Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net operating revenue	$ 269,912,000	$ 228,183,000	$ 174,520,000
Operating costs:
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation expense	95,214,000	68,899,000	61,846,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	71,243,000	55,000,000	53,851,000
Amortization of program license rights	11,362,000	9,022,000	9,780,000
Corporate and other expenses	19,016,000	23,531,000	12,182,000
Depreciation and amortization	25,772,000	16,179,000	13,896,000
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net	399,000	59,000	683,000
Write-off of intangible asset	0	0	978,000
Merger-related expenses	13,079,000
Total operating costs	236,085,000	172,690,000	153,216,000
Operating income	33,827,000	55,493,000	21,304,000
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(12,687,000)	(7,830,000)	(7,240,000)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs	(4,509,000)		(915,000)
Other, net	48,000	8,680,000	(675,000)
Total other income (expense)	(17,148,000)	850,000	(8,830,000)
Income before reorganization items and income taxes	16,679,000	56,343,000	12,474,000
Reorganization items, net			(1,350,000)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(12,325,000)	(20,380,000)	92,800,000
Net income	4,354,000	35,963,000	103,924,000
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (included above)	(1,786,000)	42,000
Net income attributable to Media General	6,140,000	35,921,000	103,924,000
Change in unrecognized amounts included in pension and postretirement obligations net of tax of $3,908 in 2013, $318 in 2012 and $363 in 2011	6,655,000	(500,000)	(1,159,000)
Total comprehensive income	11,009,000	35,463,000	102,765,000
Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General	$ 12,795,000	$ 35,421,000	$ 102,765,000
Net earnings per common share (basic) (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.82	$ 1.91
Net earnings per common share (assuming dilution) (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.53	$ 1.14