Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets
Current assets	$ 51,250	$ 57,104
Facilities and equipment, net	196,611	169,950
Franchise rights, net	643,445	640,151
Goodwill	294,563	292,623
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	43,753	45,284
Total assets	1,229,622	1,205,112
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	105,093	105,068
Long-term debt	591,263	561,687
Other liabilities and deferred items	58,032	58,689
Deferred income taxes	208,137	214,455
Member’s equity	267,097	265,213
Total liabilities and member’s equity	1,229,622	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	267,097	265,326
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	267,097	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	267,097	265,326
Total liabilities and member’s equity	267,097	265,326
Subsidiary Issuer: NPC
Assets
Current assets	41,148	53,364
Facilities and equipment, net	164,728	152,810
Franchise rights, net	596,447	607,880
Goodwill	290,502	290,502
Investment in subsidiary	77,185	50,978
Other assets, net	41,868	44,273
Total assets	1,211,878	1,199,807
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	90,940	100,766
Long-term debt	591,263	561,687
Other liabilities and deferred items	54,806	58,060
Deferred income taxes	207,772	214,081
Member’s equity	267,097	265,213
Total liabilities and member’s equity	1,211,878	1,199,807
Subsidiary Co-Issuer: NPCQB
Assets
Current assets	10,102	3,740
Facilities and equipment, net	31,883	17,140
Franchise rights, net	46,998	32,271
Goodwill	4,061	2,121
Investment in subsidiary	0	0
Other assets, net	1,885	1,011
Total assets	94,929	56,283
Liabilities and member’s equity
Current liabilities	14,153	4,302
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities and deferred items	3,226	629
Deferred income taxes	365	374
Member’s equity	77,185	50,978
Total liabilities and member’s equity	94,929	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	0	0
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	0	0
Eliminations
Assets
Current assets	0	0
Facilities and equipment, net	0	0
Franchise rights, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in subsidiary	(344,282)	(316,304)
Other assets, net	0	0
Total assets	(344,282)	(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	(344,282)	(316,304)
Total liabilities and member’s equity	$ (344,282)	$ (316,304)