Segment Information - Reconciliation of Revenue and Segment EBITDA from Segments to Consolidated (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,117	$ 2,041	$ 2,258	$ 2,108	$ 2,226	$ 1,891	$ 2,161	$ 2,014	$ 8,292		$ 8,524	$ 8,486
Total Segment EBITDA									684		945	963
Depreciation and amortization									(505)		(498)	(552)
Impairment and restructuring charges									(89)		(84)	(94)
Equity earnings of affiliates									30		58	90
Interest, net									43		56	68
Other, net									18		75	(653)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax benefit (expense)									181		552	(178)	[1]
Income tax benefit (expense)									54	[2]	(185)	614	[1]
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$ 5	$ 45	$ 162	$ 86	$ 95	$ (147)	$ 87	$ 129	235		367	436
News and Information Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									5,338		5,731	6,153
Total Segment EBITDA									214		603	665
Depreciation and amortization									(347)		(365)	(458)
Book Publishing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,646		1,667	1,434
Total Segment EBITDA									185		221	197
Depreciation and amortization									(55)		(52)	(36)
Digital Real Estate Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									822		625	408
Total Segment EBITDA									344		201	214
Depreciation and amortization									(69)		(44)	(20)
Cable Network Programming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									484		500	491
Total Segment EBITDA									124		135	128
Depreciation and amortization									(29)		(33)	(36)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2		1
Total Segment EBITDA									(183)		(215)	(241)
Depreciation and amortization									$ (5)		$ (4)	$ (2)

[1] See Discussion of Foreign Tax Refund below.

[2] The Company recognized a tax benefit of approximately $144 million upon reclassification of the Digital Education segment to discontinued operations in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Statements of Operations in fiscal 2016. In addition, a tax benefit of $30 million related to the current year operations of the Digital Education segment was recorded to discontinued operations in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Statements of Operations in fiscal 2016. The tax (benefit) expense shown above excludes the tax benefit of the Company's digital education business. The Company will not have a current federal tax expense after accounting for the current federal tax benefits attributed to discontinued operations.