Description of business, use of estimates, basis of presentation, and summary of significant accounting policies - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands, People in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) Segment RadioStation Market Station People	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of television stations | Station		64
Number of markets In which entity operates | Market		51
Market reach, number of people | People		100
Segment Reporting, CODM, Individual Title and Position or Group Name [Extensible Enumeration]		srt:ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
Segment Reporting, CODM, Profit (Loss) Measure, How Used, Description		Our reportable segment structure has been determined based on our management and internal reporting structure, the nature of products and services we offer, and the financial information that is evaluated regularly by our chief operating decision maker (CODM), who is our Chief Executive Officer.
Merger termination fee		$ 0	$ 136,000	$ 0
Business units - Selling, general and administrative expenses		$ 394,589	412,000	414,530
Number of radio stations | RadioStation		2
Number of operating segments | Segment		1
Number of reportable segments | Segment		1
Write-offs of accounts receivable		$ 5,300	2,500	3,800
Goodwill		3,015,944	2,981,587
Syndication expense		42,700	53,200	68,800
Syndication assets		28,100
Syndicated programming rights		$ 28,097	31,530
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets			3,400
Submission period for customers to submit payments		Our MVPD and vMVPD partners generally submit payments monthly, typically within 60 to 90 days after the month that the service was provided.
Cost of revenues	[1]	$ 1,756,115	$ 1,718,857	1,693,221
Impairment, Intangible Asset, Indefinite-Lived (Excluding Goodwill), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]			Asset impairment charges
Performance share awards
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Award vesting period		2 years
Requisite service period		3 years
Restricted stock units
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Requisite service period		4 years
Investment One
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Investments		$ 29,000	$ 19,500
Gain on sale of investments		152,900	25,800
Equity investments, impairment loss				2,500
Television and radio station FCC broadcast licenses
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Television and radio station FCC broadcast licenses		2,124,731	2,124,731
FCC licenses which have experienced limited headroom
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Television and radio station FCC broadcast licenses		395,900
FCC licenses, all other licenses
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Television and radio station FCC broadcast licenses		$ 1,730,000
Minimum | Building and Improvements
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)		10 years
Minimum | Machinery, Equipment, and Fixtures
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)		3 years
Maximum | Building and Improvements
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)		40 years
Maximum | Machinery, Equipment, and Fixtures
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)		25 years
Cost of Sales
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Bad debt expense		$ 5,200	1,700	3,100
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | Advertising
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cost of revenues		$ 12,000	$ 10,700	$ 9,700

[1] Cost of revenues exclude charges for depreciation and amortization expense, which are shown separately above.