SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
SEGMENT DATA
Intercompany loans	$ 171,500,000		$ 171,000,000	$ 171,500,000		$ 171,000,000
Intercompany interest expense	5,000,000		5,000,000	10,000,000		9,900,000
Segment data
Revenue	314,154,000		251,074,000	596,772,000		473,448,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	15,105,000		12,134,000	29,700,000		21,405,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	15,557,000		9,994,000	31,559,000		15,813,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	18,656,000		15,169,000	37,517,000		29,269,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	11,447,000		7,513,000	22,697,000		16,880,000
Operating income (loss)	84,280,000		71,889,000	147,936,000		131,783,000
Interest expense	45,465,000		29,320,000	83,162,000		56,707,000
Income from equity and cost method investments	(404,000)		5,148,000	(1,456,000)		6,424,000
Assets	3,343,393,000	[1]	2,160,241,000	3,343,393,000	[1]	2,160,241,000	2,729,697,000	[1]
Broadcast
Segment data
Number of markets				49
Revenue	301,316,000		238,925,000	572,472,000		447,351,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	14,377,000		11,424,000	28,161,000		19,904,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	14,369,000		8,978,000	29,238,000		13,465,000
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments	18,656,000		15,169,000	37,517,000		29,269,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	10,230,000		6,704,000	20,359,000		14,608,000
Operating income (loss)	85,312,000		72,827,000	150,442,000		134,630,000
Assets	2,659,847,000			2,659,847,000
Other Operating Divisions
Segment data
Revenue	12,838,000		12,149,000	24,300,000		26,097,000
Depreciation of property and equipment	379,000		327,000	848,000		735,000
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets	1,188,000		1,016,000	2,321,000		2,348,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	263,000		304,000	560,000		915,000
Operating income (loss)	271,000		(37,000)	(37,000)		(710,000)
Interest expense	(808,000)		(701,000)	(1,539,000)		(1,555,000)
Income from equity and cost method investments	(404,000)		5,148,000	(1,456,000)		6,424,000
Assets	96,928,000			96,928,000
Corporate
Segment data
Depreciation of property and equipment	349,000		383,000	691,000		766,000
General and administrative overhead expenses	954,000		505,000	1,778,000		1,357,000
Operating income (loss)	(1,303,000)		(901,000)	(2,469,000)		(2,137,000)
Interest expense	(44,657,000)		(28,619,000)	(81,623,000)		(55,152,000)
Assets	$ 586,618,000			$ 586,618,000

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $122.6 million and $107.9 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $10.4 million and $7.9 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us.