Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	NOTE 9: INCOME TAXES In the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded income tax expense of $38 million. The effective tax rate on pretax income was 25.0%. The rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), non-deductible executive compensation, certain transaction costs and other expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, a $2 million benefit related to stock-based compensation, a $3 million benefit resulting from a change in the Company’s state tax rates, and a $2 million charge related to the resolution of federal and state income tax matters and other adjustments. In the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $57 million. The effective tax rate on pretax income was 28.7%. The rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), non-deductible executive compensation, certain transaction costs and other expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, and a net $2 million charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation. Chicago Cubs Transactions—As further described in Note 6 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company consummated the closing of the Chicago Cubs Transactions on October 27, 2009. As a result of these transactions, NEH owned 95% and the Company owned 5% of the membership interests in CEV LLC. The fair market value of the contributed assets exceeded the tax basis and did not result in an immediate taxable gain because the transaction was structured to comply with the partnership provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) and related regulations. On June 28, 2016, the IRS issued the Company a Notice of Deficiency (“Notice”) which presents the IRS’s position that the gain should have been included in the Company’s 2009 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS has proposed a $182 million tax and a $73 million gross valuation misstatement penalty. In addition, after-tax interest on the aforementioned proposed tax and penalty through March 31, 2019 would be approximately $86 million. The Company continues to disagree with the IRS’s position that the transaction generated a taxable gain in 2009, the proposed penalty and the IRS’s calculation of the gain. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to contest the IRS’s determination. The Company continues to pursue resolution of this disputed tax matter with the IRS. If the IRS prevails in their position, the gain on the Chicago Cubs Transactions would be deemed to be taxable in 2009. The Company estimates that the federal and state income taxes would be approximately $225 million before interest and penalties. Any tax, interest and penalty due will be offset by tax payments made relating to this transaction subsequent to 2009. As further described in Note 5, on August 21, 2018, NEH provided the Call Notice to the Company that NEH was exercising its right to purchase the Company’s 5% membership interest in CEV LLC. The Company sold its 5% ownership interest in CEV LLC on January 22, 2019 (the “2019 Cubs Sale”) for pretax proceeds of $107.5 million and recognized a gain of $86 million before taxes ($66 million after taxes) in the first quarter of 2019. As a result of the sale, the previously recorded deferred tax liability of $69 million related to the future recognition of taxable income related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions became currently payable. Subsequent to the sale, the Company no longer owns any portion of CEV LLC and maintains no deferred taxes or tax reserves related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has paid or accrued approximately $167 million of federal and state taxes on the deferred gain and the 2019 Cubs Sale through its regular tax reporting process. The sale of the Company’s ownership interest in CEV LLC has no impact on the Company’s dispute with the IRS. Other—Although management believes its estimates and judgments are reasonable, the resolutions of the Company’s tax issues are unpredictable and could result in tax liabilities that are significantly higher or lower than that which has been provided by the Company. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740, which addresses the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits totaled $22 million and $21 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $2 million within the next twelve months due to the resolution of tax examination issues and statute of limitations expirations.

NOTE 9: INCOME TAXES

In the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded income tax expense of $38 million. The effective tax rate on pretax income was 25.0%. The rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), non-deductible executive compensation, certain transaction costs and other expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, a $2 million benefit related to stock-based compensation, a $3 million benefit resulting from a change in the Company’s state tax rates, and a $2 million charge related to the resolution of federal and state income tax matters and other adjustments.

In the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $57 million. The effective tax rate on pretax income was 28.7%. The rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), non-deductible executive compensation, certain transaction costs and other expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, and a net $2 million charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation.

Chicago Cubs Transactions—As further described in Note 6 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company consummated the closing of the Chicago Cubs Transactions on October 27, 2009. As a result of these transactions, NEH owned 95% and the Company owned 5% of the membership interests in CEV LLC. The fair market value of the contributed assets exceeded the tax basis and did not result in an immediate taxable gain because the transaction was structured to comply with the partnership provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) and related regulations. On June 28, 2016, the IRS issued the Company a Notice of Deficiency (“Notice”) which presents the IRS’s position that the gain should have been included in the Company’s 2009 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS has proposed a $182 million tax and a $73 million gross valuation misstatement penalty. In addition, after-tax interest on the aforementioned proposed tax and penalty through March 31, 2019 would be approximately $86 million. The Company continues to disagree with the IRS’s position that the transaction generated a taxable gain in 2009, the proposed penalty and the IRS’s calculation of the gain. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to contest the IRS’s determination. The Company continues to pursue resolution of this disputed tax matter with the IRS. If the IRS prevails in their position, the gain on the Chicago Cubs Transactions would be deemed to be taxable in 2009. The Company estimates that the federal and state income taxes would be approximately $225 million before interest and penalties. Any tax, interest and penalty due will be offset by tax payments made relating to this transaction subsequent to 2009. As further described in Note 5, on August 21, 2018, NEH provided the Call Notice to the Company that NEH was exercising its right to purchase the Company’s 5% membership interest in CEV LLC. The Company sold its 5% ownership interest in CEV LLC on January 22, 2019 (the “2019 Cubs Sale”) for pretax proceeds of $107.5 million and recognized a gain of $86 million before taxes ($66 million after taxes) in the first quarter of 2019. As a result of the sale, the previously recorded deferred tax liability of $69 million related to the future recognition of taxable income related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions became currently payable. Subsequent to the sale, the Company no longer owns any portion of CEV LLC and maintains no deferred taxes or tax reserves related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has paid or accrued approximately $167 million of federal and state taxes on the deferred gain and the 2019 Cubs Sale through its regular tax reporting process. The sale of the Company’s ownership interest in CEV LLC has no impact on the Company’s dispute with the IRS.

Other—Although management believes its estimates and judgments are reasonable, the resolutions of the Company’s tax issues are unpredictable and could result in tax liabilities that are significantly higher or lower than that which has been provided by the Company. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740, which addresses the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits totaled $22 million and $21 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $2 million within the next twelve months due to the resolution of tax examination issues and statute of limitations expirations.