| **Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Supplemental Disclosures** | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]**                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures         | Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental DisclosuresChanges in operating assets and liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):Six Months Ended June 30,2014 2013(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net$24,693 (19,241)Increase in prepaid expenses(5,084) (2,531)Decrease in inventories2,024 3,333Decrease in other current assets75 1,185Increase in other assets(344) (1,294)Increase (decrease) in accounts payable(6,821) 1,044Increase in deferred revenues3,360 207Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and payroll related obligations(4,359) 3,732Increase in accrued liabilities1,452 2,881Decrease in accrued interest(384) (25)Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits(188) 133Decrease in long-term deferred revenue(2,345) (927)Increase (decrease) in components of other long-term liabilities747 (901)Total change in operating assets and liabilities$12,826 (12,404)The following item is for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands):Net cash paid or received:2014 2013Interest paid including capitalized interest$37,658 35,139The following items are non-cash investing and financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands): 2014 2013Non-cash additions for purchases of property and  equipment$25,114 13,740Net capital lease obligation$9,386 —Distribution to non-controlling interest$4,167 —Asset retirement obligation additions to property and  equipment$361 1,066Deferred compensation distribution denominated in  shares$617 621 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The entire disclosure for supplemental cash flow activities, including cash, noncash, and part noncash transactions, for the period. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_CashFlowSupplementalDisclosuresTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplementalCashFlowElementsAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |