SEGMENT DATA - Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment data
Revenue		$ 548,404	$ 494,956	$ 1,607,346	$ 1,362,740
Depreciation of property and equipment		25,476	25,342	75,938	74,972
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		40,014	34,478	119,439	84,195
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		29,841	28,622	90,014	76,137
General and administrative overhead expenses		16,209	15,218	46,379	46,873
Operating income (loss)		99,606	101,663	298,493	285,702
Interest expense		48,566	47,950	142,878	127,609
Income from equity and cost method investments		252	1,928	5,405	2,768
Assets	[1]	5,480,447		5,480,447		$ 5,410,328
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Revenue		525,970	476,538	1,543,804	1,311,931
Depreciation of property and equipment		24,531	24,516	73,056	72,455
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		37,601	32,724	112,724	79,238
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		29,841	28,622	90,014	76,137
General and administrative overhead expenses		13,880	13,790	40,036	41,189
Operating income (loss)		105,353	104,776	312,726	293,942
Interest expense		0	0	0	0
Income from equity and cost method investments		0	0	0	0
Assets		4,918,943		4,918,943
Operating segments | Other operating divisions segment
Segment data
Revenue		22,434	18,418	63,542	50,809
Depreciation of property and equipment		666	559	2,045	1,716
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		2,413	1,754	6,715	4,957
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses		943	68	2,468	736
Operating income (loss)		720	897	2,105	1,476
Interest expense		1,305	1,036	3,541	2,986
Income from equity and cost method investments		252	1,928	5,405	2,768
Assets		399,546		399,546
Corporate
Segment data
Revenue		0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment		279	267	837	801
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		1,386	1,360	3,875	4,948
Operating income (loss)		(6,467)	(4,010)	(16,338)	(9,716)
Interest expense		47,261	46,914	139,337	124,623
Income from equity and cost method investments		0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Assets		$ 161,958		$ 161,958

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $162.3 million and $163.3 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $39.6 million and $30.0 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.