Description of Business and Basis of Presentation - Summary of Reconciliation of Impact to Segment Information Due to Change in Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 851,753	$ 776,122	$ 732,102	$ 658,250	$ 669,152	$ 644,423	$ 708,132	$ 643,749	$ 3,018,227	$ 2,665,456	$ 2,530,809
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)									1,245,691	1,121,761	1,102,460
ASSETS
Total assets	6,672,314				4,657,481				6,672,314	4,657,481	4,434,823
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity	6,672,314				4,657,481				6,672,314	4,657,481
As Reported [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										2,665,456	2,530,809
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										1,121,761	1,102,460
ASSETS
Total assets					4,667,632					4,667,632
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					4,667,632					4,667,632
Amounts Reclassified [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets					(10,151)					(10,151)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					(10,151)					(10,151)
U.S. Networks [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues									2,716,663	2,588,357	2,466,061
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)									1,337,189	1,268,417	1,212,767
ASSETS
Total assets	2,937,428				2,864,074				2,937,428	2,864,074	2,849,547
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					2,864,074					2,864,074
U.S. Networks [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										2,588,357	2,466,061
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										1,268,417	1,212,767
U.S. Networks [Member] | As Reported [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets					2,864,089					2,864,089
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					2,864,089					2,864,089
U.S. Networks [Member] | As Reported [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										2,575,376	2,455,650
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										1,255,437	1,202,356
U.S. Networks [Member] | Amounts Reclassified [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets					(15)					(15)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					(15)					(15)
U.S. Networks [Member] | Amounts Reclassified [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										12,981	10,411
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										12,980	10,411
International Networks
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues									327,891	90,180	75,677
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)									30,893	(41,854)	(17,535)
ASSETS
Total assets	3,276,989				660,215				3,276,989	660,215	693,846
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					660,215					660,215
International Networks | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										90,180	75,677
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										(41,854)	(17,535)
International Networks | Amounts Reclassified [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets					660,215					660,215
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					660,215					660,215
International Networks | Amounts Reclassified [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										90,180	75,677
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										(41,854)	(17,535)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues									(26,327)	(13,081)	(10,929)
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)									(122,391)	(104,802)	(92,772)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 457,897				1,133,192				$ 457,897	1,133,192	891,430
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					1,133,192					1,133,192
Corporate and Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										(13,081)	(10,929)
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										(104,802)	(92,772)
Corporate and Other [Member] | As Reported [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets					1,803,543					1,803,543
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					1,803,543					1,803,543
Corporate and Other [Member] | As Reported [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										90,080	75,159
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										(133,676)	(99,896)
Corporate and Other [Member] | Amounts Reclassified [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets					(670,351)					(670,351)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities and equity					$ (670,351)					(670,351)
Corporate and Other [Member] | Amounts Reclassified [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues										(103,161)	(86,088)
Segment Profit (Loss)
Total segment profit (loss)										$ 28,874	$ 7,124