Segment Information - Reconciliation of Revenue and Segment EBITDA from Segments to Consolidated (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 2,080	$ 1,978	$ 2,116	$ 1,965	$ 2,226	$ 1,891	$ 2,161	$ 2,014	$ 8,139	$ 8,292	$ 8,524
Depreciation and amortization										(449)	(505)	(498)
Impairment and restructuring charges										(927)	(89)	(84)
Equity (losses) earnings of affiliates										(295)	30	58
Interest, net										39	43	56
Other, net										132	18	75
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit										(615)	181	552
Income tax (expense) benefit	[1]									(28)	54	(185)
(Loss) income from continuing operations		$ (429)	$ (5)	$ (289)	$ (15)	$ 95	$ (147)	$ 87	$ 129	(643)	235	367
News and Information Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										5,069	5,338	5,731
Segment EBITDA										414	214	603
Depreciation and amortization										(283)	(347)	(365)
Book Publishing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										1,636	1,646	1,667
Segment EBITDA										199	185	221
Depreciation and amortization										(52)	(55)	(52)
Digital Real Estate Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										938	822	625
Segment EBITDA										324	344	201
Depreciation and amortization										(78)	(69)	(44)
Cable Network Programming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										494	484	500
Segment EBITDA										123	124	135
Depreciation and amortization										(32)	(29)	(33)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										2	2	1
Segment EBITDA										(175)	(183)	(215)
Depreciation and amortization										$ (4)	$ (5)	$ (4)

[1] The Company recognized a tax benefit of approximately $144 million upon reclassification of the Digital Education segment to discontinued operations in (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Statement of Operations in fiscal year 2016. In addition, a tax benefit of $30 million related to the operations of the Digital Education segment was recorded to discontinued operations in (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Statement of Operations in fiscal 2016. The tax expense (benefit) 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 federal current tax benefits attributed to discontinued operations.