The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

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Amount of acquisition of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

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+ References

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation	$ 1,588,764	$ 1,046,896
Plant \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	10 years
Plant \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	25 years
Headends and related equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	4 years
Headends and related equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	25 years
Installation costs \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	3 years
Installation costs \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	5 years
Acquisition and development of internal use software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment capitalized	$ 151,646	$ 75,804