Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 29, 2015		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 28, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 529,624		$ 470,038		$ 479,796		$ 468,472		$ 478,009		$ 442,975		$ 458,416		$ 422,567		$ 1,947,930	[1]	$ 1,801,967	[1]	$ 1,780,625	[1]
Total operating profit	113,206		234,170		56,206		29,992		(396,926)		45,036		25,148		57,407		433,574	[1],[2]	(269,335)	[1],[2]	304,824	[1],[2]
Income on equity investments, net	33,861		31,737		44,306		38,252		27,125		36,987		45,913		36,934		148,156		146,959		236,713
Interest and dividend income	390		476		228		132		246		148		0		326		1,226		720		1,264
Interest expense	(38,211)		(38,296)		(38,071)		(38,141)		(38,473)		(38,659)		(36,315)		(35,140)		(152,719)		(148,587)		(141,629)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									0		0		(37,040)		0		0		(37,040)		0
Gain on investment transactions, net									103	[3]	3,250	[3]	8,133	[3]	687	[3]	0		12,173	[3]	371,785
Other non-operating gain (loss), net	4,949	[3]	57	[3]	(75)	[3]	496	[3]	5,623	[3]	1,396	[3]	209	[3]	0	[3]	5,427	[3]	7,228	[3]	(4,804)
Reorganization items, net	(188)	[4]	(434)	[4]	(366)	[4]	(434)	[4]	(105)	[4]	188	[4]	(628)	[4]	(992)	[4]	(1,422)	[4]	(1,537)	[4]	(7,268)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	114,007		227,710		62,228		30,297		(402,407)		48,346		5,420		59,222		434,242		(289,419)		760,885
Income tax expense	43,280		73,871		214,856		15,195		(13,829)		14,510		2,624		22,613		347,202		25,918		284,266
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	70,727		153,839		(152,628)		15,102		(388,578)		33,836		2,796		36,609		87,040		(315,337)		476,619
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(51,776)		(8,074)		(8,935)		(4,009)		7,650		(5,978)		(6,061)		(192)		(72,794)		(4,581)		44
Net Income (Loss)	$ 18,951		$ 145,765		$ (161,563)		$ 11,093		$ (380,928)		$ 27,858		$ (3,265)		$ 36,417		$ 14,246		$ (319,918)		$ 476,663
Continuing Operations	$ 0.81		$ 1.71		$ (1.66)		$ 0.16		$ (4.15)		$ 0.35		$ 0.03		$ 0.37		$ 0.96		$ (3.33)		$ 4.76
Discontinued Operations	(0.59)		(0.09)		(0.10)		(0.04)		0.08		(0.06)		(0.07)		0.00		(0.80)		(0.05)		0.00
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share	0.22		1.62		(1.76)		0.12		(4.07)		0.29		(0.04)		0.37		0.16		(3.38)		4.76
Continuing Operations	0.81		1.70		(1.66)		0.16		(4.15)		0.35		0.03		0.37		0.96		(3.33)		4.75
Discontinued Operations	(0.59)		(0.09)		(0.10)		(0.04)		0.08		(0.06)		(0.07)		0.00		(0.80)		(0.05)		0.00
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share	$ 0.22		$ 1.61		$ (1.76)		$ 0.12		$ (4.07)		$ 0.29		$ (0.04)		$ 0.37		$ 0.16		$ (3.38)		$ 4.75
Operating Segments | Television and Entertainment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 525,723		$ 460,164		$ 468,134		$ 455,875		$ 465,525		$ 430,610		$ 446,107		$ 410,300		$ 1,909,896	[1]	$ 1,752,542	[1]	$ 1,725,641	[1]
Total operating profit	136,862		46,024		83,346		58,605		(365,244)		63,696		47,060		79,348		324,837	[1],[2]	(175,140)	[1],[2]	337,431	[1],[2]
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,901		9,874		11,662		12,597		12,484		12,365		12,309		12,267		38,034	[1]	49,425	[1]	54,984	[1]
Total operating profit	$ (23,656)		$ 188,146		$ (27,140)		$ (28,613)		$ (31,682)		$ (18,660)		$ (21,912)		$ (21,941)		$ 108,737	[1],[2]	$ (94,195)	[1],[2]	$ (32,607)	[1],[2]

[1] (1)See Note 2 for the disclosures of operating revenues and operating profit included in discontinued operations for the historical periods.

[2] (2)Operating profit (loss) for each segment excludes income and loss on equity investments, interest and dividend income, interest expense, non-operating items, reorganization costs and income taxes.

[3] See Note 5 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for information pertaining to non-operating items recorded in 2016 and 2015.

[4] See Note 3 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for information pertaining to reorganization items recorded in 2016 and 2015.