Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	NOTE 10: INCOME TAXES In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 the Company recorded an income tax benefit from continuing operations of $20 million and $82 million, respectively. The effective tax rate on pretax loss from continuing operations was 51.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The 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, certain transaction costs and other expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, and a $1 million charge related to the resolution of federal and state income tax matters and other adjustments. The effective tax rate on pretax loss from continuing operations was 35.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the 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, certain transaction costs and other expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, a $1 million charge related to the resolution of federal and state income tax matters and other adjustments, a $3 million benefit related to expected refunds of interest paid on prior tax assessments and a $1 million charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $74 million and $304 million, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, the 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, a $9 million benefit related to the resolution of certain federal and state income tax matters, a $3 million benefit to adjust the Company’s deferred taxes, as described below, and a $4 million benefit resulting from a change in the Company’s state tax rates. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), a $102 million charge to establish a reserve net of federal and state tax benefit for interest on the Newsday transaction, and a related $88 million charge to adjust the Company’s deferred taxes, as described below, the domestic production activities deduction, other non-deductible expenses, a $10 million benefit related to the resolution of certain federal and state income tax matters and other adjustments, a $5 million charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation and a $4 million benefit resulting from a change in the Company’s state tax rates. Chicago Cubs Transactions—As further described in Note 8 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, 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 Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) and related regulations. On June 28, 2016, the IRS issued the Company a Notice of Deficiency (“Notice”) which presents the IRS’s position that the gain should have been included in the Company’s 2009 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS has proposed a $182 million tax and a $73 million gross valuation misstatement penalty. In addition, after-tax interest on the aforementioned proposed tax and penalty through September 30, 2017 would be approximately $48 million. The Company continues to disagree with the IRS’s position that the transaction generated a taxable gain in 2009, the proposed penalty and the IRS’s calculation of the gain. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to contest the IRS’s determination. The Company continues to pursue resolution of this disputed tax matter with the IRS. If the IRS prevails in their position, the gain on the Chicago Cubs Transactions would be 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. Any tax, interest and penalty due will be offset by tax payments made relating to this transaction subsequent to 2009. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has paid or accrued approximately $50 million of federal and state tax payments 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 “Income Taxes,” the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 includes a deferred tax liability of $149 million and $158 million, respectively, related to the future recognition of taxable income related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions. Newsday Transactions—As further described in Note 8 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Company formed a partnership (the “Newsday Transaction”) in 2008. The fair market value of the contributed Newsday Media Group business’ 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 from the Newsday Transactions should have been included in the Company’s 2008 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS proposed a $190 million tax and a $38 million accuracy-related penalty. The Company disagreed with the IRS’s position and timely filed a protest in response to the IRS’s proposed tax adjustments. In addition, if the IRS prevailed, the Company also would have been subject to state income taxes, interest and penalties. During the second quarter of 2016, as a result of extensive discussions with the IRS administrative appeals division, the Company reevaluated its tax litigation position related to the Newsday transaction and re-measured the cumulative most probable outcome of such proceedings. As a result, during the second quarter of 2016, the Company recorded a $102 million charge which was reflected as a $125 million current income tax reserve and a $23 million reduction in deferred income tax liabilities. The income tax reserve included federal and state taxes, interest and penalties while the deferred income tax benefit is primarily related to deductible interest expense. The Company also recorded $91 million of income tax expense to increase the Company’s deferred income tax liability to reflect the reduction in the tax basis of the Company’s assets. The reduction in tax basis was required to reflect the reduction in the amount of the Company’s guarantee of the Newsday partnership debt which was included in the reported tax basis previously determined upon emergence from bankruptcy. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company reached an agreement with the IRS administrative appeals division regarding the Newsday transaction which applies for tax years 2008 through 2015. As a result of the final agreement, in the third quarter of 2016, the Company recorded an additional income tax benefit of $3 million to adjust the previously recorded estimate of the deferred tax liability. During the second half of 2016, the Company paid $122 million of federal taxes, state taxes (net of state refunds), interest and penalties. The payments were recorded as a reduction in the Company’s current income tax reserve described above. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recorded an additional $1 million of income tax expense primarily related to the additional accrual of interest. The remaining $4 million of state tax liabilities were included in the income taxes payable account on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 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 $23 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $11 million within the next twelve months due to the resolution of tax examination issues and statute of limitations expirations.

