Note 3 - Acquisitions and Dispositions - Fair Value of Assets Acquired, Liabilities Assumed, and Goodwill from 2016 Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 30, 2016
Goodwill, Ending Balance	$ 612,425	$ 611,100	$ 485,318	$ 485,318
KYES-TV Acquisition [Member]
Accounts receivable			0
Other current assets			0
Property and equipment			176
Goodwill, Ending Balance			28
Broadcast licenses			254
Other intangible assets			42
Other non-current assets			0
Current liabilities			0
Other long-term liabilities			0
Total Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed			500
WBXX Acquisition [Member]
Accounts receivable			0
Other current assets			429
Property and equipment			1,633
Goodwill, Ending Balance			10,288
Broadcast licenses			18,199
Other intangible assets			0
Other non-current assets			408
Current liabilities			(460)
Other long-term liabilities			(497)
Total Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed			30,000
Schurz Acquisition and the Acquisition of WLUC-TV [Member]
Accounts receivable			19,226
Other current assets			4,606
Property and equipment			97,814
Goodwill, Ending Balance			61,981
Broadcast licenses			231,391
Other intangible assets			19,523
Other non-current assets			3,028
Current liabilities			(8,903)
Other long-term liabilities			(1,592)
Total Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed			427,074
2016 Acquisitions [Member]
Accounts receivable			19,226
Other current assets			5,035
Property and equipment			99,623
Goodwill, Ending Balance			72,297
Broadcast licenses			249,844
Other intangible assets			19,565
Other non-current assets			3,436
Current liabilities			(9,363)
Other long-term liabilities			(2,089)
Total Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed			$ 457,574