Note 13 - Guarantor Financial Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 43,920	$ 71,618	$ 24,244	$ 55,559
Trade accounts receivable, net	265,169	110,283
Restricted cash at qualified intermediary	119,903
Current deferred tax asset	55,754	7,506
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	39,798	13,889
Total current assets	524,544	203,296
Property and equipment, net	495,379	285,467
Deferred tax asset long-term		42,711
Other assets, net	79,000	35,477
Definite lived intangible assets, net	911,860	239,642
Broadcast licenses	1,123,800	573,300
Goodwill	1,608,191	541,475
Total assets	4,742,774	1,921,368
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	36,359	11,783
Accrued salaries and wages	36,634	14,183
Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities	102,692	42,656
Current installments of long-term debt	11,781	11,217
Current installments of obligation under capital leases	815	153
Total current liabilities	188,281	79,992
Long-term debt	2,400,162	905,783
Deferred tax liability and other long-term tax liabilities	356,401
Long term capital lease obligations	14,869	1,156
Retirement and postretirement plans	211,264	155,309
Other liabilities	38,168	43,891
Total liabilities	3,209,145	1,186,131
Noncontrolling interests	34,481	(1,744)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,321,011	557,754
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(36,445)	5,668
Retained earnings	214,582	161,076
Total stockholders' equity	1,499,148	736,981
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	4,742,774	1,921,368
Nonvoting Common Stock [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock		12,483
Nonvoting Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock		12,483
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Advances to consolidated subsidiaries [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Current assets:
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	2,021
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Advances to consolidated subsidiaries [Member] | LIN Television Corporation [Member]
Current assets:
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(441,971)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Advances to consolidated subsidiaries [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	443,939
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Advances to consolidated subsidiaries [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(3,989)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,388
Total current assets	2,388
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	1,494,739
Total assets	1,499,148
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,321,011
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(36,445)
Retained earnings	214,582
Total stockholders' equity	1,499,148
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	1,499,148
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | LIN Television Corporation [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,658
Trade accounts receivable, net	82,909
Current deferred tax asset	3,492
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19,424
Total current assets	115,483
Property and equipment, net	177,370
Other assets, net	8,565
Definite lived intangible assets, net	380,090
Goodwill	513,822
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	1,319,033
Total assets	2,072,392
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	4,014
Accrued salaries and wages	9,384
Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities	42,501
Current installments of obligation under capital leases	441
Total current liabilities	56,340
Long-term debt	291,442
Deferred tax liability and other long-term tax liabilities	172,726
Long term capital lease obligations	13,529
Retirement and postretirement plans	33,031
Other liabilities	10,585
Total liabilities	577,653
Stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,442,667
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,434)
Retained earnings	53,506
Total stockholders' equity	1,494,739
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	2,072,392
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	27,371	67,508	22,655	55,559
Trade accounts receivable, net	168,862	106,452
Restricted cash at qualified intermediary	119,903
Current deferred tax asset	52,222	7,506
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	11,396	21,273
Total current assets	379,754	202,739
Property and equipment, net	314,380	282,471
Deferred tax asset long-term		42,711
Other assets, net	67,962	34,499
Definite lived intangible assets, net	500,688	236,242
Broadcast licenses	1,039,500	550,900
Goodwill	995,319	538,745
Total assets	3,741,542	1,888,307
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	31,794	11,783
Accrued salaries and wages	26,536	14,183
Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities	53,042	40,476
Current installments of long-term debt	8,218	8,817
Current installments of obligation under capital leases	303	153
Total current liabilities	119,893	75,412
Long-term debt	2,080,570	876,183
Deferred tax liability and other long-term tax liabilities	180,974
Long term capital lease obligations	1,312	1,156
Retirement and postretirement plans	178,233	155,309
Other liabilities	22,179	42,553
Total liabilities	2,583,161	1,150,613
Noncontrolling interests	10,981	(1,744)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock		557,754
Additional paid-in capital	962,584	476
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(34,847)	5,668
Retained earnings	219,663	163,057
Total stockholders' equity	1,147,400	739,438
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	3,741,542	1,888,307
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	4,503	4,110	1,589
Trade accounts receivable, net	13,398	3,831
Current deferred tax asset	40
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,978	672
Total current assets	26,919	8,613
Property and equipment, net	3,629	2,996
Other assets, net	2,473	978
Definite lived intangible assets, net	31,082	3,400
Broadcast licenses	84,300	22,400
Goodwill	99,050	2,730
Total assets	243,464	41,117
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	551
Accrued salaries and wages	714
Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities	7,149	2,180
Current installments of long-term debt	3,563	2,400
Current installments of obligation under capital leases	71
Total current liabilities	12,048	4,580
Long-term debt	28,150	29,600
Deferred tax liability and other long-term tax liabilities	2,701
Long term capital lease obligations	28
Other liabilities	5,404	9,394
Total liabilities	48,331	43,574
Noncontrolling interests	23,500
Stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	172,765	(476)
Retained earnings	(1,132)	(1,981)
Total stockholders' equity	171,633	(2,457)
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	243,464	41,117
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(8,056)
Total current assets		(8,056)
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(2,813,772)
Total assets	(2,813,772)	(8,056)
Current liabilities:
Other liabilities		(8,056)
Total liabilities		(8,056)
Stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	(2,578,016)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	36,281
Retained earnings	(272,037)
Total stockholders' equity	(2,813,772)
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	(2,813,772)	(8,056)
Parent Company [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,388
Advances to and investments in consolidated subsidiaries	1,496,760
Total assets	1,499,148
Stockholders' equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(36,445)
Retained earnings	214,582
Total stockholders' equity	1,499,148
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity	$ 1,499,148