SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
SEGMENT DATA
Intersegment Loans	$ 171,000,000		$ 168,900,000	$ 171,000,000		$ 168,900,000
Intercompany Interest expense	5,000,000		4,900,000	9,900,000		9,700,000
Segment data
Revenue	253,554,000		188,860,000	477,390,000		371,469,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	12,655,000		7,861,000	22,144,000		15,921,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	10,126,000		4,614,000	16,025,000		9,808,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	15,467,000		12,666,000	29,747,000		25,284,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	7,513,000		7,073,000	16,880,000		15,737,000
Operating income (loss)	71,992,000		58,236,000	131,914,000		109,712,000
Interest expense	29,320,000		24,934,000	56,707,000		54,101,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	5,148,000		815,000	6,424,000		826,000
Assets	2,160,241,000	[1]		2,160,241,000	[1]		1,571,417,000	[1]
Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets				45
Revenue	241,405,000		177,868,000	451,293,000		351,051,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	11,945,000		7,140,000	20,643,000		14,484,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	9,110,000		3,743,000	13,677,000		8,094,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	15,467,000		12,666,000	29,747,000		25,284,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	6,704,000		6,197,000	14,608,000		13,818,000
Operating income (loss)	72,930,000		58,490,000	134,761,000		111,120,000
Assets	1,878,802,000			1,878,802,000
Other operating Division
Segment data
Revenue	12,149,000		10,992,000	26,097,000		20,418,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	327,000		318,000	735,000		629,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	1,016,000		871,000	2,348,000		1,714,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	304,000		306,000	915,000		598,000
Operating income (loss)	(37,000)		719,000	(710,000)		725,000
Interest expense	701,000		632,000	1,555,000		1,259,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	5,148,000		815,000	6,424,000		826,000
Assets	274,854,000			274,854,000
Corporate
Segment data
Depreciation of property and equipment	383,000		403,000	766,000		808,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	505,000		570,000	1,357,000		1,321,000
Operating income (loss)	(901,000)		(973,000)	(2,137,000)		(2,133,000)
Interest expense	28,619,000		24,302,000	55,152,000		52,842,000
Assets	$ 6,585,000			$ 6,585,000

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $44.9 million and $33.5 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $11.2 million and $14.4 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us.