Note 11 - Guarantor Financial Information (Detail) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 23, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010
Station revenue (less agency commissions)		$ 359,722	$ 280,611	$ 304,798
Operating costs:
Station production expenses		125,996	111,586	118,042
Station, selling, general, and administrative expenses		88,235	80,472	81,122
Corporate and other expenses		31,705	33,651	35,574
Depreciation and software amortization		22,422	23,029	23,240
Amortization of intangible assets		2,637	5,253	5,253
Loss (gain) related to fixed assets, net		2,062	213	11
Total operating costs		273,057	254,204	263,242
Operating income (loss)		86,665	26,407	41,556
Other income (expense):
Interest expense - related party		(26,468)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs	(17,300)	(35,415)		(5,450)
Other, net		458	1,281	989
Total other income (expense)		(112,991)	(63,122)	(70,058)
Incomе (loss) from continuing opеrations bеforе incomе taxеs		(26,326)	(36,715)	(28,502)
Income tax expense (benefit)		13,631	12,218	10,043
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(39,957)	(48,933)	(38,545)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Loss from discontinued operations		(11,270)	(25,389)	15,907
Loss related to divesture of discontinued operations		(142,190)
Net income (loss)		(193,417)	(74,322)	(22,638)
Other comprehensive loss (net of tax)		(34,540)	(58,317)	(9,096)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(227,957)	(132,639)	(31,734)
Non-Related Party [Member] | Media General Corporate [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(51,501)	(64,358)	(65,570)
Non-Related Party [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(65)	(45)	(27)
Non-Related Party [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(51,566)	(64,403)	(65,597)
Media General Corporate [Member]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)		28,662	30,669	32,356
Operating costs:
Corporate and other expenses		29,828	31,467	33,395
Depreciation and software amortization		2,547	2,598	2,255
Loss (gain) related to fixed assets, net		1,374	(342)	(442)
Total operating costs		33,749	33,723	35,208
Operating income (loss)		(5,087)	(3,054)	(2,852)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense - related party		(26,468)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs		(35,415)		(5,450)
Intercompany interest income (expense)		77,348	66,459	54,659
Investment income (loss) - consolidated affiliates		(152,809)	(76,757)	(7,071)
Other, net		515	1,388	1,023
Total other income (expense)		(188,330)	(73,268)	(22,409)
Incomе (loss) from continuing opеrations bеforе incomе taxеs		(193,417)	(76,322)	(25,261)
Income tax expense (benefit)			(2,000)	(1,667)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(193,417)	(74,322)	(23,594)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Loss from discontinued operations				956
Net income (loss)		(193,417)	(74,322)	(22,638)
Other comprehensive loss (net of tax)		(34,540)	(58,317)	(9,096)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(227,957)	(132,639)	(31,734)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)		359,880	280,830	409,603
Operating costs:
Station production expenses		126,118	111,614	118,354
Station, selling, general, and administrative expenses		116,942	111,332	217,982
Corporate and other expenses		1,871	2,297	2,412
Depreciation and software amortization		19,875	20,431	20,985
Amortization of intangible assets		2,637	5,253	5,253
Loss (gain) related to fixed assets, net		688	555	453
Total operating costs		268,131	251,482	365,439
Operating income (loss)		91,749	29,348	44,164
Other income (expense):
Intercompany interest income (expense)		(77,348)	(66,459)	(54,659)
Other, net		(57)	(107)	(34)
Total other income (expense)		(77,470)	(66,611)	(54,720)
Incomе (loss) from continuing opеrations bеforе incomе taxеs		14,279	(37,263)	(10,556)
Income tax expense (benefit)		13,631	14,218	11,710
Income (loss) from continuing operations		648	(51,481)	(22,266)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Loss from discontinued operations		(11,261)	(25,389)	14,965
Loss related to divesture of discontinued operations		(142,190)
Net income (loss)		(152,803)	(76,870)	(7,301)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(152,803)	(76,870)	(7,301)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Operating costs:
Corporate and other expenses		6	(113)	(233)
Total operating costs		6	(113)	(233)
Operating income (loss)		(6)	113	233
Other income (expense):
Incomе (loss) from continuing opеrations bеforе incomе taxеs		(6)	113	233
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(6)	113	233
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Net income (loss)		(6)	113	233
Comprehensive income (loss)		(6)	113	233
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)		(28,820)	(30,888)	(137,161)
Operating costs:
Station production expenses		(122)	(28)	(312)
Station, selling, general, and administrative expenses		(28,707)	(30,860)	(136,860)
Total operating costs		(28,829)	(30,888)	(137,172)
Operating income (loss)		9		11
Other income (expense):
Investment income (loss) - consolidated affiliates		152,809	76,757	7,071
Total other income (expense)		152,809	76,757	7,071
Incomе (loss) from continuing opеrations bеforе incomе taxеs		152,818	76,757	7,082
Income (loss) from continuing operations		152,818	76,757	7,082
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Loss from discontinued operations		(9)		(14)
Net income (loss)		152,809	76,757	7,068
Comprehensive income (loss)		$ 152,809	$ 76,757	$ 7,068