SEGMENT DATA - Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment data
Revenue	$ 554,167	$ 455,136	$ 1,058,942	$ 867,784
Depreciation of property and equipment	25,273	25,252	50,462	49,630
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	39,445	24,989	79,425	49,717
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	29,782	23,574	60,173	47,515
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,154	15,820	30,170	31,655
Operating income (loss)	114,340	103,039	198,887	184,039
Interest expense	47,664	40,121	94,312	79,659
Income from equity and cost method investments	2,007	742	5,153	840
Assets	5,380,981		5,380,981		$ 5,410,328
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Revenue	532,711	437,487	1,017,833	835,393
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,341	24,422	48,525	47,939
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	37,232	23,351	75,123	46,514
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	29,782	23,574	60,173	47,515
General and administrative overhead expenses	11,303	14,253	26,208	28,982
Operating income (loss)	119,801	105,460	207,249	187,580
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income from equity and cost method investments	0	0	0	0
Assets	4,845,685		4,845,685
Operating segments | Other operating divisions segment
Segment data
Revenue	21,456	17,649	41,109	32,391
Depreciation of property and equipment	653	563	1,379	1,157
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	2,213	1,638	4,302	3,203
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	0	0	0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses	1,265	416	1,524	668
Operating income (loss)	642	580	1,386	581
Interest expense	1,161	1,031	2,236	1,950
Income from equity and cost method investments	2,007	742	5,153	840
Assets	379,867		379,867
Corporate
Segment data
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment	279	267	558	534
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	0	0	0	0
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	0	0	0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses	1,586	1,151	2,438	2,005
Operating income (loss)	(6,103)	(3,001)	(9,748)	(4,122)
Interest expense	46,503	39,090	92,076	77,709
Income from equity and cost method investments	0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Assets	$ 155,429		$ 155,429