QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]  
Schedule of Quarterly Results of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Revenue
$
544,280

 
$
588,836

 
$
671,588

 
$
706,800

 
$
644,430

 
$
667,255

 
$
728,404

 
$
716,931

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct operating expenses
329,212

 
342,260

 
352,017

 
361,987

 
357,946

 
361,660

 
370,592

 
352,412

Selling, general and administrative expenses
115,941

 
126,801

 
126,117

 
135,567

 
128,539

 
126,164

 
128,616

 
126,889

Corporate expenses
34,540

 
28,224

 
35,340

 
29,673

 
35,333

 
28,103

 
38,465

 
31,436

Depreciation and amortization
77,494

 
85,395

 
78,290

 
86,974

 
81,096

 
85,780

 
89,111

 
85,975

Impairment charges
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,591

 
7,274

 
2,568

 
—

Other operating income (expense), net
32,611

 
284,774

 
7,829

 
(59,384
)
 
(11,783
)
 
1,095

 
(2,266
)
 
128,203

Operating income
19,704

 
290,930

 
87,653

 
33,215

 
28,142

 
59,369

 
96,786

 
248,422

Interest expense
92,633

 
93,873

 
94,702

 
94,714

 
95,467

 
93,313

 
96,899

 
93,129

Interest income on Due from iHeartCommunications
14,807

 
12,713

 
15,383

 
11,291

 
17,087

 
12,429

 
21,594

 
13,876

Loss on Due from iHeartCommunications
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(855,648
)
 
—

Gain (loss) on investments, net
(125
)
 
—

 
(135
)
 
—

 
(532
)
 
—

 
(253
)
 
531

Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates
(472
)
 
(415
)
 
271

 
(232
)
 
(628
)
 
(727
)
 
(161
)
 
(315
)
Other income (expense), net
3,992

 
(5,803
)
 
8,908

 
(33,871
)
 
9,696

 
(6,524
)
 
7,204

 
(24,484
)
Income (loss) before income taxes
(54,727
)
 
203,552

 
17,378

 
(84,311
)
 
(41,702
)
 
(28,766
)
 
(827,377
)
 
144,901

Income tax benefit (expense)
21,837

 
(62,917
)
 
(18,390
)
 
21,719

 
(16,347
)
 
3,619

 
293,118

 
(39,920
)
Consolidated net income (loss)
(32,890
)
 
140,635

 
(1,012
)
 
(62,592
)
 
(58,049
)
 
(25,147
)
 
(534,259
)
 
104,981

Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
(2,086
)
 
976

 
6,473

 
7,822

 
6,159

 
7,329

 
7,592

 
6,680

Net income (loss) attributable to the Company
$
(30,804
)
 
$
139,659

 
$
(7,485
)
 
$
(70,414
)
 
$
(64,208
)
 
$
(32,476
)
 
$
(541,851
)
 
$
98,301

Net income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.09
)
 
$
0.39

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.20
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.09
)
 
$
(1.50
)
 
$
0.27

Diluted
$
(0.09
)
 
$
0.39

 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.20
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.09
)
 
$
(1.50
)
 
$
0.27