Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating activities
Net income	$ 44,000	$ (18,000)	$ 41,000	$ 20,000	$ 26,000	$ 61,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	20,000		13,000		40,000	27,000
Amortization of intangible assets	28,000		5,000		57,000	11,000
Amortization of deferred loan costs					6,000	2,000
Amortization of restricted stock and stock option awards					5,000	3,000
Amortization of program broadcast rights					20,000	11,000
Payments on program broadcast obligations					(24,000)	(11,000)
Common stock contributed to 401(k)					4,000	0
Deferred income taxes					12,000	11,000
Gain on disposals of assets, net	(3,000)		(1,000)		(13,000)	(2,000)
Other					(7,000)	(1,000)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable					41,000	(5,000)
Prepaid income taxes					0	(12,000)
Other current assets					(15,000)	1,000
Accounts payable					0	(2,000)
Employee compensation, benefits and pension cost					(14,000)	(4,000)
Accrued network fees and other expenses					(42,000)	(3,000)
Accrued interest					4,000	0
Income taxes payable					1,000	10,000
Deferred revenue					4,000	1,000
Net cash provided by operating activities					105,000	98,000
Investing activities
Acquisitions of television businesses and licenses, net of cash acquired					(2,789,000)	0
Proceeds from sale of television station					231,000	0
Purchases of property and equipment					(44,000)	(20,000)
Proceeds from asset sales					3,000	0
Proceeds from FCC Repack (Note 1)	5,000		1,000		17,000	2,000
Acquisition prepayments					(14,000)	(4,000)
Other					(3,000)	0
Net cash used in investing activities					(2,599,000)	(22,000)
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt					1,400,000	0
Repayments of borrowings on long-term debt					(7,000)	(3,000)
Payments for the repurchase of common stock					0	(20,000)
Payment of preferred stock dividends					(13,000)	0
Deferred and other loan costs					(50,000)	0
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards					(4,000)	(4,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities					1,326,000	(27,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash					(1,168,000)	49,000
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period		$ 1,419,000		$ 462,000	1,419,000	462,000	$ 462,000
Cash at end of period	$ 251,000		$ 511,000		$ 251,000	$ 511,000	$ 1,419,000