	(50,439)	(12,235)	(80,182)	(36,898)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	23,392	17,586	69,627	67,110
Gain (loss) on derivatives	4,037	2,041	47,168	(2,436)
Miscellaneous, net	(9,543)	25	(23,198)	4,307
Income from operations before income taxes	238,443	246,211	842,256	793,934
Depreciation [Abstract]
Depreciation	18,359	17,541	50,052	55,221
Amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	22,932	14,076	46,267	41,863
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment [Abstract]
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	40	(448)	2,600	1,047
Equity in earnings of affiliates [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of affiliates	23,392	17,586	69,627	67,110
Income from operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Income from operations before income taxes	238,443	246,211	842,256	793,934
ASSETS
Segment Reporting Information, Assets	6,731,655		6,731,655		$ 4,667,632
U.S. Networks [Member] |
Segment operating revenues [Abstract]
Revenues	660,862	622,512	2,014,866	1,938,838
Segment profit (loss) [Abstract]
Total segment profit	330,282	294,309	1,028,118	962,795
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	28	54	3,609	1,549
Equity in earnings of affiliates	10,862	10,196	35,369	35,000
Income from operations before income taxes	324,308	277,508	1,005,786	914,863
Depreciation [Abstract]
Depreciation	13,417	15,699	40,977	47,188
Amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	10,099	12,222	30,059	36,377
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment [Abstract]
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	28	54	3,609	1,549
Equity in earnings of affiliates [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of affiliates	10,862	10,196	35,369	35,000
Income from operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Income from operations before income taxes	324,308	277,508	1,005,786	914,863
ASSETS
Segment Reporting Information, Assets	2,921,627		2,921,627		2,864,089
International Networks [Member]
Segment operating revenues [Abstract]
Revenues	118,719	23,768	164,872	62,896
Segment profit (loss) [Abstract]
Total segment profit	10,896	(5,933)	(5,478)	(33,827)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	13		22
Equity in earnings of affiliates	12,530	7,390	34,258	32,110
Income from operations before income taxes	(27,082)	18,378	(35,753)	720
Depreciation [Abstract]
Depreciation	4,011	1,185	6,089	3,107
Amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	12,833	1,855	16,208	5,486
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment [Abstract]
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	13		22
Equity in earnings of affiliates [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of affiliates	12,530	7,390	34,258	32,110
Income from operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Income from operations before income taxes	(27,082)	18,378	(35,753)	720
ASSETS
Segment Reporting Information, Assets	3,362,983		3,362,983		660,216
Corporate And Other [Member]
Segment operating revenues [Abstract]
Revenues	(3,459)	(1,857)	(13,264)	(5,430)
Segment profit (loss) [Abstract]
Total segment profit	(28,851)	(18,413)	(94,880)	(68,986)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	(1)	(502)	(1,031)	(502)
Income from operations before income taxes	(58,783)	(49,675)	(127,777)	(121,649)
Depreciation [Abstract]
Depreciation	931	657	2,986	4,926
Amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets		(1)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment [Abstract]
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	(1)	(502)	(1,031)	(502)
Income from operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Income from operations before income taxes	(58,783)	$ (49,675)	(127,777)	$ (121,649)
ASSETS
Segment Reporting Information, Assets	$ 447,045		$ 447,045		$ 1,143,327