Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011	Jan. 03, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Education [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Education [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Higher Education [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Higher Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Test Preparation [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Test Preparation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kaplan International [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Kaplan International [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kaplan Ventures [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Kaplan Ventures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cable Television [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Cable Television [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 Cable Television [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Newspaper Publishing [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Newspaper Publishing [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 Newspaper Publishing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Television Broadcasting [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Television Broadcasting [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 Television Broadcasting [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Businesses [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Other Businesses [Member]	Jan. 03, 2010 Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance				$ 1,543,077	$ 1,543,077	$ 1,541,033		$ 1,073,089	$ 1,073,852			$ 335,226	$ 335,226	$ 229,486	$ 236,779	$ 444,940	$ 432,973	$ 63,437	$ 68,874	$ 85,488	$ 85,488		$ 81,183	$ 81,186		$ 203,165	$ 203,165		$ 100,152	$ 97,342
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance				(166,720)	(166,720)	(142,086)		(15,529)	(15,529)			0	0	(7,037)	0	0	0	(8,492)	(15,529)	0	0		(65,772)	(65,772)		0	0		(85,419)	(60,785)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance				1,376,357	1,376,357	1,398,947		1,057,560	1,058,323			335,226	335,226	222,449	236,779	444,940	432,973	54,945	53,345	85,488	85,488		15,411	15,414		203,165	203,165		14,733	36,557
Reallocation, net (Note 12)												91,043	0	(70,262)	(14,534)	0	0	(20,781)	14,534
Acquisitions					78,643	7,010		78,643	4,200			422	0	0	0	74,803	201	3,418	3,999	0	0		0	0		0	0		0	2,810
Impairment	0	(11,923)	0	0	(11,923)	(24,634)	(8,492)	0	0	(8,492)	(8,492)									0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(11,923)	(24,634)	0
Dispositions					(21,144)	(19,851)		(21,144)	(19,851)			(17,479)	0	0	0	0	0	(3,665)	(19,851)	0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other					(6,936)	14,885		(6,936)	14,888			(84)	0	0	204	(3,807)	11,766	(3,045)	2,918	0	0		0	(3)		0	0		0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	1,586,603				1,586,603	1,543,077	1,541,033	1,116,615	1,073,089		1,073,852	409,128	335,226	152,187	229,486	515,936	444,940	39,364	63,437	85,488	85,488	85,488	81,183	81,183	81,186	203,165	203,165	203,165	100,152	100,152	97,342
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(171,606)				(171,606)	(166,720)	(142,086)	(8,492)	(15,529)		(15,529)	0	0	0	(7,037)	0	0	(8,492)	(8,492)	0	0	0	(65,772)	(65,772)	(65,772)	0	0	0	(97,342)	(85,419)	(60,785)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 1,414,997				$ 1,414,997	$ 1,376,357	$ 1,398,947	$ 1,108,123	$ 1,057,560		$ 1,058,323	$ 409,128	$ 335,226	$ 152,187	$ 222,449	$ 515,936	$ 444,940	$ 30,872	$ 54,945	$ 85,488	$ 85,488	$ 85,488	$ 15,411	$ 15,411	$ 15,414	$ 203,165	$ 203,165	$ 203,165	$ 2,810	$ 14,733	$ 36,557