Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Revenue Recognition Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues		$ 578,733	$ 498,008	$ 489,358	$ 443,635	$ 488,999	$ 450,533	$ 469,517	$ 439,910	$ 2,009,734	[1]	$ 1,848,959	[1]	$ 1,947,930	[1]
Television and Entertainment
Revenues										1,998,678		1,835,423	[2]	1,909,896	[2]
Advertising | Television and Entertainment
Revenues										1,315,769		1,225,900	[2]	1,374,571	[2]
Retransmission revenue | Television and Entertainment
Revenues										471,632		412,309	[2]	334,724	[2]
Carriage fees | Television and Entertainment
Revenues										161,214		127,935	[2]	121,044	[2]
Barter/trade (2) | Television and Entertainment
Revenues	[3]									9,092		37,381	[2]	39,025	[2]
Other | Television and Entertainment
Revenues										$ 40,971		$ 31,898	[2]	$ 40,532	[2]

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

[2] (1)Prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method.

[3] (2)For the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, barter revenue totaled $28 million and $30 million, respectively.