ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS - Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Acquisitions
Goodwill	$ 2,124,033		$ 1,990,746		$ 1,931,093
Bonten
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable		$ 14,665
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		633
Program contract costs		683
Property and equipment		27,295
Definite-lived intangible assets		161,936
Indefinite-lived intangible assets		425
Other assets		3,609
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(8,428)
Program contracts payable		(783)
Deferred tax liability		(66,158)
Other long term liabilities		(12,156)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		121,721
Goodwill		119,426
Total		$ 241,147
Tennis Channel
Acquisitions
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				300,627
Goodwill				53,427
Total				$ 354,054