Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net Operating Revenues	$ 714,719,000	$ 650,142,000	$ 687,395,000
Operating Costs and Expenses
Station salaries, wages and employee benefits	224,348,000	214,861,000	209,945,000
Station programming and other operating costs	197,795	204,973,000	199,304,000
Corporate operating costs	33,393,000	25,338,000	36,487,000
Pension settlement charge and contribution reimbursements		20,466,000	(8,572,000)
Depreciation	30,103	30,796,000	34,693,000
Total operating costs and expenses	485,639	496,434,000	471,857,000
Earnings from operations	229,080,000	153,708,000	215,538,000
Other Income and (Expense)
Interest expense	(69,705,000)	(72,393,000)	(77,895,000)
Other income (expense), net	(2,716)	6,541,000	1,377,000
Total other income and (expense)	(72,421)	(65,852,000)	(76,518,000)
Earnings before income taxes	156,659	87,856,000	139,020,000
Income tax expense	56,929	29,898,000	52,114,000
Net earnings	99,730,000	57,958,000	86,906,000
Less: Net (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(440)
Net earnings attributable to Belo Corp.	$ 100,170,000	$ 57,958,000	$ 86,906,000
Net earnings per share [Abstract]
Basic	$ 0.96	$ 0.55	$ 0.83
Diluted	$ 0.95	$ 0.55	$ 0.83
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic	103,507	103,606	103,026
Diluted	104,012	103,980	103,437
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.57	$ 0.15