Segment Information - Information Regarding Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Operating revenues:
Advertising	$ 596,715	$ 571,855
Distribution	238,380	228,068
Other	20,025	16,955
Total operating revenues	855,120	816,878
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization	279,039	279,667
Selling, general and administrative	207,370	198,821
Segment profit (loss)	368,711	338,390
Depreciation	14,960	17,297
Amortization	24,197	31,062
Operating income	329,554	290,031
Interest (expense) income, net	(24,252)	(33,745)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	20,449	25,678
(Loss) gain on derivatives	(2,336)	2,766
Miscellaneous, net	27,540	6,066
Income from operations before income taxes	350,955	498,993
Additions to property and equipment:	25,447	11,345
Gain on sale of investments		208,197
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. Networks [Member]
Operating revenues:
Advertising	512,055	487,285
Distribution	211,140	202,096
Other	13,694	12,814
Total operating revenues	736,889	702,195
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization	205,322	203,359
Selling, general and administrative	147,993	139,339
Segment profit (loss)	383,574	359,497
Depreciation	11,499	14,195
Amortization	9,918	10,021
Operating income	362,157	335,281
Interest (expense) income, net	(120)	(17)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	5,243	7,732
Miscellaneous, net	2,483	3,487
Income from operations before income taxes	369,763	554,680
Additions to property and equipment:	12,256	8,671
Gain on sale of investments		208,197
Operating Segments [Member] | International Networks [Member]
Operating revenues:
Advertising	84,660	84,570
Distribution	27,240	25,972
Other	13,625	10,796
Total operating revenues	125,525	121,338
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization	79,334	81,058
Selling, general and administrative	30,681	30,491
Segment profit (loss)	15,510	9,789
Depreciation	2,872	2,841
Amortization	14,279	21,041
Operating income	(1,641)	(14,093)
Interest (expense) income, net	147	(6,867)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	15,206	17,946
Miscellaneous, net	19,903	31,058
Income from operations before income taxes	33,615	28,044
Additions to property and equipment:	7,347	2,674
Corporate and Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Other	(7,294)	(6,655)
Total operating revenues	(7,294)	(6,655)
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization	(5,617)	(4,750)
Selling, general and administrative	28,696	28,991
Segment profit (loss)	(30,373)	(30,896)
Depreciation	589	261
Operating income	(30,962)	(31,157)
Interest (expense) income, net	(24,279)	(26,861)
(Loss) gain on derivatives	(2,336)	2,766
Miscellaneous, net	5,154	(28,479)
Income from operations before income taxes	(52,423)	$ (83,731)
Additions to property and equipment:	$ 5,844