Defined Contribution Plans	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Contribution Plans/ Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post Retirement Plans [Abstract]
Defined Contribution Plans	Note 6: Defined Contribution Plans Belo sponsors a defined contribution plan established effective October 1, 1989. The defined contribution plan covers substantially all employees of the Company. Participants may elect to contribute a portion of their pretax compensation as provided by the plan and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. The maximum pretax contribution an employee can make is 100% of his or her annual eligible compensation (less required withholdings and deductions) up to statutory limits. Effective January 1, 2011, the Company reinstated matching contributions to its defined contribution plan at a rate of $0.35 per dollar contributed by a participating employee up to 6% of eligible pay. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company increased matching contributions to its defined contribution plan at a rate of $0.50 per dollar contributed by a participating employee up to 6% of eligible pay. Belo’s contributions to its defined contribution plans totaled $3,983 and $2,669 in 2012 and 2011, respectively. There were no matching contributions in 2010. In March 2007, Belo froze benefits under the Pension Plan. See Note 7. As part of the curtailment of the Pension Plan, the Company is providing transition benefits to affected employees, including supplemental contributions to the Belo pension transition supplement plans, which are defined contribution plans, for a period of up to five years. As a result, during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company accrued supplemental pension transition contributions for these plans totaling $3,820, $3,079 and $3,148, respectively.

Defined Contribution Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Defined Contribution Plans/ Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post Retirement Plans [Abstract]

Note 6: Defined Contribution Plans

Belo sponsors a defined contribution plan established effective October 1, 1989. The defined contribution plan covers substantially all employees of the Company. Participants may elect to contribute a portion of their pretax compensation as provided by the plan and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. The maximum pretax contribution an employee can make is 100% of his or her annual eligible compensation (less required withholdings and deductions) up to statutory limits. Effective January 1, 2011, the Company reinstated matching contributions to its defined contribution plan at a rate of $0.35 per dollar contributed by a participating employee up to 6% of eligible pay. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company increased matching contributions to its defined contribution plan at a rate of $0.50 per dollar contributed by a participating employee up to 6% of eligible pay. Belo’s contributions to its defined contribution plans totaled $3,983 and $2,669 in 2012 and 2011, respectively. There were no matching contributions in 2010.

In March 2007, Belo froze benefits under the Pension Plan. See Note 7. As part of the curtailment of the Pension Plan, the Company is providing transition benefits to affected employees, including supplemental contributions to the Belo pension transition supplement plans, which are defined contribution plans, for a period of up to five years. As a result, during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company accrued supplemental pension transition contributions for these plans totaling $3,820, $3,079 and $3,148, respectively.