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The pro forma operating income (loss) from continuing operations before changes in accounting and extraordinary items, net of tax effect, for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

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The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

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Amount after tax of pro forma income from continuing operations as if the business combination had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

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Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

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This element represents the amount of revenue of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period.

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Amount of consideration received or receivable for the disposal of assets and liabilities, including discontinued operation.

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No definition available.

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Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, from an acquisition.

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No definition available.

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee.

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Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment.

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No definition available.

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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a business segment or subsidiary or sale of an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled during the period (for example, an unconsolidated subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture or equity method investment).

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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Note 2 - Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands													12 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2016	Jun. 01, 2016	May 13, 2016	Feb. 16, 2016	Feb. 01, 2016	Sep. 01, 2015	Jul. 02, 2015	Nov. 01, 2014	Sep. 15, 2014	Jun. 13, 2014	May 01, 2014	Apr. 01, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred													$ 473,074
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses													11,200	$ 0
Long-term Debt													1,800,000	1,200,000
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired													19,566	17,845
Goodwill, Acquired During Period													72,296	48,916
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual													130,400
Business Acquisition, Operating Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Changes in Accounting and Extraordinary Items, Net of Tax													55,800
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs													7,400
2016 Term Loan [Member]
Long-term Debt				$ 425,000
KAKE-TV [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses					$ 11,200								11,200
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business					$ 2,000
Helena Montana Disposition [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets						$ (100)
NBC Affiliate and Television Station KTVH-TV [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets														900
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration														3,000
Schurz Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred				443,100
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses				$ 16,000
KYES-TV Acquisition [Member]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 500
Clarksburg Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred			$ 26,500
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		$ 16,500
WBXX Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred													30,000
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses
Accounts Receivable Contractual Amounts in Excess of Fair Value													200
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] \| Retransmission Agreements [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired													$ 14,900
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life													4 years 328 days
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] \| Advertising Relationships [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired													$ 1,600
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life													5 years 182 days
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] \| Off-Market Favorable Lease [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired													$ 2,600
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life													9 years 182 days
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life													3 years
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life													40 years
Cedar Rapids [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred						$ 100,000
Odessa [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred							$ 33,600
Twin Falls [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred							17,500
Wausau [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred							14,000
Presque Isle [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred							10,300
Laredo [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred							$ 9,000
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member]
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual														23,200
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount														48,300
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax														8,600
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] \| General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs														6,500
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] \| Retransmission Agreements [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired														$ 9,700
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
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
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life														16 years 328 days
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
Hoak Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred										$ 299,900
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired										100.00%
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses and Interests in Affiliates										$ 33,500
SJL Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred									$ 131,500
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired									100.00%
KEVN Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred											$ 8,800
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired											100.00%
KNDX Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred											$ 7,500
Parker Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred															$ 6,700
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired															100.00%
Parker Acquisition [Member] \| Allocated to the Parker Broadcasting of Louisiana [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred															$ 1,700
Parker Acquisition [Member] \| Allocated to the Parker Broadcasting of Dakota [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred															5,000
WQCW Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred												$ 5,500
Helena Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred								$ 1,900
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member]
Accounts Receivable Contractual Amounts in Excess of Fair Value															300
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs															6,200
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount															88,600
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] \| Retransmission Agreements [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired															$ 34,200
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life															4 years 146 days
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] \| Advertising Relationships [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired															$ 13,100
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life															5 years 182 days
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] \| Income Leases [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired															$ 4,100
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life															8 years 109 days
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life															3 years
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life															40 years
Hoak and SJL [Member]
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual															$ 64,700
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs															5,100
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax															$ 25,800