Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Sales Revenue, Services, Net Net revenues NET REVENUES OPERATING EXPENSES: Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Station Operating Expenses Excluding Depreciation and Amortization Station operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization expense Station operating expenses excluding depreciation and amortization expense of $1,001, $920, $3,916 and $2,755, respectively Station operating expenses excluding depreciation and amortization expense of $0, $0, $0 and $0, respectively. Depreciation Amortization Expense on Station Operating Expenses Depreciation and amortization expenses excluded from station operating expenses Depreciation and amortization expenses excluded from station operating expenses. Corporate Expenses Excluding Depreciation and Amortization Expense Corporate expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization Corporate expenses excluding depreciation and amortization expense of $409, $496, $955 and $1,446, respectively Corporate expenses excluding depreciation and amortization expense of $0, $0, $0 and $0, respectively. Depreciation Amortization Expense on Corporate Expenses Depreciation and amortization expenses excluded from corporate expenses Depreciation and amortization expenses excluded from corporate expenses. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Loss (gain) on sale of assets Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets Gain/Loss on sale of asset Total operating expenses Costs and Expenses, Total Operating income (loss) OPERATING INCOME Operating Income (Loss) OTHER EXPENSE: Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Interest Expense Interest expense Interest expense Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt Loss on debt extinguishment Loss on debt extinguishment Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other (expense) income, net Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total Total other income (expense) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (BENEFIT) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest (LOSS) INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Discontinued operations (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax Consolidated net income Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Dividends, Preferred Stock PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net income attributable to common shareholders NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS Amounts attributable to common shareholders for basic earnings per share: Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract] Net Income Loss Available to Common Stockholders Basic Continuing Operations Continuing operations Continuing operations. Net income (loss) available to common shareholders from continuing operations Net Income Loss Available to Common Stockholders Basic Discontinued Operations Discontinued operations Discontinued operations. Basic net (loss) income per share attributable to common shareholders: Basic net income (loss) per common share: Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Net income (loss) available to common shareholders from continuing operations, per share Continuing operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share Discontinued operations, net of tax Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income attributable to common shareholders Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Net income (loss) available to common shareholders from continuing operations, shares Basic weighted average common shares outstanding Diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to common shareholders: Diluted net income (loss) per common share: Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Continuing operations Net income (loss) available to common shareholders from continuing operations, per share Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share Discontinued operations, net of tax Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income attributable to common shareholders Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Net income (loss) available to common shareholders from continuing operations, shares Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest LESS: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Assets, Current [Abstract] CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value End of period Beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net Prepaid Expense, Current Prepaid expenses Other current assets Other Assets, Current Current assets - discontinued operations Total current assets Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current Total current assets Assets, Current, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET Intangible Assets [Abstract] INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Note 3): INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Note 3): Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) Carrying amount of indefinite-lived intangibles Indefinite-lived intangibles Goodwill Goodwill Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Net Carrying Amount Other intangibles, net Other Assets, Noncurrent OTHER ASSETS, NET NONCURRENT ASSETS - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS Total noncurrent assets Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Noncurrent Total assets Total assets Assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT) Liabilities, Current [Abstract] CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current Accounts payable and accrued expenses Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 4) Accrued Salaries and Commissions Current Accrued salaries and commissions Accrued salaries and commissions. Accrued interest Interest Payable, Current Deferred Revenue, Current Deferred revenue Other Liabilities, Current Other current liabilities Current liabilities - discontinued operations Total current liabilities Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current, Total Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Total long-term debt, net of current maturities LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES (NOTE 4) Other Liabilities, Noncurrent OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES DEFERRED INCOME TAXES Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Total liabilities Liabilities, Total COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Contingencies Statement [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Preferred Stock Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Preferred Stock Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Statement [Line Items] SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, PAR VALUE Temporary Equity, Par or Stated Value Per Share SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE; $50.00 LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE; AUTHORIZED 2,875,000 SHARES; ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING 2,422,320 SHARES AT FEBRUARY 29, 2012. EMMIS HAD OBTAINED RIGHTS IN 1,484,679 OF THE SHARES OUTSTANDING AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2012. (NOTE 2) Temporary Equity, Liquidation Preference SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SHARES AUTHORIZED Temporary Equity, Shares Authorized SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SHARE ISSUED Temporary Equity, Shares Issued SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SHARE OUTSTANDING Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding Temporary Equity Shares Outstanding Rights Obtained SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SHARES IN WHICH EMMIS HAS OBTAINED RIGHTS Temporary equity shares outstanding rights obtained. Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT): Common Stock Common Stock [Member] Common Class A [Member] Class A Common Stock [Member] Class A Common Stock Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock Common stock, par value Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Option to acquire Common stock Common stock, shares outstanding Class B Common Stock Common Class B [Member] Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive income Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Total shareholders' deficit Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Balance Balance Total equity (deficit) Liabilities and Equity, Total Total liabilities and equity (deficit) Balance, shares Balance, shares Balance Additional Paid-in Capital Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Accumulated Deficit Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures Issuance of Common Stock to employees and officers Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Share based payments, Option Exercise (1) Exercise of stock options, shares Exercise of stock options Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Payments of dividends and distributions to noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash used in operating activities - Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Noncash Accretion of Debt Instruments Noncash accretion of debt instruments to interest expense Noncash accretion of debt instruments to interest expense. Provision for bad debts Provision for Doubtful Accounts Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Benefit from deferred income taxes Share-based Compensation Noncash compensation Changes in assets and liabilities - Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Deferred revenue Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Income taxes Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Payable Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Other liabilities Net cash used in operating activities - discontinued operations Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations Net cash used in operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property and equipment Net cash provided by investing activities - discontinued operations Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations Net cash provided by investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Repayments of Long-term Debt Payments on long-term debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt Proceeds from long-term debt Payments of Financing Costs Debt-related costs Payments of dividends and distributions to noncontrolling interests Payments of Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest Settlement of tax withholding obligations on stock issued to employees Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value [Abstract] SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Cash Paid for [Abstract] Cash paid for - Cash paid for - Interest Paid Interest Income Taxes Paid, Net Income taxes, net of refunds Noncash financing transactions- Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Value of Stock Issued to Employees under Stock Compensation Program and to Satisfy Accrued Incentives Value of stock issued to employees under stock compensation program and to satisfy accrued incentives Value of stock issued to employees under stock compensation program and to satisfy accrued incentives. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Share Based Payments Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Share Based Payments [Abstract] Intangible Assets and Goodwill Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Abstract] Long-term Debt/Liquidity [Abstract] Liquidity Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information [Abstract] Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters [Abstract] Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Change in Deficit [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Class C Common Stock Common Class C [Member] Discontinued Operation - Slag Discontinued Operations, Policy [Policy Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract] Summary of significant accounting policies. Antidilutive common share equivalents Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Shares excluded from calculation as effect of conversion in to shares of common stock antidilutive Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Domain] Restricted Stock [Member] Restricted Stock [Member] Slager [Member] Slager (Radio) [Member] Slager. Flint Peak Tower Site [Member] Flint Peak Tower Site (Radio) [Member] Flint peak tower site. Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract] Summary of operating results of Discontinued Operations Net revenues Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue Discontinued Operation, Amount of Other Income (Loss) from Disposition of Discontinued Operations, before Income Tax Other income Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax Income (loss) from operations: Loss before income taxes Loss attributable to minority interests Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Schedule of Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations [Table Text Block] Summary of Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations Tabular disclosure of assets and liabilities of discontinued operations. Current assets: Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current [Abstract] Noncurrent assets: Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Noncurrent [Abstract] Total assets Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation Other noncurrent assets Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Noncurrent Assets Other Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Cash and Cash Equivalents Current liabilities: Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current [Abstract]