Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	NOTE 9: INCOME TAXES In the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense of $13 million. The effective tax rate on pretax income was 53.2% in the three months ended March 31, 2016. This rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), the domestic production activities deduction, other non-deductible expenses and a $4 million charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation. In the three months ended March 29, 2015, the Company recorded income tax expense of $22 million. The effective tax rate on pretax income was 38.0% in the three months ended March 29, 2015. This rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), the domestic production activities deduction, and other non-deductible expenses. Newsday and Chicago Cubs Transactions—As further described in Note 9 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Company consummated the closing of the Newsday Transactions on July 29, 2008. As a result of these transactions, CSC, through NMG Holdings, Inc., owned approximately 97% and the Company owned approximately 3% of NHLLC. The fair market value of the contributed Newsday Media Group business (“NMG”) net assets exceeded their tax basis and did not result in an immediate taxable gain because the transaction was structured to comply with the partnership provisions of the IRC and related regulations. In March 2013, the IRS issued its audit report on the Company’s federal income tax return for 2008 which concluded that the gain should have been included in the Company’s 2008 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS has proposed a $190 million tax and a $38 million accuracy-related penalty. After-tax interest on the proposed tax and penalty through March 31, 2016 would be approximately $38 million. The Company disagrees with the IRS’s position and has timely filed a protest in response to the IRS’s proposed tax adjustments. The Company is contesting the IRS’s position in the IRS administrative appeals division. If the IRS position prevails, the Company would also be subject to approximately $32 million, net of tax benefits, of state income taxes through March 31, 2016. If the IRS prevails, the tax, interest and penalty due will be offset by any tax payments made relating to this transaction subsequent to 2008. Through December 31, 2015, the Company has made approximately $137 million of federal and state tax payments through its regular tax reporting process and does not expect to make additional tax payments. The Company does not maintain any tax reserves relating to the Newsday Transactions. As further described in Note 5, on September 2, 2015, the Company sold its remaining interest in the Newsday partnership. The Company’s remaining deferred tax liability of $101 million became payable upon the consummation of the sale. The tax payments were made in the fourth quarter of 2015 and are included in the aggregate payments of $137 million referenced above. The sale of its partnership interest does not impact the ongoing IRS audit, nor does it change the Company’s view on the tax position(s) taken on the original transaction. As further described in Note 9 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Company consummated the closing of the Chicago Cubs Transactions on October 27, 2009. As a result of these transactions, Ricketts Acquisition LLC owns 95% and the Company owns 5% of the membership interests in New Cubs LLC. The fair market value of the contributed assets exceeded the tax basis and did not result in an immediate taxable gain because the transaction was structured to comply with the partnership provisions of the IRC and related regulations. The IRS is currently auditing the Company’s 2009 federal income tax return which includes the Chicago Cubs Transactions. On March 31, 2016, the IRS issued the Company a Notice of Proposed Adjustment (“NOPA”) which presents the IRS’s position that the gain should have been included in the Company’s 2009 taxable income. The NOPA also proposes that the Company be subject to penalties ranging from 20% to 40% of the tax due. The NOPA is only a notice of proposed adjustment and is not an actual tax assessment. The Company disagrees with the IRS’s position that the transaction generated taxable gain in 2009, the penalty assertion and the IRS’s calculation of the gain. The Company continues to pursue resolution of this disputed tax matter with the IRS. If the gain on the Chicago Cubs Transactions is deemed to be taxable in 2009, the Company estimates that the federal and state income taxes would be approximately $225 million before interest and penalties. However, if the IRS prevails in their position, any tax, interest and penalty due will be offset by any tax payments made relating to this transaction subsequent to 2009. Through March 31, 2016, the Company has paid approximately $35 million through its regular tax reporting process. The Company does not maintain any tax reserves relating to the Chicago Cubs Transactions. In accordance with ASC Topic 740, the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2016 includes a deferred tax liability of $161 million related to the future recognition of taxable income related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions. Other—Although management believes its estimates and judgments are reasonable, the resolutions of the Company’s tax issues are unpredictable and could result in tax liabilities that are significantly higher or lower than that which has been provided by the Company. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740, which addresses the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits totaled $34 million at March 31, 2016 and $34 million at December 31, 2015. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $10 million within the next twelve months due to the resolution of tax examination issues and statute of limitations expirations.

