Note 3 - Acquisitions and Divestitures - Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Oct. 01, 2019	Sep. 25, 2019	May 01, 2019	Jan. 02, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill	$ 1,446					$ 612	$ 611
Goodwill, Ending Balance	1,446					$ 612	611
Raycom [Member]
Cash					$ 115
Accounts receivable, net					243
Program broadcast rights					12
Other current assets					10
Property and equipment					311
Operating lease right of use asset					52
Goodwill					829
Broadcast licenses					2,004
Other intangible assets					504
Other non-current assets					20
Accrued compensation and benefits					(29)
Program broadcast obligations					(16)
Other current liabilities					(60)
Income taxes payable					(3)
Deferred income taxes					(472)
Operating lease liabilities					(52)
Other long-term liabilities					(25)
Total	3,443				3,443
Property and equipment					311
Goodwill, Ending Balance					829
Other intangible assets					504
Other non-current assets					$ 20
United Acquisition [Member]
Cash				$ 0
Accounts receivable, net				3
Program broadcast rights				0
Other current assets				0
Property and equipment				10
Operating lease right of use asset				0
Goodwill				3
Broadcast licenses				24
Other intangible assets				8
Other non-current assets				0
Accrued compensation and benefits				0
Program broadcast obligations				0
Other current liabilities				0
Income taxes payable				0
Deferred income taxes				0
Operating lease liabilities				0
Other long-term liabilities				0
Total				48
Property and equipment				10
Goodwill, Ending Balance				3
Other intangible assets				8
Other non-current assets				$ 0
Sioux Falls Acquisition [Member]
Cash			$ 0
Accounts receivable, net			1
Program broadcast rights			0
Other current assets			0
Property and equipment			10
Operating lease right of use asset			0
Goodwill		$ 2	2
Broadcast licenses			14
Other intangible assets			7
Other non-current assets			0
Accrued compensation and benefits			0
Program broadcast obligations			0
Other current liabilities			(1)
Income taxes payable			0
Deferred income taxes			0
Operating lease liabilities			0
Other long-term liabilities			0
Total			33
Property and equipment			10
Goodwill, Ending Balance		2	2
Other intangible assets			7
Other non-current assets			$ 0
Charlottesville Acquisition [Member]
Cash		0
Accounts receivable, net		1
Program broadcast rights		0
Other current assets		0
Property and equipment		7
Operating lease right of use asset		0
Goodwill		0
Broadcast licenses		2
Other intangible assets		3
Other non-current assets		0
Accrued compensation and benefits		0
Program broadcast obligations		0
Other current liabilities		0
Income taxes payable		0
Deferred income taxes		0
Operating lease liabilities		0
Other long-term liabilities		0
Total		13
Property and equipment		7
Goodwill, Ending Balance		0
Other intangible assets		3
Other non-current assets		$ 0
Acquisitions 2019 [Member]
Cash	115
Accounts receivable, net	248
Program broadcast rights	12
Other current assets	10
Property and equipment	338
Operating lease right of use asset	52
Goodwill	834
Broadcast licenses	2,044
Other intangible assets	522
Other non-current assets	20
Accrued compensation and benefits	(29)
Program broadcast obligations	(16)
Other current liabilities	(61)
Income taxes payable	(3)
Deferred income taxes	(472)
Operating lease liabilities	(52)
Other long-term liabilities	(25)
Total	3,537
Property and equipment	338
Goodwill, Ending Balance	834
Other intangible assets	522
Other non-current assets	$ 20
Fairbanks Acquistion [Member]
Property and equipment							3
Goodwill							0
Other intangible assets							3
Other non-current assets							0
Total							8
Current assets							0
Property and equipment							3
Goodwill, Ending Balance							0
Broadcast licenses							2
Other intangible assets							3
Other non-current assets							0
Current liabilities							0
Media General Acquisition [Member]
Property and equipment							20
Goodwill							86
Other intangible assets							13
Other non-current assets							1
Total							270
Current assets							1
Property and equipment							20
Goodwill, Ending Balance							86
Broadcast licenses							150
Other intangible assets							13
Other non-current assets							1
Current liabilities							(1)
Clarksburg Acquisition [Member]
Property and equipment							4
Goodwill							3
Other intangible assets							2
Other non-current assets							0
Total							26
Current assets							1
Property and equipment							4
Goodwill, Ending Balance							3
Broadcast licenses							17
Other intangible assets							2
Other non-current assets							0
Current liabilities							(1)
Diversified Acquisition [Member]
Property and equipment							12
Goodwill							36
Other intangible assets							11
Other non-current assets							0
Total							85
Current assets							0
Property and equipment							12
Goodwill, Ending Balance							36
Broadcast licenses							26
Other intangible assets							11
Other non-current assets							0
Current liabilities							0
Vermont Acquisition [Member]
Property and equipment							10
Goodwill							3
Other intangible assets							5
Other non-current assets							3
Total							29
Current assets							0
Property and equipment							10
Goodwill, Ending Balance							3
Broadcast licenses							8
Other intangible assets							5
Other non-current assets							3
Current liabilities							0
2017 Acquisitions [Member]
Property and equipment							49
Goodwill							128
Other intangible assets							34
Other non-current assets							4
Total							418
Current assets							2
Property and equipment							49
Goodwill, Ending Balance							128
Broadcast licenses							203
Other intangible assets							34
Other non-current assets							4
Current liabilities							$ (2)