CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenues:
Advertising	$ 2,062,530	$ 1,816,388	$ 1,717,734
Network affiliate fees, net	874,984	799,178	758,220
Other	80,713	49,890	54,855
Total operating revenues	3,018,227	2,665,456	2,530,809
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization of intangible assets	987,357	778,896	699,294
Selling, general and administrative	785,179	764,799	729,055
Depreciation	68,949	72,979	63,010
Amortization of intangible assets	68,647	55,603	54,570
Write-down of goodwill	0	0	24,723
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	4,163	870	1,681
Total operating expenses	1,914,295	1,673,147	1,572,333
Operating income	1,103,932	992,309	958,476
Interest expense, net	(108,047)	(52,687)	(48,710)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	80,916	85,631	79,644
Gain (loss) on derivatives	50,256	2,810	(7,085)
Miscellaneous, net	(5,193)	(212)	8,326
Income from operations before income taxes	1,121,864	1,027,851	990,651
Provision for income taxes	343,391	301,043	307,623
Net income	778,473	726,808	683,028
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(171,645)	(181,533)	(177,958)
Net income attributable to SNI	$ 606,828	$ 545,275	$ 505,070
Basic net income per share:
Net income attributable to SNI common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 4.68	$ 3.86	$ 3.43
Diluted net income per share:
Net income attributable to SNI common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 4.66	$ 3.83	$ 3.40
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	129,665	141,297	147,326
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	130,255	142,193	148,502