NOTE 9: INCOME TAXES

In the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense of $13 million. The effective tax rate on pretax income was 53.2% in the three months ended March 31, 2016. This rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), the domestic production activities deduction, other non-deductible expenses and a $4 million charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation.

In the three months ended March 29, 2015, the Company recorded income tax expense of $22 million. The effective tax rate on pretax income was 38.0% in the three months ended March 29, 2015. This rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), the domestic production activities deduction, and other non-deductible expenses.

Newsday and Chicago Cubs Transactions—As further described in Note 9 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Company consummated the closing of the Newsday Transactions on July 29, 2008. As a result of these transactions, CSC, through NMG Holdings, Inc., owned approximately 97% and the Company owned approximately 3% of NHLLC. The fair market value of the contributed Newsday Media Group business (“NMG”) net assets exceeded their tax basis and did not result in an immediate taxable gain because the transaction was structured to comply with the partnership provisions of the IRC and related regulations. In March 2013, the IRS issued its audit report on the Company’s federal income tax return for 2008 which concluded that the gain should have been included in the Company’s 2008 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS has proposed a $190 million tax and a $38 million accuracy-related penalty. After-tax interest on the proposed tax and penalty through March 31, 2016 would be approximately $38 million. The Company disagrees with the IRS’s position and has timely filed a protest in response to the IRS’s proposed tax adjustments. The Company is contesting the IRS’s position in the IRS administrative appeals division. If the IRS position prevails, the Company would also be subject to approximately $32 million, net of tax benefits, of state income taxes through March 31, 2016. If the IRS prevails, the tax, interest and penalty due will be offset by any tax payments made relating to this transaction subsequent to 2008. Through December 31, 2015, the Company has made approximately $137 million of federal and state tax payments through its regular tax reporting process and does not expect to make additional tax payments. The Company does not maintain any tax reserves relating to the Newsday Transactions. As further described in Note 5, on September 2, 2015, the Company sold its remaining interest in the Newsday partnership. The Company’s remaining deferred tax liability of $101 million became payable upon the consummation of the sale. The tax payments were made in the fourth quarter of 2015 and are included in the aggregate payments of $137 million referenced above. The sale of its partnership interest does not impact the ongoing IRS audit, nor does it change the Company’s view on the tax position(s) taken on the original transaction.

As further described in Note 9 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Company consummated the closing of the Chicago Cubs Transactions on October 27, 2009. As a result of these transactions, Ricketts Acquisition LLC owns 95% and the Company owns 5% of the membership interests in New Cubs LLC. The fair market value of the contributed assets exceeded the tax basis and did not result in an immediate taxable gain because the transaction was structured to comply with the partnership provisions of the IRC and related regulations. The IRS is currently auditing the Company’s 2009 federal income tax return which includes the Chicago Cubs Transactions. On March 31, 2016, the IRS issued the Company a Notice of Proposed Adjustment (“NOPA”) which presents the IRS’s position that the gain should have been included in the Company’s 2009 taxable income. The NOPA also proposes that the Company be subject to penalties ranging from 20% to 40% of the tax due. The NOPA is only a notice of proposed adjustment and is not an actual tax assessment. The Company disagrees with the IRS’s position that the transaction generated taxable gain in 2009, the penalty assertion and the IRS’s calculation of the gain. The Company continues to pursue resolution of this disputed tax matter with the IRS. If the gain on the Chicago Cubs Transactions is deemed to be taxable in 2009, the Company estimates that the federal and state income taxes would be approximately $225 million before interest and penalties. However, if the IRS prevails in their position, any tax, interest and penalty due will be offset by any tax payments made relating to this transaction subsequent to 2009. Through March 31, 2016, the Company has paid approximately $35 million through its regular tax reporting process. The Company does not maintain any tax reserves relating to the Chicago Cubs Transactions. In accordance with ASC Topic 740, the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2016 includes a deferred tax liability of $161 million related to the future recognition of taxable income related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions.

Other—Although management believes its estimates and judgments are reasonable, the resolutions of the Company’s tax issues are unpredictable and could result in tax liabilities that are significantly higher or lower than that which has been provided by the Company. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740, which addresses the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits totaled $34 million at March 31, 2016 and $34 million at December 31, 2015. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $10 million within the next twelve months due to the resolution of tax examination issues and statute of limitations expirations.