SEGMENT DATA (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment data
Revenue		$ 666,534	$ 554,167	$ 1,245,423	$ 1,058,942
Depreciation of property and equipment		24,409	25,273	48,444	50,462
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		45,625	39,445	89,390	79,425
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		30,821	29,782	64,281	60,173
General and administrative overhead expenses		14,279	14,183	35,620	30,221
Research and development expenses		1,209	4,237	2,310	6,752
Operating income (loss)		129,074	114,340	215,413	198,887
Interest expense		53,916	47,664	103,331	94,312
Income from equity and cost method investments		943	2,007	1,366	5,153
Assets	[1]	5,779,677		5,779,677		$ 5,432,315
Operating segments | Broadcast
Segment data
Revenue		608,169	532,362	1,155,002	1,017,414
Depreciation of property and equipment		22,526	24,363	45,274	48,539
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		38,551	37,232	78,321	75,123
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		30,821	29,782	64,281	60,173
General and administrative overhead expenses		12,995	11,332	33,431	26,259
Research and development expenses		0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)		145,400	122,236	243,451	214,105
Interest expense		1,411	0	2,893	0
Income from equity and cost method investments		0	0	0	0
Assets		4,832,211		4,832,211
Operating segments | Other
Segment data
Revenue		58,365	21,805	90,421	41,528
Depreciation of property and equipment		1,617	631	2,638	1,365
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets		7,074	2,213	11,069	4,302
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments		0	0	0	0
General and administrative overhead expenses		283	1,265	839	1,524
Research and development expenses		1,209	4,237	2,310	6,752
Operating income (loss)		(15,059)	(6,481)	(26,156)	(12,845)
Interest expense		1,555	1,161	3,031	2,236
Income from equity and cost method investments		943	2,007	1,366	5,153
Assets		825,829		825,829
Corporate
Segment data
Revenue		0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment		266	279	532	558
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		1,001	1,586	1,350	2,438
Research and development expenses		0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)		(1,267)	(1,415)	(1,882)	(2,373)
Interest expense		50,950	46,503	97,407	92,076
Income from equity and cost method investments		0	$ 0	0	$ 0
Assets		$ 121,637		$ 121,637

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $147.5 million and $152.4 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $30.4 million and $35.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.