Note 3 - Acquisitions and Dispositions - Purchase Consideration in Acquisition (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Base purchase price				$ 472,500
Purchase price adjustment				574
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Total				473,074
Cash consideration received from sale of Schurz Radio Stations				(16,000)
Net adjusted purchase price allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed				457,074
Non-cash consideration received				(30,000)
Cash consideration received		$ (8,500)		(11,200)
Net consideration - the Schurz Acquisition and Related Transactions				415,874
WBXX Acquisition [Member]
Base purchase price				30,000
Purchase price adjustment				0
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Total				30,000
Cash consideration received from sale of Schurz Radio Stations				0
Net adjusted purchase price allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed				30,000
Non-cash consideration received				0
Cash consideration received				0
Net consideration - the Schurz Acquisition and Related Transactions				30,000
Schurz Acquisition and the Acquisition of WLUC-TV [Member]
Base purchase price				442,500
Purchase price adjustment				574
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Total				443,074
Cash consideration received from sale of Schurz Radio Stations				(16,000)
Net adjusted purchase price allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed				427,074
Non-cash consideration received				0
Cash consideration received				0
Net consideration - the Schurz Acquisition and Related Transactions				427,074
KAKE-TV [Member]
Base purchase price				0
Purchase price adjustment				0
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Total				0
Cash consideration received from sale of Schurz Radio Stations				0
Net adjusted purchase price allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed				0
Non-cash consideration received				(30,000)
Cash consideration received	$ (11,200)			(11,200)
Net consideration - the Schurz Acquisition and Related Transactions				$ (41,200)