Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Marketable equity securities		$ 382,777	$ 350,563
7.25% Unsecured Notes due February 1, 2019 [Member]
Liabilities
Debt instrument		436,300	436,600
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Assets
Money market investments	[1]	281,386	433,040
Commercial paper	[2]	90,835
Marketable equity securities	[3]	382,777	350,563
Other current investments	[4]	25,893	28,882
Interest Rate Swap	[5]	51
Total Financial Assets		780,942	812,485
Liabilities
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	[6]	45,431	48,055
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	[7]	9,847
Total Financial Liabilities		55,278
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets
Money market investments	[1]	0	0
Commercial paper	[2]	90,835
Marketable equity securities	[3]	382,777	350,563
Other current investments	[4]	9,746	12,822
Interest Rate Swap	[5]	0
Total Financial Assets		483,358	363,385
Liabilities
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	[6]	0	0
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	[7]	0
Total Financial Liabilities		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets
Money market investments	[1]	281,386	433,040
Commercial paper	[2]	0
Marketable equity securities	[3]	0	0
Other current investments	[4]	16,147	16,060
Interest Rate Swap	[5]	51
Total Financial Assets		297,584	449,100
Liabilities
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	[6]	45,431	$ 48,055
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	[7]	0
Total Financial Liabilities		45,431
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets
Money market investments	[1]	0
Commercial paper	[2]	0
Marketable equity securities	[3]	0
Other current investments	[4]	0
Interest Rate Swap	[5]	0
Total Financial Assets		0
Liabilities
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	[6]	0
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	[7]	9,847
Total Financial Liabilities		$ 9,847

[1] The Company’s money market investments are included in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and the value considers the liquidity of the counterparty.

[2] The Company's commercial paper investments with original maturities of three months or less are included in cash and cash equivalents.

[3] The Company’s investments in marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale.

[4] Includes U.S. Government Securities, corporate bonds, mutual funds and time deposits. These investments are valued using a market approach based on the quoted market prices of the security or inputs that include quoted market prices for similar instruments and are classified as either Level 1 or Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy.

[5] Included in Deferred charges and other assets. The fair value utilized a market approach model using the notional amount of the interest rate swap multiplied by the observable inputs of time to maturity and market interest rates.

[6] Includes Graham Holdings Company's Deferred Compensation Plan and supplemental savings plan benefits under the Graham Holdings Company's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, which are included in accrued compensation and related benefits. These plans measure the market value of a participant's balance in a notional investment account that is comprised primarily of mutual funds, which are based on observable market prices. However, since the deferred compensation obligations are not exchanged in an active market, they are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on deferred compensation are included in operating income.

[7] The fair value of the mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest is based on an EBITDA multiple, adjusted for working capital and other items, which approximates fair value.