ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF ASSETS - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	May 03, 2019 USD ($) regional_sport_network	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) channel	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on asset dispositions, net of impairment		$ 7,909	$ 21,109
Number of stations assigned new channels | channel		100
Broadcast incentive auction, total legislation funds to reimburse stations		$ 2,750,000
Broadcast incentive auction, gain recognized on sale		8,000	800
Broadcast incentive auction, total capital expenditure		12,700	3,400
Spectrum Auction
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on asset dispositions, net of impairment		$ 83,300	83,300
Tribune Media Company
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related costs			21,700
Tribune Media Company | General and Administrative Expense
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related costs			4,700
Tribune Media Company | Interest Expense
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related costs			$ 17,000
Subsequent Event | RSNs
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of regional sports networks | regional_sport_network	21
Total enterprise value	$ 10,600,000
Purchase price	9,600,000
Cash equity	1,400,000
Cash equity, cash on hand	700,000
Cash equity, debt	700,000
Full committed privately-placed preferred equity	1,000,000
Fully committed secured and unsecured debt	$ 8,200,000