Note 14 - Quarterly Review (Details) - Quarterly Review (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
2014
Operating income	$ 115,104us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	$ 33,827us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	$ 55,493us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Net income (loss)	56,520us-gaap_ProfitLoss	4,354us-gaap_ProfitLoss	35,963us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	53,506us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	6,140us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	35,921us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.59us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.11us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.82us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.58us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.10us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.53us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
First Quarter [Member]
2014
Operating revenues	143,918	50,045
Operating income	19,254	7,062
Net income (loss)	5,439	3,019
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	5,385	3,114
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.07
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.05
Second Quarter [Member]
2014
Operating revenues	154,111	55,782
Operating income	22,037	8,185
Net income (loss)	6,892	3,447
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	6,786	3,706
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.08
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.06
Third Quarter [Member]
2014
Operating revenues	160,224	54,097
Operating income	35,181	8,923
Net income (loss)	13,849	4,137
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	13,395	4,477
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.09
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.07
Fourth Quarter [Member]
2014
Operating revenues	216,710	109,988
Operating income	38,632	9,657
Net income (loss)	30,340	(6,249)
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	$ 27,940	$ (5,157)
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ (0.06)
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ (0.06)

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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