NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (Details 5) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013 item		Dec. 31, 2012 item
Programming
Period used in accelerated method for computing program contract costs	4 years
Period of program contracts amortized on straight-line basis	1 year
Other Assets
Equity and cost method investments	$ 107,847,000		$ 98,385,000
Unamortized costs related to debt issuances	47,118,000		46,150,000
Other	53,265,000		63,674,000
Total other assets	208,230,000	[1]	208,209,000	[1]
Unfunded commitments related to private equity investment funds	15,600,000		17,000,000
Impairment on investments	$ 0		$ 600,000		$ 1,300,000
Number of investments on which impairment recorded			2		2
Minimum
Programming
Contract period	1 year
Maximum
Programming
Contract period	7 years

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of December?31, 2014 and 2013 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $163.3 million and $194.1 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of December?31, 2014 and 2013 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $30.0 million and $31.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 1: Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.