Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues		$ 454,988	$ 443,635
Operating profit (loss)	[1]	54,703	187,285
Depreciation		12,952	13,775
Amortization		35,021	41,687
Capital expenditures		13,378	13,673
Assets	[2]	8,420,134		$ 8,251,391
Assets held for sale	[3]	60,177		0
Television and Entertainment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues		453,427	440,702
Operating Segments | Television and Entertainment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues		453,427	440,702
Operating profit (loss)	[1]	79,925	211,852
Depreciation		11,062	10,870
Amortization		35,021	41,687
Capital expenditures		11,933	10,126
Assets		6,913,874		6,976,808
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues		1,561	2,933
Operating profit (loss)	[1]	(25,222)	(24,567)
Depreciation		1,890	2,905
Capital expenditures		1,445	$ 3,547
Assets		$ 1,446,083		$ 1,274,583

[1] (1)Operating profit (loss) for each segment excludes income and loss on equity investments, interest income, interest expense, pension and other postretirement period benefit cost (credit), non-operating items, reorganization costs and income taxes.

[2] (1) The Company’s consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total assets of variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $69 million and $73 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. The Company’s consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $27 million and $28 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the Company (see Note 1).

[3] (2)See Note 2 for information regarding assets held for sale.