Description of business, basis of presentation and summary of significant accounting policies - Additional Information (Detail)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2015 station	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) market station	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) market station	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 23, 2013 station
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of television stations | station		46	46
Number of markets In which entity operates | market		38	38
Additional days in period			4 days
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
VIE Total Assets		$ 4,400,000	$ 4,400,000	$ 60,000,000
VIE Total Liabilities		1,200,000	1,200,000	4,300,000
Non-cash goodwill impairment charge			8,000,000	30,271,000	$ 8,400,000
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets			$ 0
Retransmission consent revenue (as a percent of total revenue)			27.00%		18.00%
Debt issuance costs		$ 49,000,000	$ 49,000,000
Debt issuance costs (as a percent of total assets) (less than)		1.00%	1.00%
Digital
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Non-cash goodwill impairment charge			$ 8,000,000	30,271,000
Other
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Investments in non-public businesses, non-operating expense		$ 8,600,000	$ 8,600,000	8,300,000
Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fiscal period duration			364 days
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fiscal period duration			371 days
Building and Building Improvements | Minimum
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)			10 years
Building and Building Improvements | Maximum
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)			40 years
Machinery and Equipment | Minimum
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)			3 years
Machinery and Equipment | Maximum
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)			25 years
Restricted Stock
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Requisite service period			4 years
Performance Shares
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Requisite service period			3 years
Stock Options
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Award vesting period			4 years
Career Builder
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership interests in subsidiary (as a percent)		52.90%	52.90%
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of TV stations owned by VIE consolidated | station		4	4			4
Number of stations acquired | station	3
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
VIE Total Assets		$ 4,405,000	$ 4,405,000	60,037,000
VIE Total Liabilities		3,100,000	3,100,000	37,663,000
Cost of Sales
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Bad debt expense			6,900,000	4,100,000	$ 4,400,000
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Advertising costs			173,300,000	110,100,000	$ 98,600,000
PointRoll | Digital
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Non-cash goodwill impairment charge		8,000,000
Current assets | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
VIE Total Assets		1,250,000	1,250,000	20,541,000
Property and equipment, net | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
VIE Total Assets		309,000	309,000	10,084,000
Intangible and other assets | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
VIE Total Assets		2,846,000	2,846,000	29,412,000
Current liabilities | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
VIE Total Liabilities		1,381,000	1,381,000	11,635,000
Noncurrent liabilities | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
VIE Total Liabilities		$ 1,719,000	$ 1,719,000	$ 26,028,000