Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Investments in Marketable equity securities		$ 424,229	$ 350,563
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Assets
Money market investments	[1]	435,258	433,040
Commercial paper	[2]	49,882
Investments in Marketable equity securities	[3]	424,229	350,563
Other current investments	[4]	24,012	28,882
Total Financial Assets		933,381	812,485
Liabilities
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	[5]	46,300	48,055
Interest rate swap	[6]	365
Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	[7]	12,584
Total Financial Liabilities		59,249
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Assets
Money market investments	[1]	0	0
Commercial paper	[2]	49,882
Investments in Marketable equity securities	[3]	424,229	350,563
Other current investments	[4]	6,957	12,822
Total Financial Assets		481,068	363,385
Liabilities
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	[5]	0	0
Interest rate swap	[6]	0
Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	[7]	0
Total Financial Liabilities		0
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Assets
Money market investments	[1]	435,258	433,040
Commercial paper	[2]	0
Investments in Marketable equity securities	[3]	0	0
Other current investments	[4]	17,055	16,060
Total Financial Assets		452,313	449,100
Liabilities
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	[5]	46,300	$ 48,055
Interest rate swap	[6]	365
Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	[7]	0
Total Financial Liabilities		46,665
Level 3 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Assets
Money market investments	[1]	0
Commercial paper	[2]	0
Investments in Marketable equity securities	[3]	0
Other current investments	[4]	0
Total Financial Assets		0
Liabilities
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	[5]	0
Interest rate swap	[6]	0
Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	[7]	12,584
Total Financial Liabilities		$ 12,584

[1] The Company’s money market investments are included in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash.

[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] 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.

[6] Included in Other liabilities. The Company 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.

[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.