Description of Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Market	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Segment Market	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2015
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | Segment										2
Gain (loss) on derivatives	$ 3,088	$ 4,037	$ 37,198	$ 5,933	$ 5,246	$ 2,041	$ (1,339)	$ (3,137)		$ 50,256	$ 2,810	$ (7,085)
Amortization of intangible assets										68,647	55,603	54,570
Deferred income taxes	91,954				79,096					91,954	79,096
Other non-current assets conversion to debt	10,200									10,200
Corporate and Other [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets												1
U.S. Networks [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets										40,166	48,318	48,655
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Change in deferred compensation											3,900	10,000
Gain (loss) on derivatives											2,800	7,100
Accrued employee compensation and benefits											6,800	9,700
Amortization of intangible assets											(7,000)	(7,000)
Other liabilities					$ (19,300)						(19,300)	23,900
Deferred income taxes	$ 41,800									$ 41,800
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 9,800
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | U.S. Networks [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Revenues											$ 13,000	$ 10,400
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Cable and Satellite Distribution Systems [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Concentration risks										91.80%
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Cable Distribution Systems [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Number of largest distribution systems | Market	6									6
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Satellite Distribution Systems [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Number of largest distribution systems | Market	2									2
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Advertising Revenue [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Concentration risks										68.30%
TVN [Member]
Error Corrections And Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Outstanding shares acquired, percentage		100.00%											100.00%
Revenues										$ 224,700