Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 01, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets
Current assets	$ 40,190	$ 57,104
Facilities and equipment, net	176,824	169,950
Franchise rights, net	635,808	640,151
Goodwill	292,638	292,623
Investment in subsidiary
Other assets, net	44,933	45,284
Total assets	1,190,393	1,205,112
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	97,115	105,068
Long-term debt	553,750	561,687
Other liabilities and deferred items	59,090	58,689
Deferred income taxes	212,269	214,455
Member’s equity	268,169	265,213
Total liabilities and member’s equity	1,190,393	1,205,112
Parent Guarantor: Holdings
Assets
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	268,291	265,326
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	268,291	265,326
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	268,291	265,326
Total liabilities and member’s equity	268,291	265,326
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Assets
Current assets	36,396	53,364
Facilities and equipment, net	159,540	152,810
Franchise rights, net	604,078	607,880
Goodwill	290,502	290,502
Investment in subsidiary	47,681	50,978
Other assets, net	43,929	44,273
Total assets	1,182,126	1,199,807
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	90,152	100,766
Long-term debt	553,750	561,687
Other liabilities and deferred items	58,169	58,060
Deferred income taxes	211,886	214,081
Member’s equity	268,169	265,213
Total liabilities and member’s equity	1,182,126	1,199,807
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Assets
Current assets	3,794	3,740
Facilities and equipment, net	17,284	17,140
Franchise rights, net	31,730	32,271
Goodwill	2,136	2,121
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	1,004	1,011
Total assets	55,948	56,283
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	6,963	4,302
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	921	629
Deferred income taxes	383	374
Member’s equity	47,681	50,978
Total liabilities and member’s equity	55,948	56,283
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPC Op Co B
Assets
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	0	0
Total liabilities and member’s equity
Eliminations
Assets
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	(315,972)	(316,304)
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	(315,972)	(316,304)
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Member’s equity	(315,972)	(316,304)
Total liabilities and member’s equity	$ (315,972)	$ (316,304)