CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenues [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 5,211.0	$ 4,648.4	$ 4,501.3
Operating expenses (income):
Direct operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization	2,004.8	1,862.4	1,720.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization	1,101.9	1,024.2	912.1
Depreciation and amortization expense	662.1	588.6	564.9
Goodwill and other long-lived asset impairments	132.9	23.0
Spectrum repack reimbursements	(2.8)	(19.7)	(57.3)
Gain on relinquishment of spectrum			(10.8)
Other		(5.5)	(3.5)
Total operating expenses	3,898.9	3,473.0	3,125.9
Income from operations	1,312.1	1,175.4	1,375.4
Gain on bargain purchase	55.6
Income from equity method investments, net	153.4	124.6	70.2
Interest expense, net	(336.6)	(282.7)	(335.3)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(2.9)	(3.2)	(50.7)
Pension and other postretirement plans credit, net	43.1	80.9	46.0
Other expenses, net	(7.6)	(1.7)	(1.0)
Income before income taxes	1,217.1	1,093.3	1,104.6
Income tax expense	(273.6)	(262.9)	(296.5)
Net income	943.5	830.4	808.1
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	27.6	4.1	3.4
Net income attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc.	$ 971.1	$ 834.5	$ 811.5
Net income per common share attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc.:
Basic	$ 24.68	$ 19.81	$ 18.06
Diluted	$ 24.16	$ 18.98	$ 17.37
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in thousands)	39,349	42,133	44,921
Diluted (in thousands)	40,187	43,982	46,720
Net income	$ 943.5	$ 830.4	$ 808.1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrecognized amounts included in pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, net of tax benefit (expense) of $39.2 in 2022, ($36.7) in 2021, and ($5.0) in 2020	(114.4)	107.1	14.6
Total comprehensive income	829.1	937.5	822.7
Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	27.6	4.1	3.4
Total comprehensive income attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc.	$ 856.7	$ 941.6	$ 826.1