SEGMENT DATA (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of segment financial information

Segment financial information is included in the following tables for the periods presented (in thousands):

For the three months ended September 30, 2016	Broadcast		Other			Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	635,559	$	58,276		$	—		$	693,835
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,195		1,425			266			25,886
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	38,717		9,090			—			47,807
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	32,441		—			—			32,441
General and administrative overhead expenses	17,530		247			1,275			19,052
Research and development	—		745			—			745
Operating income (loss)	158,666		(3,077		)	(1,595		)	153,994
Interest expense	1,404		1,664			50,420			53,488
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		611			812			1,423
Assets	4,901,549		825,996			138,643			5,866,188

For the three months ended September 30, 2015	Broadcast		Other			Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	525,529	$	22,875		$	—		$	548,404
Depreciation of property and equipment	24,489		708			279			25,476
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	37,601		2,413			—			40,014
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	29,841		—			—			29,841
General and administrative overhead expenses	14,378		1,087			999			16,464
Research and development	—		4,803			—			4,803
Operating income (loss)	109,231		(7,653		)	(1,972		)	99,606
Interest expense	—		1,305			47,261			48,566
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		252			—			252

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016	Broadcast	Other		Corporate		Consolidated
Revenue	1,790,561	148,697		—		1,939,258
Depreciation of property and equipment	69,469	4,063		798		74,330
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	117,038	20,159		—		137,197
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	96,722	—		—		96,722
General and administrative overhead expenses	50,320	1,075		3,277		54,672
Research and development	—	3,055		—		3,055
Operating income (loss)	402,236	(28,699	)	(4,130	)	369,407
Interest expense	4,297	4,695		147,827		156,819
Income from equity and cost method investments	—	414		2,375		2,789

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015	Broadcast		Other			Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	1,542,943	$	64,403		$	—		$	1,607,346
Depreciation of property and equipment	73,028		2,073			837			75,938
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	112,724		6,715			—			119,439
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	90,014		—			—			90,014
General and administrative overhead expenses	40,637		2,611			3,437			46,685
Research and development	—		11,555			—			11,555
Operating income (loss)	323,336		(20,498		)	(4,345		)	298,493
Interest expense	—		3,541			139,337			142,878
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		5,405			—			5,405