Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Statement $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	$ 197,497	$ 14,246	$ (319,918)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation	32,933	37,189	32,493
Pension credit, net of contributions	(22,047)	(24,110)	(29,417)
Depreciation	56,314	72,409	74,289
Amortization of contract intangible assets and liabilities	869	(10,566)	(14,980)
Amortization of other intangible assets	166,679	196,663	195,230
Impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets	0	3,400	385,000
Income on equity investments, net	(137,362)	(148,156)	(146,959)
Distributions from equity investments	198,124	170,527	169,879
Non-cash loss on extinguishments and modification of debt	8,258	0	33,480
Original issue discount payments	(7,360)	0	(6,158)
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	193,494	0	0
Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount	7,875	11,172	12,258
Gain on sale of business	(33,492)	0	0
Gain on investment transactions, net	(8,131)	0	(12,173)
Impairments of real estate	2,399	15,102	6,650
(Gain) loss on sales of real estate	(28,533)	(213,086)	97
Other non-operating gain, net	(71)	(5,427)	(6,183)
Change in excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	0	0	868
Changes in working capital items, excluding effects from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net	10,638	(998)	(23,444)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,310	18,171	(36,997)
Accounts payable	(8,736)	6,589	(15,302)
Employee compensation and benefits, accrued expense and other current liabilities	(23,927)	(7,515)	38,062
Deferred revenue	(2,423)	(2,843)	9,541
Income taxes	6,175	51,296	(272,102)
Change in broadcast rights, net of liabilities	45,898	(15,427)	100,116
Deferred income taxes (Note 13)	(478,637)	95,035	(140,075)
Change in non-current obligations for uncertain tax positions	791	(11,276)	(931)
Other, net	34,967	31,768	(7,380)
Net cash provided by operating activities	222,502	284,163	25,944
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(66,832)	(99,659)	(89,084)
Investments	(5,065)	(5,993)	(23,042)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0	(74,959)
Net proceeds from the sale of business (Note 2)	557,793	0	0
Proceeds from FCC spectrum auction (Note 6)	172,102	0	0
Sale of partial interest of equity method investment (Note 8)	142,552	0	0
Proceeds from sales of real estate and other assets	144,464	507,692	4,930
Proceeds from sales of investments	5,769	0	44,982
Distributions from equity investment	3,768	0	10,328
Other	1,789	297	1,112
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	956,340	402,337	(125,733)
Financing Activities
Long-term borrowings	202,694	0	1,100,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(703,527)	(27,842)	(1,114,262)
Long-term debt issuance costs	(1,689)	(736)	(20,202)
Payments of dividends	(586,336)	(90,296)	(719,919)
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of share-based awards	(8,774)	(4,553)	(4,421)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	11,317	0	166
Common stock repurchases	0	(232,065)	(339,942)
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests, net	(9,251)	393	5,524
Settlements of contingent consideration, net	0	(3,636)	1,174
Change in excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	0	0	(868)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,095,566)	(358,735)	(1,092,750)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	83,276	327,765	(1,192,539)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	590,409	262,644	1,455,183
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	673,685	590,409	262,644
Cash and Cash Equivalents are Comprised of:
Cash and cash equivalents	673,685	577,658	247,820
Cash and cash equivalents classified as discontinued operations	0	12,751	14,824
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	673,685	590,409	262,644
Supplemental Schedule of Cash Flow Information
Interest	152,401	160,200	130,311
Income taxes, net of refunds	$ 182,509	$ 265,886	$ 434,720