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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands					3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 19, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 17, 2017 USD ($) ReportingUnit	Jul. 27, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) ReportingUnit	Mar. 31, 2017 ReportingUnit	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) ReportingUnit Segment shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) ReportingUnit shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares	Feb. 27, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Nov. 09, 2012 USD ($)
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Proceeds from station divestitures used to finance cash consideration							$ 481,946		$ 27,005
Repayment of debt							1,922,329	$ 80,140	166,290
Basis points	0.50%
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Barter revenue							42,500	34,700	37,700
Barter expense							42,500	34,700	37,700
Revenue from trade transactions							14,200	11,000	9,400
Trade expense							14,500	10,800	9,000
Advertising Expense [Abstract]
Advertising Expense							$ 9,200	$ 4,000	$ 3,400
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Stock options and restricted stock units with potentially dilutive effect (in shares) \| shares							153,000	351,000	766,000
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| Segment							1
Barter revenue							$ 42,500	$ 34,700	$ 37,700
Current barter assets							9,700	8,900
Noncurrent barter assets							12,500	10,800
Current barter liabilities							9,700	8,600
Noncurrent barter liabilities							$ 12,500	$ 11,100
Television Spot Advertising Contracts [Member]
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Percentage of revenue							46.00%	50.00%
Retransmission Agreements [Members]
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Percentage of revenue							41.00%	36.00%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Increase in cash flows from operating activities								$ (13,800)	(8,000)
Decrease in cash flow from financing activities.								$ (13,800)	$ (8,000)
ASU 2016-16 [Member] \| Other noncurrent assets, net [Member]
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Decrease in assets/liabilities					$ 1,300		$ 1,300
ASU 2016-16 [Member] \| Deferred Tax Liabilities [Member]
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Decrease in assets/liabilities					2,100		2,100
ASU 2016-16 [Member] \| Accumulated Deficit [Member]
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Decrease in assets/liabilities					$ 800		$ 800
Broadcasting [Member]
Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Number of reporting units \| ReportingUnit			100			1	1	60
All Other Segments [Member]
Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Number of reporting units \| ReportingUnit			4		3			2
Network Affiliation Agreements [Member]
Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Network affiliation agreements useful life							15 years	15 years	15 years
5.625 % Due 2024 [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Interest rate					5.625%		5.625%
5.625 % Due 2024 [Member] \| Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Interest rate				5.625%	5.625%		5.625%	5.625%
5.875% Due 2022 [Member] \| Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Maturity year			2022
Long-term debt			$ 400,000
Interest rate			5.875%		5.875%		5.875%	5.875%
6.875 % Due 2020 [Member] \| Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt instrument principal amount											$ 275,000	$ 250,000
Debt instrument, principle amount redeemed										$ 525,000
Interest rate					6.875%		6.875%	6.875%		6.875%		6.875%
Media General [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Proceeds from station divestitures used to finance cash consideration			$ 481,900
Cash on hand used to finance cash consideration			1,376,108
Long-term debt			$ 434,269
Media General [Member] \| Network Affiliation Agreements [Member]
Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Network affiliation agreements useful life			15 years
Media General [Member] \| Senior Secured Term Loan B [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt instrument principal amount			$ 2,750,000
Debt instrument, issued price percentage			99.49%
Repayment of debt	$ 454,400
Media General [Member] \| Revolving loans [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Maturity period	5 years
Media General [Member] \| New Senior Secured Term Loan A Due June 28, 2018 [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt instrument principal amount			$ 51,300
Debt instrument, issued price percentage			99.25%
Media General [Member] \| Senior Secured Term Loans A [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt instrument principal amount	$ 456,000		$ 293,900
Debt instrument, issued price percentage	99.16%		99.34%
Long-term debt			$ 24,800
Maturity period	5 years
Media General [Member] \| Revolving loans [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt instrument principal amount					$ 3,000		$ 3,000
Repayment of debt		$ 2,000
Media General [Member] \| Term Loans [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Repayment of debt		$ 668,800	$ 1,658,135
Media General [Member] \| 5.625 % Due 2024 [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt instrument principal amount				$ 900,000
Debt instrument, issued price percentage				5.625%
Maturity year				2024
Media General [Member] \| 5.875% Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt instrument, issued price percentage			5.875%
Maturity year			2022
Long-term debt			$ 400,000