CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 250,762	$ 176,099	$ 215,115
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment	98,529	103,433	103,291
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets	183,795	161,454	125,496
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	127,880	124,619	106,629
Loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash portion	3,875	0	4,605
Stock-based compensation	16,939	18,315	14,296
Deferred tax (benefit) provision	6,118	(28,446)	(818)
(Gain) loss on the sale of assets	(6,029)	278	(37,160)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Increase in accounts receivable	(71,718)	(38,666)	(44,253)
Net change in net income taxes payable/receivable	18,814	3,203	8,253
Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(969)	(3,474)	(2,215)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	60,086	(15,902)	55,457
Payments on program contracts payable	(111,506)	(109,057)	(93,682)
Real estate held for development and sale	1,075	(2,674)	(20,683)
Other, net	14,115	13,745	(1,732)
Net cash flows from operating activities	591,766	402,927	432,599
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(94,465)	(91,421)	(81,458)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(425,857)	(17,011)	(1,485,039)
Proceeds from the sale of assets	16,396	23,650	176,675
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(40,206)	(39,185)	(27,701)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	3,725	(3,725)	11,616
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(51,247)	(44,715)	(8,104)
Proceeds from termination of life insurance policies	0	0	17,042
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	6,786	21,749	3,869
Loans to affiliates	(19,500)	0	0
Other, net	(1,635)	(653)	(4,256)
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(606,003)	(151,311)	(1,397,356)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,024,912	382,887	1,500,720
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(671,215)	(395,147)	(582,764)
Repurchase of outstanding Class A Common Stock	(136,283)	(28,823)	(133,157)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(65,909)	(62,733)	(61,103)
Payments for deferred financing costs	(15,681)	(3,847)	(16,590)
Noncontrolling interests distributions	(10,464)	(9,918)	(8,184)
Other, net	(1,111)	(1,745)	3,413
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	124,249	(119,326)	702,335
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	110,012	132,290	(262,422)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year	149,972	17,682	280,104
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year	$ 259,984	$ 149,972	$ 17,682