Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating activities
Net income	$ 261,952	$ 62,273	$ 39,301
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	51,973	45,923	36,712
Amortization of Intangible Assets	25,072	16,596	11,982
Amortization of deferred loan costs	4,624	4,884	3,194
Accretion of original issue discount and premium related to long-term debt, net	(610)	(779)	(863)
Amortization of restricted stock and stock option awards	8,303	5,099	4,019
Amortization of program broadcast rights	21,033	19,001	14,960
Payments on program broadcast obligations	(21,055)	(18,786)	(14,576)
Deferred income taxes	(77,325)	41,386	25,770
(Gain) loss on disposals of assets, net	(74,200)	329	80
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	2,851	31,987	0
Other	(3,343)	(1,788)	(2,542)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(23,744)	(6,107)	(14,787)
Prepaid income taxes	851	(14,642)	0
Other current assets	806	2,032	(3,705)
Accounts payable	2,116	518	(141)
Employee compensation, benefits and pension costs	(1,899)	871	3,528
Accrued network fees and other expenses	3,306	(1,723)	13,789
Accrued interest	(5,829)	19,736	(4,907)
Income taxes payable	5,836	2,145	(1,123)
Deferred revenue	(703)	1,130	(3,972)
Net cash provided by operating activities	180,015	210,085	106,719
Investing activities
Acquisitions of television businesses and licenses	(416,018)	(431,846)	(185,126)
Proceeds from sale of television station	0	11,200	0
Proceeds from FCC spectrum auction	90,824	0	0
Purchases of property and equipment	(34,516)	(43,604)	(24,222)
Proceeds from other asset sales	187	2,979	3,115
Net decrease (increase) in acquisition prepayments and other	9,724	(18,063)	(149)
Net cash used in investing activities	(349,799)	(479,334)	(206,382)
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt	641,438	1,656,000	0
Repayments of borrowings on long-term debt	(562,641)	(1,100,000)	0
Payments for the repurchase of common stock	(4,000)	(2,000)	0
Tender and redemption premiums for 2020 Notes	0	(27,502)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	238,945	0	167,313
Deferred and other loan costs	(4,981)	(27,926)	4
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards	(1,767)	(1,452)	(1,105)
Net cash provided by financing activities	306,994	497,120	166,212
Net increase in cash	137,210	227,871	66,549
Cash at beginning of period	325,189	97,318	30,769
Cash at end of period	$ 462,399	$ 325,189	$ 97,318