CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,427,651	$ 329,848
Restricted cash	253	252
Accounts receivable, trade (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,481 and $13,420)	330,761	370,765
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	142,366	130,425
Amounts due from affiliates	21,146	19,764
Derivative contracts	9,211	52,545
Total current assets	1,931,388	903,599
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,983,696 and $2,599,579	5,819,544	6,023,826
Investment securities pledged as collateral	1,467,781	1,720,357
Derivative contracts	63,343	0
Other assets	122,786	57,904
Amortizable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	4,834,637	5,066,454
Indefinite-lived cable television franchises	13,020,081	13,020,081
Goodwill	8,019,849	8,019,861
Total assets	35,279,409	34,812,082
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	725,625	795,128
Interest	296,400	397,422
Employee related costs	104,824	147,727
Other accrued expenses	318,098	411,988
Amounts due to affiliates	11,078	10,998
Deferred revenue	122,395	111,197
Liabilities under derivative contracts	9,211	52,545
Credit facility debt	53,900	42,650
Senior notes and debentures	1,042,143	507,744
Capital lease obligations	7,699	9,539
Notes payable	69,084	33,424
Total current liabilities	2,760,457	2,520,362
Defined benefit plan obligations	97,908	103,163
Other liabilities	131,565	144,289
Deferred tax liability	4,729,578	4,769,286
Liabilities under derivative contracts	114,319	187,406
Collateralized indebtedness	1,351,271	1,349,474
Credit facility debt	5,636,102	4,600,873
Senior notes and debentures	14,767,823	15,352,688
Capital lease obligations	11,869	12,441
Notes payable	34,003	32,478
Deficit investment in affiliates	12,891	3,579
Total liabilities	29,647,786	29,076,039
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable equity	234,637	231,290
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Paid-in capital	4,682,646	4,665,229
Retained earnings	713,848	840,636
Total stockholders' equity before accumulated other comprehensive Income and non-controlling interest	5,403,865	5,513,236
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(8,420)	(10,022)
Total stockholders' equity	5,395,445	5,503,214
Noncontrolling interest	1,541	1,539
Total stockholders' equity	5,396,986	5,504,753
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	35,279,409	34,812,082
Common Class A
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	2,470	2,470
Common Class B
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	4,901	4,901
Common Class C
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	0	0
Customer relationships
Current Assets:
Amortizable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	4,367,742	4,561,863
Trade names
Current Assets:
Amortizable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	442,807	478,509
Amortizable intangible assets
Current Assets:
Amortizable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	$ 24,088	$ 26,082