Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Operating activities
Net income	$ 96,382	$ 26,439
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	38,555	34,237
Amortization of Intangible Assets	18,684	12,365
Amortization of deferred loan costs	3,466	3,664
Net amortization of original issue discount and premium related to long-term debt	(458)	(626)
Amortization of restricted stock and stock option awards	4,303	3,827
Amortization of program broadcast rights	15,444	14,026
Payments on program broadcast obligations	(15,569)	(13,859)
Common stock contributed to 401(k) plan	16	21
Deferred income taxes	64,121	18,335
Gain on disposals of assets, net	(75,139)	(66)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	2,851	31,987
Other	(1,188)	659
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable trade	(18,587)	(8,677)
Prepaid taxes	(1,311)
Prepaid and other current assets	371	(12,234)
Accounts payable	(1,774)	728
Employee compensation, benefits and pension cost	(6,512)	(5,275)
Other current liabilities	(1,696)	(3,692)
Income taxes payable	1,763	719
Accrued interest	(9,376)	841
Net cash provided by operating activities	114,346	103,419
Investing activities
Acquisitions of television businesses and licenses	(415,438)	(432,220)
Proceeds from sale of television station		11,200
Proceeds from FCC spectrum auction	90,824
Purchases of property and equipment	(21,426)	(33,238)
Proceeds from asset sales	148	1,925
Net decrease (increase) in acquisition prepayments and other	9,558	(17,171)
Net cash used in investing activities	(336,334)	(469,504)
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt	641,438	1,656,000
Repayments of borrowings on long-term debt	(561,037)	(1,100,000)
Payments for the repurchase of common stock	(4,000)
Tender and redemption premiums for 2020 Notes		(27,502)
Deferred and other loan costs	(4,981)	(27,881)
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards	(1,767)	(1,452)
Net cash provided by financing activities	69,653	499,165
Net (decrease) increase in cash	(152,335)	133,080
Cash at beginning of period	325,189	97,318
Cash at end of period	$ 172,854	$ 230,398