Note 2 - Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details Textual) - USD ($)					1 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2015	Dec. 15, 2014	Oct. 02, 2014	Jun. 13, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Sep. 15, 2014	May. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 02, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cedar Rapids [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred					$ 100,000,000
Odessa [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	$ 33,600,000
Twin Falls [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	17,500,000
Wausau [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	14,000,000
Presque Isle Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	10,300,000
Laredo [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	$ 9,000,000
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life											3 years
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life											40 years
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Retransmission Agreements [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired											$ 9,700,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life											5 years 109 days
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Advertising Relationships [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired											$ 1,000,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life											9 years 219 days
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Income Leases [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired											$ 5,400,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life											16 years 328 days
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs											$ 6,500,000
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount											$ 48,300,000
Acquired Intangible Assets Measurement Period for Finalization of Preliminary Valuations											1 year
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual											$ 23,200,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Changes in Accounting and Extraordinary Items, Net of Tax											8,600,000
Hoak Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred				$ 299,900,000
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired				100.00%
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses and Interests in Affiliates				$ 33,500,000
SJL Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred							$ 131,500,000
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired							100.00%
KEVN Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred								$ 8,800,000
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired								100.00%
KNDX Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred								$ 7,500,000
Parker Acquisition [Member] | Allocated to the Parker Broadcasting of Louisiana [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred												$ 1,700,000
Parker Acquisition [Member] | Allocated to the Parker Broadcasting of Dakota [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred												5,000,000
Parker Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred												$ 6,700,000
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired												100.00%
WQCW Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred									$ 5,500,000
Helena Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred						$ 1,900,000
2014 Acquisition [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life												3 years
2014 Acquisition [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life												40 years
2014 Acquisition [Member] | Retransmission Agreements [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired												$ 34,200,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life												4 years 146 days
2014 Acquisition [Member] | Advertising Relationships [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired												$ 13,100,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life												5 years 182 days
2014 Acquisition [Member] | Income Leases [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired												$ 4,100,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life												8 years 109 days
2014 Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount												$ 88,600,000
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs												6,200,000
Accounts Receivable Contractual Amounts in Excess of Fair Value												300,000
Yellowstone [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred			$ 10,000,000							$ 23,000,000			$ 32,700,000
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs										$ 200,000
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee, Cumulative Percentage Ownership after All Transactions										99.00%
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee Additional Percentage Ownership from Transaction										1.00%
KJCT [Member] | Excalibur [Member] | Non-license Assets [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired										$ 3,000,000
KJCT [Member] | Excalibur [Member]
Payments for (Proceeds from) Derivative Instrument, Investing Activities										500,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets		$ 2,900,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt		(200,000)
KJCT [Member] | Non-license Assets [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired										9,000,000
KJCT [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred										$ 12,000,000
Proceeds from Sale of Machinery and Equipment		$ 75,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property												(269,000)
2013 Acquisition [Member] | Retransmission Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life														1 year 292 days
Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Fair Value Disclosure														$ 1,400,000
2013 Acquisition [Member] | Advertising Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life														7 years 36 days
Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Fair Value Disclosure														$ 600,000
Hoak and SJL [Member]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs												5,100,000
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual												64,700,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Changes in Accounting and Extraordinary Items, Net of Tax												25,800,000
Helena Montana Disposition [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets					$ (100,000)
NBC Affiliate and Television Station KTVH-TV [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets											900,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration											3,000,000
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired											17,845,000	53,455,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt											0	(5,086,000)		0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property											$ (80,000)	$ (623,000)		$ (765,000)