CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 76,177	$ 75,048	$ (138,029)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Amortization of debt discount, net of debt premium	3,347	4,963	10,286
Depreciation of property and equipment	33,153	36,563	43,217
Recognition of deferred revenue	(17,472)	(25,967)	(25,512)
Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets	398	4,803	249,799
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets	18,229	18,834	22,355
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	52,079	60,862	73,087
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, non-cash portion	4,985	5,525	(18,465)
Original debt issuance discount paid	(13,785)	(14,393)	(18,176)
Deferred tax provision (benefit)	43,972	38,636	(24,949)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net	(11,616)	(14,491)	823
Decrease (increase) in income taxes receivable	74	8,073	(5,739)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(10,449)	196
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(1,247)	393	6,778
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	25,064	33,312	12,654
(Decrease) increase in income taxes payable	(780)	298
Increase (decrease) in other long-term liabilities	2,199	(881)
Payments on program contracts payable	(67,319)	(88,992)	(82,184)
Other, net	11,504	12,179	(509)
Net cash flows from operating activities	148,513	154,961	105,436
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(35,835)	(11,694)	(7,693)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(8,850)	(10,106)	(12,291)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(53,445)	59,602	(64,883)
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	2,632	894	1,501
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(11,577)	(7,224)	(10,601)
Investment in debt securities	(4,911)
Payments for acquisitions of assets of other operating divisions	(3,072)
Proceeds from the sale of assets	69	110	126
Proceeds from insurance settlements	1,739	372
Proceeds from the sale of equity method investment	1,166
Loans to affiliates	(406)	(136)	(162)
Proceeds from loans to affiliates	242	117	157
Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities	(112,248)	31,935	(93,846)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	151,733	283,930	980,875
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(150,447)	(427,421)	(931,566)
Proceeds from share based awards, including excess tax benefits of $0.7 million, $0 million and $0 million, respectively	1,794
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests	(2,501)		(5,000)
Repurchase of Class A Common Stock			(1,454)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(38,356)	(34,225)	(16,038)
Payments for deferred financing costs	(5,483)	(7,020)	(28,815)
Proceeds from Class A Common Stock sold by variable interest entity	1,808
Noncontrolling interests (distributions) contributions	(610)	(287)	26
Repayments of notes and capital leases to affiliates	(3,210)	(3,123)	(2,864)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(45,272)	(188,146)	(4,836)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(9,007)	(1,250)	6,754
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year	21,974	23,224	16,470
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year	$ 12,967	$ 21,974	$ 23,224