ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS - Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Acquisitions
Definite-lived intangible assets				$ 848,315
Goodwill	$ 1,990,746		$ 1,931,093	1,964,553
Tennis Channel
Acquisitions
Cash		$ 5,111
Accounts receivable		17,629
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,518
Property and equipment		5,964
Definite-lived intangible assets		272,686
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		23,400
Other assets		619
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(7,414)
Capital leases		(115)
Deferred tax liability		(16,991)
Other long term liabilities		(1,669)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		305,738
Goodwill		53,427
Total		$ 359,165
MEG Stations
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable				0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				476
Program contract costs				1,954
Property and equipment				23,462
Indefinite-lived intangible assets				675
Definite-lived intangible assets				125,925
Other assets				0
Assets held for sale				0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities				(2,085)
Program contracts payable				(1,914)
Deferred tax liabilities				0
Other long term liabilities				0
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired				148,493
Goodwill				57,398
Total				205,891
KSNV
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable				0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				67
Program contract costs				482
Property and equipment				8,300
Indefinite-lived intangible assets				0
Definite-lived intangible assets				70,375
Other assets				0
Assets held for sale				0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities				(277)
Program contracts payable				(481)
Deferred tax liabilities				0
Other long term liabilities				(1,200)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired				77,266
Goodwill				41,024
Total				118,290
Allbritton
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable				38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				19,890
Program contract costs				1,204
Property and equipment				46,600
Indefinite-lived intangible assets				13,700
Definite-lived intangible assets				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 liabilities				(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 Acquisitions in 2014
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable				0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				79
Program contract costs				2,561
Property and equipment				8,352
Indefinite-lived intangible assets				225
Definite-lived intangible assets				87,915
Other assets				1,500
Assets held for sale				0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities				(1,143)
Program contracts payable				(2,554)
Deferred tax liabilities				0
Other long term liabilities				0
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired				96,935
Goodwill				25,501
Total				122,436
2014 Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable				38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				20,512
Program contract costs				6,201
Property and equipment				86,714
Indefinite-lived intangible assets				14,600
Definite-lived intangible assets				848,315
Other assets				21,852
Assets held for sale				83,200
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities				(11,856)
Program contracts payable				(6,089)
Deferred tax liabilities				(261,291)
Other long term liabilities				(18,463)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired				822,237
Goodwill				659,617
Total				$ 1,481,854