SEGMENT DATA (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of segment financial information

Financial information for our reportable segment is included in the following tables for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 (in thousands):

For the year ended December 31, 2017	Broadcast		Other			Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	2,490,528	$	243,590		$	—		$	2,734,118
Depreciation of property and equipment	88,751		7,368			984			97,103
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	155,640		23,182			—			178,822
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	115,523		—			—			115,523
General and administrative overhead expenses	101,680		1,009			10,564			113,253
Research and development	—		10,000			—			10,000
Operating income (loss)	724,110		24,943			(11,547		)	737,506
Interest expense	5,285		1,835			205,195			212,315
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		(13,664		)	(255		)	(13,919		)
Goodwill	2,053,410		70,623			—			2,124,033
Assets	5,267,986		769,919			746,565			6,784,470
Capital expenditures	63,163		5,546			15,103			83,812

For the year ended December 31, 2016	Broadcast		Other			Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	2,530,510	$	206,439		$	—		$	2,736,949
Depreciation of property and equipment	91,573		5,772			1,184			98,529
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	155,479		28,316			—			183,795
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	127,880		—			—			127,880
General and administrative overhead expenses	67,035		2,459			4,062			73,556
Research and development	—		4,085			—			4,085
Operating income (loss)	639,422		(31,258		)	(5,311		)	602,853
Interest expense	5,641		6,371			199,131			211,143
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		1,735			—			1,735
Goodwill	1,933,831		56,915			—			1,990,746
Assets	4,815,633		866,845			280,690			5,963,168
Capital expenditures	78,909		8,084			7,472			94,465

For the year ended December 31, 2015	Broadcast		Other			Corporate			Consolidated
Revenue	$	2,118,021	$	101,115		$	—		$	2,219,136
Depreciation of property and equipment	99,616		2,753			1,064			103,433
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	152,049		9,405			—			161,454
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	124,619		—			—			124,619
General and administrative overhead expenses	55,848		2,952			5,446			64,246
Research and development	—		12,436			—			12,436
Operating income (loss)	451,015		(21,800		)	(6,479		)	422,736
Interest expense	—		4,955			186,492			191,447
Income from equity and cost method investments	—		964			—			964