ACQUISITIONS - Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Goodwill	$ 1,951,428	$ 1,964,553
MEG Stations
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Accounts receivable		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		476
Program contract costs		1,954
Property and equipment		23,462
Broadcast licenses		675
Definite-lived intangible assets	125,925	125,925
Other assets		0
Assets held for sale		0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(2,085)
Program contracts payable		(1,914)
Deferred tax liability		0
Other long term liabilities		0
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		148,493
Goodwill		57,398
Total		205,891
KSNV
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Accounts receivable		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		67
Program contract costs		482
Property and equipment		8,300
Broadcast licenses		0
Definite-lived intangible assets	62,700	62,700
Other assets		0
Assets held for sale		0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(277)
Program contracts payable		(481)
Deferred tax liability		0
Other long term liabilities		(1,200)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		69,591
Goodwill		48,699
Total		118,290
Allbritton
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Accounts receivable		38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		19,890
Program contract costs		1,204
Property and equipment		46,600
Broadcast licenses		13,700
Definite-lived intangible assets	564,100	564,100
Other assets		20,352
Assets held for sale		83,200
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(8,351)
Program contracts payable		(1,140)
Deferred tax liability		(261,291)
Other long term liabilities		(17,263)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		499,543
Goodwill		535,694
Total		1,035,237
Other
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Accounts receivable		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		79
Program contract costs		2,561
Property and equipment		8,400
Broadcast licenses		125
Definite-lived intangible assets	71,025	71,025
Other assets		1,500
Assets held for sale		0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(1,143)
Program contracts payable		(2,554)
Deferred tax liability		0
Other long term liabilities		0
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		79,993
Goodwill		42,443
Total		122,436
2014 Acquisitions
Allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities
Accounts receivable		38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		20,512
Program contract costs		6,201
Property and equipment		86,762
Broadcast licenses		14,500
Definite-lived intangible assets	$ 823,750	823,750
Other assets		21,852
Assets held for sale		83,200
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(11,856)
Program contracts payable		(6,089)
Deferred tax liability		(261,291)
Other long term liabilities		(18,463)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		797,620
Goodwill		684,234
Total		$ 1,481,854