CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (1,833,047)	$ (78,277)	$ 79,037
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,696,974	1,642,231	1,644,297
Gain on investments, sale of assets, or sale of affiliate interests	(55,119)	(670)	(180,237)
Loss on derivative contracts, net	0	0	166,489
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing costs	23,502	12,901	(4,393)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts (premiums) on indebtedness	26,479	19,628	34,440
Share-based compensation expense	64,088	67,162	47,926
Deferred income taxes	(222,887)	(396,052)	(226,915)
Decrease in right-of-use assets	44,756	44,632	46,108
Allowance for credit losses	67,792	86,561	84,461
Indefinite-lived cable franchise rights impairment	1,611,308	0	0
Goodwill impairment	0	0	163,055
Other	4,398	6,436	11,169
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable, trade	(72,322)	(58,917)	(77,703)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(63,901)	30,205	(54,782)
Amounts due from and due to affiliates	117	(44,486)	50,831
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(138,688)	3,880	(68,784)
Interest payable	7,501	131,701	29,528
Deferred revenue	59,972	11,018	9,164
Interest rate swap contracts	7,534	104,448	72,707
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,228,457	1,582,401	1,826,398
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,347,294)	(1,433,013)	(1,704,811)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(7,616)	(38,532)	0
Proceeds related to sale of equipment, net of costs of disposal	65,513	6,311	8
Additions to other intangible assets	(4,399)	(1,362)	(924)
Other, net	0	11,083	(796)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,293,796)	(1,455,513)	(1,706,523)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	3,835,000	4,214,750	2,700,000
Repayment of debt	(2,560,602)	(4,223,233)	(2,688,009)
Proceeds from derivative contracts in connection with the settlement of collateralized debt	0	0	38,902
Principal payments on finance lease obligations	(103,241)	(127,349)	(149,297)
Payments related to acquisition of noncontrolling interest	0	(7,261)	(14,070)
Additions to deferred financing costs	(170,544)	(19,560)	(7,247)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(26,452)	0	0
Other, net	(24,797)	(9,325)	(2,870)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	949,364	(171,978)	(122,591)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	884,025	(45,090)	(2,716)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	594	(424)	(697)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	884,619	(45,514)	(3,413)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	256,824	302,338	305,751
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	$ 1,141,443	$ 256,824	$ 302,338