GOODWILL, INDEFINTE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Definite Lived Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Amortized intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 2,744,295	$ 2,378,746
Accumulated Amortization	(799,892)	(627,176)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	1,944,403	1,751,570
Assets acquired in acquisition	25,806	992
Estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets
For the year ended December 31, 2017	175,942
For the year ended December 31, 2018	174,593
For the year ended December 31, 2019	173,586
For the year ended December 31, 2020	173,006
For the year ended December 31, 2021	171,988
Thereafter	1,075,288
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	1,944,403	1,751,570
Network affiliations
Amortized intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount	1,398,451	1,378,425
Accumulated Amortization	(427,484)	(343,729)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	970,967	1,034,696
Estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	970,967	1,034,696
Customer relationships
Amortized intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount	1,102,591	806,727
Accumulated Amortization	(294,114)	(225,176)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	808,477	581,551
Estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	808,477	581,551
Other intangible assets
Amortized intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount	243,253	193,594
Accumulated Amortization	(78,294)	(58,271)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	164,959	135,323
Estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	164,959	$ 135,323
Alarm monitoring contract
Amortized intangible assets:
Assets acquired in acquisition	$ 40,200