NOTE 10: INCOME TAXES

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 the Company recorded an income tax benefit from continuing operations of $20 million and $82 million, respectively. The effective tax rate on pretax loss from continuing operations was 51.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The 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, certain transaction costs and other expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, and a $1 million charge related to the resolution of federal and state income tax matters and other adjustments. The effective tax rate on pretax loss from continuing operations was 35.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the 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, certain transaction costs and other expenses not fully deductible for tax purposes, a $1 million charge related to the resolution of federal and state income tax matters and other adjustments, a $3 million benefit related to expected refunds of interest paid on prior tax assessments and a $1 million charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $74 million and $304 million, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, the 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, a $9 million benefit related to the resolution of certain federal and state income tax matters, a $3 million benefit to adjust the Company’s deferred taxes, as described below, and a $4 million benefit resulting from a change in the Company’s state tax rates. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to state income taxes (net of federal benefit), a $102 million charge to establish a reserve net of federal and state tax benefit for interest on the Newsday transaction, and a related $88 million charge to adjust the Company’s deferred taxes, as described below, the domestic production activities deduction, other non-deductible expenses, a $10 million benefit related to the resolution of certain federal and state income tax matters and other adjustments, a $5 million charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation and a $4 million benefit resulting from a change in the Company’s state tax rates.

Chicago Cubs Transactions—As further described in Note 8 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, 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 Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) and related regulations. On June 28, 2016, the IRS issued the Company a Notice of Deficiency (“Notice”) which presents the IRS’s position that the gain should have been included in the Company’s 2009 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS has proposed a $182 million tax and a $73 million gross valuation misstatement penalty. In addition, after-tax interest on the aforementioned proposed tax and penalty through September 30, 2017 would be approximately $48 million. The Company continues to disagree with the IRS’s position that the transaction generated a taxable gain in 2009, the proposed penalty and the IRS’s calculation of the gain. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to contest the IRS’s determination. The Company continues to pursue resolution of this disputed tax matter with the IRS. If the IRS prevails in their position, the gain on the Chicago Cubs Transactions would be 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. Any tax, interest and penalty due will be offset by tax payments made relating to this transaction subsequent to 2009. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has paid or accrued approximately $50 million of federal and state tax payments 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 “Income Taxes,” the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 includes a deferred tax liability of $149 million and $158 million, respectively, related to the future recognition of taxable income related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions.

Newsday Transactions—As further described in Note 8 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Company formed a partnership (the “Newsday Transaction”) in 2008. The fair market value of the contributed Newsday Media Group business’ 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 from the Newsday Transactions should have been included in the Company’s 2008 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS proposed a $190 million tax and a $38 million accuracy-related penalty. The Company disagreed with the IRS’s position and timely filed a protest in response to the IRS’s proposed tax adjustments. In addition, if the IRS prevailed, the Company also would have been subject to state income taxes, interest and penalties.

During the second quarter of 2016, as a result of extensive discussions with the IRS administrative appeals division, the Company reevaluated its tax litigation position related to the Newsday transaction and re-measured the cumulative most probable outcome of such proceedings. As a result, during the second quarter of 2016, the Company recorded a $102 million charge which was reflected as a $125 million current income tax reserve and a $23 million reduction in deferred income tax liabilities. The income tax reserve included federal and state taxes, interest and penalties while the deferred income tax benefit is primarily related to deductible interest expense. The Company also recorded $91 million of income tax expense to increase the Company’s deferred income tax liability to reflect the reduction in the tax basis of the Company’s assets. The reduction in tax basis was required to reflect the reduction in the amount of the Company’s guarantee of the Newsday partnership debt which was included in the reported tax basis previously determined upon emergence from bankruptcy.

During the third quarter of 2016, the Company reached an agreement with the IRS administrative appeals division regarding the Newsday transaction which applies for tax years 2008 through 2015. As a result of the final agreement, in the third quarter of 2016, the Company recorded an additional income tax benefit of $3 million to adjust the previously recorded estimate of the deferred tax liability. During the second half of 2016, the Company paid $122 million of federal taxes, state taxes (net of state refunds), interest and penalties. The payments were recorded as a reduction in the Company’s current income tax reserve described above. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recorded an additional $1 million of income tax expense primarily related to the additional accrual of interest. The remaining $4 million of state tax liabilities were included in the income taxes payable account on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

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 $23 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $11 million within the next twelve months due to the resolution of tax examination issues and statute of limitations expirations.