CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 144,953	$ 76,177	$ 75,048
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Amortization of debt discount, net of debt premium	3,469	3,347	4,963
Depreciation of property and equipment	48,871	33,153	36,563
Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets		398	4,803
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets	38,671	18,229	18,834
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	61,943	52,079	60,862
Loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash portion	335	4,985	5,525
Original debt issuance discount paid		(13,785)	(14,393)
Deferred tax provision	8,313	43,972	38,636
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Increase in accounts receivable, net	(23,225)	(11,616)	(14,491)
Decrease in income taxes receivable		74	8,073
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(8,360)	(10,449)	196
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(23,200)	(1,247)	393
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	35,885	8,878	9,928
Increase (Decrease) in income taxes payable	9,150	(780)	298
(Decrease) increase in other long-term liabilities	(3,941)	913	(3,464)
Payments on program contracts payable	(70,061)	(67,319)	(88,992)
Other, net	14,672	11,504	12,179
Net cash flows from operating activities	237,475	148,513	154,961
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(43,986)	(35,835)	(11,694)
Payments for acquisitions of television stations	(1,135,348)
Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts	(12,454)	(8,850)	(10,106)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	58,501	(53,445)	59,602
Distributions from equity and cost method investees	9,590	3,798	894
Investments in equity and cost method investees	(24,052)	(11,577)	(7,224)
Investment in debt securities	(1,493)	(4,911)
Payments for acquisitions of assets of other operating divisions		(3,072)
Proceeds from the sale of assets	10	69	110
Proceeds from insurance settlements	42	1,739	372
Loans to affiliates	(277)	(406)	(136)
Proceeds from loans to affiliates	183	242	117
Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities	(1,149,284)	(112,248)	31,935
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	1,247,255	151,733	283,930
Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases	(179,356)	(150,447)	(427,421)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, including excess tax benefits of share based payments of $0.3 million, $0.7 million and $0 million, respectively	391	1,794
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests		(2,501)
Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock	(123,852)	(38,356)	(34,225)
Payments for deferred financing costs	(18,707)	(5,483)	(7,020)
Proceeds from Class A Common Stock sold by variable interest entity		1,808
Noncontrolling interests distributions	(1,142)	(610)	(287)
Repayments of notes and capital leases to affiliates	(2,882)	(3,210)	(3,123)
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	921,707	(45,272)	(188,146)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	9,898	(9,007)	(1,250)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year	12,967	21,974	23,224
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year	$ 22,865	$ 12,967	$ 21,974