Note 2 - Acquisitions and Dispositions - Fair Value of Assets Acquired, Liabilities Assumed, and Goodwill from 2014 Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill	$ 485,318	$ 423,236	$ 374,390
Hoak Acquisition [Member]
Cash			0
Accounts receivable			10,722
Other current assets			509
Property and equipment			45,382
Goodwill			131,632
Broadcast licenses			91,958
Other intangible assets			35,386
Other non-current assets			0
Current liabilities			(3,544)
Other long-term liabilities			0
Deferred income tax liabilities			(12,188)
Total			299,857
SJL Acquisition [Member]
Cash			0
Accounts receivable			7,132
Other current assets			1,946
Property and equipment			23,508
Goodwill			50,941
Broadcast licenses			86,685
Other intangible assets			10,091
Other non-current assets			253
Current liabilities			(4,936)
Other long-term liabilities			(379)
Deferred income tax liabilities			(43,712)
Total			131,529
KEVN Acquisition [Member]
Cash			615
Accounts receivable			569
Other current assets			96
Property and equipment			3,888
Goodwill			2,717
Broadcast licenses			1,675
Other intangible assets			1,786
Other non-current assets			29
Current liabilities			(211)
Other long-term liabilities			(38)
Deferred income tax liabilities			(2,341)
Total			8,785
KNDX Acquisition [Member]
Cash			0
Accounts receivable			0
Other current assets			39
Property and equipment			2,576
Goodwill			1,839
Broadcast licenses			500
Other intangible assets			2,584
Other non-current assets			15
Current liabilities			(36)
Other long-term liabilities			(17)
Deferred income tax liabilities			0
Total			7,500
Parker Acquisition [Member]
Cash			0
Accounts receivable			765
Other current assets			964
Property and equipment			722
Goodwill			1,932
Broadcast licenses			0
Other intangible assets			3,163
Other non-current assets			16
Current liabilities			(826)
Other long-term liabilities			(5)
Deferred income tax liabilities			0
Total			6,731
WQCW Acquisition [Member]
Cash			0
Accounts receivable			0
Other current assets			45
Property and equipment			991
Goodwill			802
Broadcast licenses			3,691
Other intangible assets			15
Other non-current assets			0
Current liabilities			(45)
Other long-term liabilities			0
Deferred income tax liabilities			0
Total			5,499
Helena Acquisition [Member]
Cash			0
Accounts receivable			14
Other current assets			49
Property and equipment			1,230
Goodwill			70
Broadcast licenses			146
Other intangible assets			431
Other non-current assets			0
Current liabilities			(90)
Other long-term liabilities			0
Deferred income tax liabilities			0
Total			$ 1,850