CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenues [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 1,118,203	$ 663,575	$ 3,124,658	$ 1,939,234
Operating expenses (income):
Direct operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization	423,091	322,327	1,284,789	911,234
Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization	226,544	183,083	638,171	469,501
Amortization of broadcast rights	31,968	18,452	104,916	46,749
Amortization of intangible assets	69,265	42,443	209,360	115,538
Depreciation	36,611	29,363	107,787	84,890
Reimbursement from the FCC related to station repack	(12,873)	(20,417)	(51,347)	(54,020)
Goodwill and intangible assets impairment		63,317		63,317
Gain on disposal of stations and entities, net		(96,608)	(7,025)	(96,608)
Change in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration attributable to a merger			3,933
Gain on relinquishment of spectrum			(10,791)
Total operating expenses	774,606	541,960	2,279,793	1,540,601
Income from operations	343,597	121,615	844,865	398,633
Income on equity investments, net	15,861	3,217	41,351	2,061
Interest expense, net	(77,265)	(93,199)	(260,800)	(197,519)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(37,371)		(44,848)	(3,724)
Pension and other postretirement plans credit, net	10,761	2,578	32,285	5,378
Other (expenses) income, net	(1,093)	118	(778)	209
Income before income taxes	254,490	34,329	612,075	205,038
Income tax expense	(65,177)	(39,507)	(166,927)	(82,594)
Net income (loss)	189,313	(5,178)	445,148	122,444
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,371	(669)	2,046	(5,397)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc.	$ 190,684	$ (5,847)	$ 447,194	$ 117,047
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc.:
Basic	$ 4.24	$ (0.13)	$ 9.87	$ 2.54
Diluted	$ 4.08	$ (0.13)	$ 9.50	$ 2.44
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	44,979	46,114	45,313	45,997
Diluted	46,737	46,114	47,064	47,919