Note 11. Guarantor Financial Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 24, 2012
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)	$ 82,020	$ 83,098	$ 155,959	$ 157,312
Operating costs:
Station production expenses	31,412	30,850	63,415	60,901
Station selling, general, and administrative expenses	23,208	21,374	45,755	41,968
Corporate and other expenses	9,084	7,635	16,788	19,511
Depreciation and software amortization	5,636	5,641	11,157	11,591
Amortization of intangible assets	441	441	882	1,754
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net	111	(179)	68	(250)
Merger-related expenses	7,171		7,171
Total operating costs	77,063	65,762	145,236	135,475
Operating income (loss)	4,957	17,336	10,723	21,837
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(9,492)	(16,762)	(18,821)	(31,913)
Interest expense - related party	(10,005)	(4,895)	(19,918)	(4,895)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs		(7,689)		(18,097)
Other, net	(225)	230	(174)	412
Total other income (expense)	(19,722)	(29,116)	(38,913)	(54,493)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(14,765)	(11,780)	(28,190)	(32,656)
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,924	3,409	5,208	6,817
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(16,689)	(15,189)	(33,398)	(39,473)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	543	590	(413)	(9,550)
Loss related to divestiture of operations		(131,697)	(30)	(131,697)
Net income (loss)	(16,146)	(146,296)	(33,841)	(180,720)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(15,499)	(146,296)	(31,269)	(180,720)
Media General Corporate [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)	6,941	7,267	11,988	15,821
Operating costs:
Corporate and other expenses	8,494	7,176	16,008	18,185
Depreciation and software amortization	449	565	881	1,498
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net	(30)	(422)	(73)	(493)
Merger-related expenses	7,171		7,171
Total operating costs	16,084	7,319	23,987	19,190
Operating income (loss)	(9,143)	(52)	(11,999)	(3,369)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(9,471)	(16,746)	(18,782)	(31,882)
Interest expense - related party	(10,005)	(4,895)	(19,918)	(4,895)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs		(7,689)		(18,097)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	20,395	20,866	41,466	35,571
Investment income (loss) - consolidated affiliates	(7,963)	(138,038)	(24,678)	(158,515)
Other, net	41	258	70	467
Total other income (expense)	(7,003)	(146,244)	(21,842)	(177,351)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(16,146)	(146,296)	(33,841)	(180,720)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(16,146)	(146,296)	(33,841)	(180,720)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Net income (loss)	(16,146)	(146,296)	(33,841)	(180,720)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(15,499)	(146,296)	(31,269)	(180,720)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)	82,020	83,502	155,959	157,770
Operating costs:
Station production expenses	31,412	31,263	63,415	61,373
Station selling, general, and administrative expenses	30,149	28,664	57,743	57,833
Corporate and other expenses		661		1,361
Depreciation and software amortization	5,187	5,076	10,276	10,093
Amortization of intangible assets	441	441	882	1,754
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net	141	243	141	243
Total operating costs	67,330	66,348	132,457	132,657
Operating income (loss)	14,690	17,154	23,502	25,113
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(21)	(16)	(39)	(31)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(20,395)	(20,866)	(41,466)	(35,571)
Other, net	(266)	(28)	(244)	(55)
Total other income (expense)	(20,682)	(20,910)	(41,749)	(35,657)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(5,992)	(3,756)	(18,247)	(10,544)
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,924	3,409	5,208	6,817
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(7,916)	(7,165)	(23,455)	(17,361)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	543	622	(413)	(9,492)
Loss related to divestiture of operations		(131,697)	(30)	(131,697)
Net income (loss)	(7,373)	(138,240)	(23,898)	(158,550)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(7,373)	(138,240)	(23,898)	(158,550)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Operating costs:
Corporate and other expenses	590	(202)	780	(35)
Total operating costs	590	(202)	780	(35)
Operating income (loss)	(590)	202	(780)	35
Other income (expense):
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(590)	202	(780)	35
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(590)	202	(780)	35
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Net income (loss)	(590)	202	(780)	35
Comprehensive income (loss)	(590)	202	(780)	35
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)	(6,941)	(7,671)	(11,988)	(16,279)
Operating costs:
Station production expenses		(413)		(472)
Station selling, general, and administrative expenses	(6,941)	(7,290)	(11,988)	(15,865)
Total operating costs	(6,941)	(7,703)	(11,988)	(16,337)
Operating income (loss)		32		58
Other income (expense):
Investment income (loss) - consolidated affiliates	7,963	138,038	24,678	158,515
Total other income (expense)	7,963	138,038	24,678	158,515
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	7,963	138,070	24,678	158,573
Income (loss) from continuing operations	7,963	138,070	24,678	158,573
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(32)		(58)
Net income (loss)	7,963	138,038	24,678	158,515
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 7,963	$ 138,038	$ 24,678	$ 158,515