Income Taxes - Newsday and Chicago Cubs Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 02, 2015	Oct. 27, 2009	Jul. 29, 2008
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Income tax reserves	$ 125,400	$ 125,400	$ 0
Newsday LLC
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in common stock by third party						97.00%
Ownership percentage in common stock				3.00%		3.00%
Reduction in deferred income tax liabilities	23,000
Income taxes paid			$ 136,000
Deferred tax liability				$ 101,000
Income tax reserves	125,000	125,000
Newsday LLC | Tax Year 2008
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Estimated federal income taxes before interest and penalties		190,000
IRS, accuracy-related penalty		38,000
IRS, accuracy-related interest		47,000
Newsday LLC | Tax Year 2008 | State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Estimated state income taxes before interest and penalties		22,000
New Cubs LLC
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in common stock by third party					95.00%
Ownership percentage in common stock					5.00%
Income taxes paid		36,000
Deferred tax liability	$ 163,000	163,000
IRS proposed tax		182,000
IRS proposed gross valuation misstatement penalty		73,000
After-tax interest on proposed tax and penalty		35,000
New Cubs LLC | Tax Year 2009
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Estimated federal income taxes before interest and penalties		$ 225,000