CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 381,140	$ 329,848
Restricted cash	253	252
Accounts receivable, trade (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $12,737 and $13,420)	382,207	370,765
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	166,963	130,425
Amounts due from affiliates	17,612	19,764
Derivative contracts	9,992	52,545
Total current assets	958,167	903,599
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $3,393,628 and $2,599,579	5,694,812	6,023,826
Investment securities pledged as collateral	1,409,361	1,720,357
Derivative contracts	101,007	0
Other assets	117,696	57,904
Amortizable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	4,608,585	5,066,454
Indefinite-lived cable television franchises	13,020,081	13,020,081
Goodwill	8,004,808	8,019,861
Total assets	33,914,517	34,812,082
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	801,448	795,128
Interest	398,024	397,422
Employee related costs	122,404	147,727
Other accrued expenses	317,270	411,988
Amounts due to affiliates	24,392	10,998
Deferred revenue	121,913	111,197
Liabilities under derivative contracts	9,623	52,545
Credit facility debt	53,900	42,650
Senior notes and debentures	1,035,212	507,744
Capital lease obligations	5,561	9,539
Notes payable	67,109	33,424
Total current liabilities	2,956,856	2,520,362
Defined benefit plan obligations	97,518	103,163
Other liabilities	141,939	144,289
Deferred tax liability	4,716,681	4,769,286
Liabilities under derivative contracts	123,470	187,406
Collateralized indebtedness	1,392,648	1,349,474
Credit facility debt	5,625,732	4,600,873
Senior notes and debentures	14,805,268	15,352,688
Capital lease obligations	11,639	12,441
Notes payable	5,408	32,478
Deficit investment in affiliates	0	3,579
Total liabilities	29,877,159	29,076,039
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable equity	170,165	231,290
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Paid-in capital	3,856,682	4,665,229
Retained earnings	6,191	840,636
Total stockholders' equity before accumulated other comprehensive Income and non-controlling interest	3,870,244	5,513,236
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10,438)	(10,022)
Total stockholders' equity	3,859,806	5,503,214
Noncontrolling interest	7,387	1,539
Total stockholders' equity	3,867,193	5,504,753
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	33,914,517	34,812,082
Common Class A
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	4,928	2,470
Common Class B [Member]
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	2,443	4,901
Common Class C
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	0	0
Customer relationships
Current Assets:
Amortizable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	4,173,805	4,561,863
Trade names
Current Assets:
Amortizable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	412,585	478,509
Amortizable intangible assets
Current Assets:
Amortizable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	$ 22,195	$ 26,082