VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Schedule of Variable Interest Entities Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CURRENT ASSETS:
Accounts receivable		$ 598,597	$ 566,464
Other current assets		60,732	54,310
Total current assets		1,783,906	1,714,747
Program contract costs, less current portion		11,217	3,202
Property and equipment, net		683,134	738,298
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		1,626,880	1,801,670
Other assets		184,831	241,645
Total assets	[1]	6,572,092	6,784,470
Current liabilities:
Other current liabilities		116,794	194,897
Long-term liabilities
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		3,849,891	3,887,601
Program contracts payable, less current portion		50,060	41,909
Other long-term liabilities		85,983	79,009
Total liabilities	[1]	4,971,772	5,250,104
Consolidated VIEs, aggregated
CURRENT ASSETS:
Accounts receivable		28,276	19,566
Other current assets		6,773	8,937
Total current assets		35,049	28,503
Program contract costs, less current portion		2,058	822
Property and equipment, net		5,346	6,215
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets		15,064	15,064
Definite-lived intangible assets, net		67,680	74,442
Other assets		2,374	5,601
Total assets		127,571	130,647
Current liabilities:
Other current liabilities		18,298	23,564
Long-term liabilities
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion		19,278	23,217
Program contracts payable, less current portion		8,474	11,213
Other long-term liabilities		650	650
Total liabilities		$ 46,700	$ 58,644

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $127.6 million and $130.6 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs.  Our consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $22.3 million and $27.0 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us.  See Note 12. Variable Interest Entities.