Capital Stock and Shares Compensation Plans - Additional Information (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Director $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares
Capital stock [Abstract]
Number of directors entitled to be elected, minimum | Director	3
Percentage of directors entitled to be elected, maximum	33.33%
Incentive Plans [Abstract]
LTI Plan expiration date	Feb. 19, 2025
Shares available for future stock compensation grants (in million shares)	7,900,000
Assumptions used to determine fair value:
Total unrecognized share-based compensation costs | $	$ 2.0
Weighted-average period over which unrecognized share-based compensation costs are expected to be recognized (in years)	1 year 4 months 24 days
Share Repurchase Program [Abstract]
Repurchase of class A common shares (in shares)	3,986,275	15,447,884	3,917,471
Cost of shares repurchased | $	$ 288.5	$ 1,200.0	$ 253.2
Authorized amount | $	$ 1,512.5
Scripps Family Members [Member]
Share Repurchase Program [Abstract]
Repurchase of class A common shares (in shares)	3,000,000	4,500,000
Cost of shares repurchased | $	$ 216.8	$ 339.0
Stock Options [Member]
Stock Options [Abstract]
Exercisable options (in years)	3 years
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Awarded (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 71.01
Unvested units or shares, weighted average grant date fair value [Abstract]
Awarded (in shares)	346,000
Restricted Stock Units [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Vesting period (in years)	1 year
Restricted Stock Units [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Vesting period (in years)	5 years
Performance Based Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Vesting period (in years)	3 years
Restricted Stock [Member]
Assumptions used to determine fair value:
Total unrecognized share-based compensation costs | $	$ 15.3
Weighted-average period over which unrecognized share-based compensation costs are expected to be recognized (in years)	1 year 4 months 24 days
Common Class A [Member]
Capital stock [Abstract]
Shares reserved for issuance of stock	8,000,000
Common Class A [Member] | Performance Based Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Restricted Stock Units [Abstract]
Awarded (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 72.30	$ 85.10
Unvested units or shares, weighted average grant date fair value [Abstract]
Awarded (in shares)	61,390	60,310