NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING - Schedule of Notes Payable, Capital Leases and Commercial Bank Financing (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital leases	$ 29,562	$ 31,696
Total outstanding principal	3,925,436	4,087,697
Less: Deferred financing costs and discount	(32,981)	(39,047)
Less: Current portion	(40,634)	(159,382)
Long-term debt	3,849,891	3,887,601
Debt of variable interest entities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt amount	25,281	29,614
Debt of other non-media related subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt amount	19,577	25,238
Term Loan \| Term Loan A-1
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt amount	0	117,370
Term Loan \| Term Loan A-2
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt amount	95,892	113,327
Term Loan \| Term Loan B
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding debt amount	$ 1,342,600	$ 1,356,300
Senior Notes \| 5.375% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.38%	5.375%
Outstanding debt amount	$ 600,000	$ 600,000
Senior Notes \| 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.13%	6.125%
Outstanding debt amount	$ 500,000	$ 500,000
Senior Notes \| 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.63%
Outstanding debt amount	$ 550,000	$ 550,000
Senior Notes \| 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.88%	5.875%
Outstanding debt amount	$ 350,000	$ 350,000
Senior Notes \| 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.13%	5.125%
Outstanding debt amount	$ 400,000	$ 400,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percent redeemable	35.00%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percent redeemable	100.00%
Affiliated Entity
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital leases	$ 12,524	14,152
Less: Capital leases - affiliate, current portion	$ (1,930)	$ (1,667)

Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Gross

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Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

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