Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 63,650	$ 113,204	$ 84,438	$ 141,183	$ 176,854	$ 225,621
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation	6,000		5,000		10,920	10,511
Pension credit and contributions					(8,661)	(38,027)
Depreciation	13,867		13,281		26,819	27,056
Amortization of other intangible assets					70,039	83,368
Income on equity investments, net	(46,527)		(52,568)		(92,212)	(91,705)
Distributions from equity investments					181,461	158,926
Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount					3,688	3,718
Gain on sales of spectrum (Note 8)	0		0		0	(133,197)
Gain on investment transactions					(86,272)	(3,888)
Spectrum repack reimbursements					(5,947)	(1,698)
Other non-operating loss (gain), net					846	(91)
Changes in working capital items:
Accounts receivable, net					(4,910)	12,917
Prepaid expenses and other current assets					(8,327)	(16,825)
Accounts payable					1,267	(1,857)
Employee compensation and benefits, accrued expenses and other current liabilities					(21,461)	(13,993)
Deferred revenue					1,359	2,801
Income taxes					51,853	7,271
Change in broadcast rights, net of liabilities					(31,253)	(28,612)
Deferred income taxes					(56,631)	17,405
Other, net					831	1,240
Net cash provided by operating activities					210,263	220,941
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(17,229)		(11,274)		(30,607)	(24,947)
Spectrum repack reimbursements					5,947	1,698
Proceeds from the sales of investments					107,547	3,890
Other, net					(919)	1,615
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities					81,968	(17,744)
Financing Activities
Payments of dividends					(44,175)	(43,847)
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of share-based awards					(8,630)	(5,723)
Proceeds from stock option exercises					11,396	581
Contribution from/(distributions to) noncontrolling interests					245	(2)
Net cash used in financing activities					(41,164)	(48,991)
Net Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash					251,067	154,206
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		$ 1,079,648		$ 691,251	1,079,648	691,251	$ 691,251
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	1,330,715		845,457		1,330,715	845,457	1,079,648
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash are Comprised of:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,314,108		828,850		1,314,108	828,850	1,063,041
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	16,607		16,607		16,607	16,607	16,607
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$ 1,330,715		$ 845,457		1,330,715	845,457	$ 1,079,648
Supplemental Schedule of Cash Flow Information
Interest					83,075	79,027
Income taxes, net					$ 65,347	$ 64,294