Consolidated Statements of Shareholder's Equity (USD $) Share data in Thousands	Total USD ($)	Common Stock USD ($)	Common Stock Series A Common Stock	Common Stock Series B Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital USD ($)	Retained Earnings (Deficit) USD ($)	AOCL USD ($)	Total Belo Corp. Equity USD ($)	NCI USD ($)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 82,862,000	$ 1,026,000			$ 1,082,303,000	$ (860,882,000)	$ (139,585,000)	$ 82,862,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2009			90,956	11,642
Net earnings (loss)	86,906,000					86,906,000		86,906,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,138,000)						(3,138,000)	(3,138,000)
Exercise of stock options	99,000	1,000			98,000			99,000
Exercise of stock options, Shares	56		56
Excess tax benefit from long-term incentive plan	93,000				93,000			93,000
Conversion of RSUs		5,000			(5,000)
Conversion of RSUs, Shares			535
Share-based compensation	3,820,000				3,820,000			3,820,000
Conversion of Series B to Series A, shares			1,370	(1,370)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	170,642,000	1,032,000			1,086,309,000	(773,976,000)	(142,723,000)	170,642,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010			92,917	10,272
Net earnings (loss)	57,958,000					57,958,000		57,958,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	55,382,000						55,382,000	55,382,000
Exercise of stock options	300,000	2,000			298,000			300,000
Exercise of stock options, Shares	162		72	90
Excess tax benefit from long-term incentive plan	166,000				166,000			166,000
Conversion of RSUs		4,000			(4,000)
Conversion of RSUs, Shares			436
Share-based compensation	3,744,000				3,744,000			3,744,000
Dividends	(15,558,000)					(15,558,000)		(15,558,000)
Adjustment to spin-off distribution of A. H. Belo	(5,431,000)	0				(5,431,000)		(5,431,000)
Conversion of Series B to Series A
Conversion of Series B to Series A, shares			247	(247)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	267,203,000	1,038,000			1,090,513,000	(737,007,000)	(87,341,000)	267,203,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011			93,672	10,115
Net earnings (loss)	99,730,000					100,170,000		100,170,000	(440,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(7,023,000)						(7,023,000)	(7,023,000)
Purchase and subsequent retirement of treasury stock	(5,964,000)	(10,000)			(5,954,000)			(5,964,000)
Purchase and subsequent retirement of treasury stock, share			(1,021)
Exercise of stock options	421,000	2,000			419,000			421,000
Exercise of stock options, Shares	225		175	50
Excess tax benefit from long-term incentive plan	418,000				418,000			418,000
Conversion of RSUs		3,000			(3,000)
Conversion of RSUs, Shares			327
Share-based compensation	4,371,000				4,371,000			4,371,000
Dividends	(59,432,000)					(59,432,000)		(59,432,000)
Conversion of Series B to Series A, shares			1,883	(1,883)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 299,724	$ 1,033,000			$ 1,089,764,000	$ (696,269,000)	$ (94,364,000)	$ 300,164,000	$ (440,000)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012			95,036	8,282